They can be seen on the green almost every Tuesday and Thursday. Sometimes they are walking around campus; sometimes they are crawling on the ground or running around in the monte. Though they are in camouflage uniforms, they are hard to miss. They are the ROTC cadets from the Military Science program at Texas A&M International University.
The U.S. Army Reserve Officers Training Corps at TAMIU is under the direction of Captain Martin Longoria. Giving the Captain a hand with the daily chores of training the future leaders of the United States Army is Major David Ramirez.
Longoria, a native of Alice, Texas, is the chief recruiter for the Army at TAMIU. After doing several tours in Iraq, Longoria comes to the university with great enthusiasm and plenty of energy despite some of the shrapnel in his body from his battle duty.
“Whether they’re map reading, repelling, doing hand to hand combat, or running some battle drills, we are training the future defenders of this country,” said Capt. Longoria. “We presently have 23 students participating in this university program, but there is room for much more.”
The Reserve Officer Training Program was re-established at TAMIU in 2003 after a 30-year absence. The program was reinstated in a joint venture with the local community collage. The program commissioned its first Army officer in May 2005 and has since commissioned 10 others who are currently serving as Army leaders.
Recently, Samuel B. Cantrell made history at TAMIU when he became the university’s first student to receive a four-year Army ROTC Scholarship.
“After two year, the student soldiers have two options: to continue with the four-year program by signing a contract with the Army, or to become a National Guard or reservist for this nation,” said Longoria. “We have several scholarships available and a student can earn their degree while working on their future career with the military.”
The program is divided into lower and upper divisions. The lower division is open to all freshmen and sophomores, but the upper division is only available to students who meet pre-requisites. Those interested in enrolling for the upper division must be full-time students, have approximately two years remaining in their degree plan and maintain a minimum 2.0 G.P.A. They must also meet medical fitness requirements and have taken lower division courses. Students in the program can graduate under their chosen degree plan, but may choose military science as their minor.
The Reserve Officer Training began in 1951 in South Texas at Texas A&I University, now Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
The U.S. Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) is one of the nation’s top leadership programs for men and women interested in a military career. TAMIU is one of 1,400 universities and colleges that offer an Army ROTC program. The TAMIU program has recently experienced an increase in women enrollment. The amount of female cadets in the program has tripled since Spring 2009.
For more information, contact the Capt. Longoria at 326.3011, or visit the ROTC offices at the Student Center.