Mason Cloy, an ROTC Cadet at Clemson University and starting offensive lineman on the Clemson Tigers, leads a group of high school athlete between drills at the U.S. Army National Combine at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Cloy was one of 24 ROTC Cadets who acted as marshals for the event. Photo by Forrest Berkshire
By John Wayne Liston
U.S. Army Cadet Command
SAN ANTONIO – Twenty-four Army ROTC Cadets from around the nation charged onto the field turf of the Alamodome Friday, leading more than 500 of the country’s best high school underclassmen at the U.S. Army National Combine.
The three-day event, modeled after the NFL combine, highlights the football abilities of rising underclassmen and is held annually in association with the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Hundreds of family, friends and coaches watched as each Cadet took charge of around 20 athletes guiding them to the various events, at the correct time and in the required uniform.
“This is all about leadership,” said Cadet Steve Soeder from Michigan State University. “These are the same concepts we are taught in ROTC. It’s just a different audience.
“These guys want to be leaders, and it helps them to see us in our leadership roles and how we carry ourselves.”
The Cadets, two from each of U.S. Army Cadet Command’s eight brigades, were chosen to be part of the combine. Selections were based on recommendations from the professors of military science at their respective programs.
Cadet Ryan Thompson, from Michigan State University directs athletes to the starting line for the 40-yard dash during the U.S. Army National Combine Friday in San Antonio. Photo by John Liston
The players admired the Cadets for their take-charge attitude and commented on the smoothness of their direction and bearing as making them want to listen to them right away. Most wanted to ask Cadets about college life and the types of experiences they have in ROTC.
“When they found out about all the things we do in ROTC, I had some of these athletes say they would never be able to do that,” Penn State University Cadet Kacie Latchford said.
There was a little confusion as some players thought the Cadets were already lieutenants, or joining ROTC committed one to serve. But the Cadets were able to spend time with the players, answering their questions and clearing up misconceptions about the ROTC program.
To a person, the Cadets remarked about how positive their experience at the National Combine and the U.S. Army All-American Bowl week activities has been.
“This has been an amazing experience that has given me a chance to apply my leadership skills and bond with other Cadets around the country,” said Cadet Tyler Tyburski from the University of Southern California. “I would tell future Cadets to definitely volunteer for this, put the leaderships skills you are learning at school to work in a real situation.”
Besides the benefit of working with others, Cadet Emily Pohl, another Penn State Cadet, wondered about the future of the athletes on the field.
“It is pretty cool to think about where these kids are going to be in a few years and think that we had a part in them understanding leadership,” she said.
