Year: Sophomore
Major: English
Hometown: Fayetteville, NC
Have you ever wondered what a guy (or girl) has got to do to earn the camo and combat boots? Look no further, collegiettes. We’re coming at you hot with the inside scoop on ROTC at Wake Forest from Paul Rodriguez.
Her Campus (HC): What is ROTC, and what is its purpose?
Paul Rodriguez (PR): ROTC is the Reserved Officers Training Corps. The program’s purpose is to prepare cadets to serve as officers in the United States Army.Â
HC: When did you decide to join ROTC, and what inspired you to do so?
PR: Growing up in Fayetteville, right beside Fort Bragg, all of my friends’ parents were in the military. Joining the military was something a lot of kids at my high school did, and your options were essentially to either go to college or enlist. I always felt like college was the right option for me, but when I learned I could go to college and become an officer in the United States Army, it was too great of an opportunity to pass up.Â
HC: What sort of commitments factor into your ROTC schedule?
PR: I attend physical training (PT) three mornings a week and take a 3 hour class and lab on military science every semester. I’ll also take one military history class, and do many service opportunities in the community, such as the pushup detail at the football games.Â
HC: What can you tell us about the 22 Day Kill Challenge?
PR: Wake Forest ROTC is not participating in the challenge, but I personally have been. A group of students have been meeting at the track for the 22 days leading up to Veterans’ Day to do 22 pushups. This honors the 22 war veterans that commit suicide every day.
HC: What can you tell us about the upcoming ROTC retreat?
PR: Every semester we have field training for a week. This semester, we are going to Fort Jackson in South Carolina. We’ll spend the week going through numerous tasks and exercises created to develop and test our basic soldiering skills.Â
HC: What did the ROTC process look like for you before Wake, what do you achieve in your four years at Wake, and what happens after you graduate?
PR: I didn’t have any formal training before coming to Wake. After I graduate, I will commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, and then I will serve for at least eight years in one of the three components of the army; active duty, National Guard, or U.S. Army Reserves.
HC: What’s your go-to meal at the pit?
PR: I love the omelet station. It’s definitely my favorite meal after an early morning PT.
HC: What’s your favorite Wake Forest memory so far?
PR: Rolling the quad after we beat Duke in football this year.
HC: What do you miss most about home?
PR: Home cooked meals from my parents’ kitchen.
HC: You’re stuck in ZSR for a late night- what do you order from Starbucks?
PR: White chocolate mocha.
HC: What are you looking forward to as the semester comes to a close?
PR: Going home and seeing my younger siblings for winter break.Â
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Photos courtesy of WFU ROTC and Paul Rodriguez