ROTC Road March raises money for paintball guns
Issue date: 3/5/07 Section: News
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The pledge money, which had not all been tallied the day of the fundraising march, is hoped to reach at least $2,000 so that the OBU/HSU joint ROTC group can purchase paintball guns that more closely resemble actual training.
The ROTC Cadet Fund is used throughout the year to purchase equipment to be used in training events as a required part of ROTC learning. With the equipment purchased through the Fund, the cadets will be become better prepared to lead troops as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army or one of its reserve components. All contracted cadets are required to do the Road March as a fundraiser.
"We really need appropriate equipment for exercises," Amanda Weatherford, junior history major and ROTC cadet, said. "Rubber ducks during combat drills doesn't simulate real life."
There were a total of 17 participants in this year's Road March. There were 13 ROTC cadets of various experience levels - from first to fourth year cadets - as well as two cadre members and even two civilians. Cadets who participated in the event were Aaron Malcolm, Cody Culp, Bryan McCauley, Jarrod Eason, Chafac Mofor, Michael Garland, Jessica Smith, Robert Henkhaus, Jessica Thompson, Amanda Weatherford, Rory Garcia, Jamie Hensley and Christopher Alexander. Cadre members for the march were Second Lieutenant Tyler Paschal and Sergeant First Class (SFC) Mitchell. The two civilians who joined in supporting ROTC for the Road March were Julie Kelly and Nicole Smoke. Smoke marched in place of her husband, SFC Brian Smoke.
Paschal and Mitchell finished the course in two hours and five minutes, which put them in first place this year. This is the third year that the cadre has won the friendly competition.
Cadets Aaron Malcolm and Cody Culp were the first cadets to finish, coming in a full ten minutes later.
The course began at Well's gym and proceeded up along the hill on 12th Street, through the center of Henderson's campus and across Highway 7 through the OBU campus. It then turned right at Moses-Provine and heading to Caddo Street. The formation followed the Caddo River across the Highway 7 Bridge before turning left at the dirt road. At the dirt road the formation was released and the friendly competition began. Approximately four miles down the road at the turn to the Highway 7 boat ramp, the march ended.
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