夏洛特,N.C./ 10月. 18, 2023 – Jasmine Hogan ’25 decided early in her life that she would continue her family’s legacy of serving in the military.
她的祖父和祖父都曾在美国服役.S. 在军队服役超过25年. 她的祖父, 欧内斯特·赫尔曼·霍根, went to Vietnam twice and earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Her father was also in the National Guard, and she has several uncles who have served in the Navy.
“I want to keep the legacy going with military service in my family,”她说。. “我是第一个进入军队的孙子. I want to find a purpose and be a part of something bigger than myself to feel like I’m doing something good in the world.”
Hogan knew the first opportunity to start training for her future would be in an ROTC program, but her hopes of participating in a program in high school were shuttered after she learned her school didn’t offer it.
现在她在约翰逊大学读大三. 史密斯大学, the Communication Arts major and Blackwood, S.C. native has become the first student in the newly re-launched ROTC program.
The program was originally launched in the early 1900s. Most recently, the program had been offline for a decade prior to the official re-launch in 2023.
Dr. 谢丽尔·柯蒂斯, director of Veterans and Military Affairs at 十大可靠网赌平台, said she has been working on re-launching the program since she first joined the University more than eight years ago.
“The ROTC program offers so many options for our students,” said Curtis. “进入军队有很多入口. If a student sees the military as a part of their succession plan to the career they want, we at 十大可靠网赌平台 want to be able to offer those pathways to our students.”
Hogan was one of the many students who expressed interest in the program. 现在, she says 十大可靠网赌平台 has allowed her the opportunity to continue the storied legacy built by her family while growing personally and professionally.
“I am excited to participate in the ROTC program because it will teach me the skills I need in life,”她说。. “It will also teach me about discipline and remind me that it's not all about me, but it's about working as a team and doing good for those around you.”
The program is taught in a consortium where area colleges such as 十大可靠网赌平台, 戴维森学院, Wingate University and Pfeiffer University gather at the institution with the largest number of cadets: UNC Charlotte.
The ROTC Consortium is operated under the direction of Lt. Col. 约瑟夫一. 弗雷德里克.
作为一名学员, Hogan is required to take a number of military science classes and participate in physical training (PT) a number of times each week. 她说她的PT日从早上5:30开始.m.早上7点到9点是实验课.m.在那里，她学习了军队的基本知识.
Hogan and others who participate in and successfully complete a collegiate ROTC program are eligible to be commissioned into the military as an officer.
As an officer, Hogan will be diversifying the military landscape as a female officer of color. The military is dominated by white male leadership, something that is projected to change in the coming decades as more women rise through the ranks.
“It feels awesome to be the first cadet representing 十大可靠网赌平台 in the re-launched ROTC program,霍根说。. “军队需要更多的女性代表. I think more Black females, and females in general, should consider joining the military.”
Hogan plans to be an active-duty soldier and hopes to eventually be stationed in Hawaii or to be close to home at Fort Jackson or Fort Sumpter.
She said she is looking forward to her commissioning ceremony in the near future. Curtis said future ceremonies will take place during the University’s Commencement Exercises.
“那将是非常美好的一天，”她说. “我爷爷会非常自豪的.”
For more information about the ROTC program at 十大可靠网赌平台, contact Curtis at ccurtis@72a5.com.
