Ever been walking to class on a Wednesday morning and wondered who those students in Army fatigues on campus are? They are Middlebury’s very own cadets — and likely part of the next generation of Army officers.
Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) is a program that offers college students at over 1,700 colleges and universities military training and a future commission as officers in the three largest branches of the military. Middlebury offers the Army-specific branch in partnership with the University of Vermont (UVM) ROTC, and the program currently has eight students at the college.
One member of Middlebury ROTC, Jacqueline Cook ’28, explained her decision to join the program as a natural fusion between her academic and professional aspirations.
“I have always wanted to join the Army but I have also wanted to have a full private college experience,” Cook wrote in an email to The Campus. “I fell in love with Midd on multiple campus visits and was delighted when I realized I could do ROTC at Midd and have my cake and eat it too.”
Jay Wendell ’26.5, another cadet in the Middlebury ROTC program, shared that while he had not seriously considered joining the Army prior to attending Middlebury, his family background and the flexibility of the college’s program encouraged him to participate.
“Middlebury’s ROTC program gave me the opportunity to get a feel for what the Army could be like post graduation without any post-graduation obligations,” Wendell wrote in a message to The Campus, “and I have since made some of the best memories of my life in the program.”
He added that the initial experience in ROTC made him continue the program and led to Wendell committing to active duty service in the Army following his graduation.
Students joining ROTC do not have to commit to joining the Army as first years; they have up until their junior year to make the decision to contract into the Army. However, the preparation to become an officer is intense from the start of the program.
The ROTC experience at Middlebury is part classroom, part exercise and part hands-on learning, according to Cook, who is wrapping up her first semester in the program. While still in training, cadets are separated by class year, and each successive year in the program they are tasked with more responsibility and leadership.
“A real key to ROTC is that it’s separated by class, meaning that different classes have different responsibilities. As a freshman, my role is focused on learning the basics of ROTC, but as I advance in the program I will take on increased responsibilities, teaching and leading my fellow cadets,” Cook wrote.
Yet while roles and duties are delineated strictly by class, Cook stressed that Middlebury ROTC cadets work as a team.
“It’s really important to note that even though we’re separated by class to some extent, we all do the activities just at different levels. And a major focus is on our working together to accomplish each task, which results in our being one strong and cohesive team,” she wrote.
Wendell agreed that the education he receives from the training program has proved beneficial. He noted the commitment to ROTC has helped him develop skills such as time management.
“While we do have to balance outside commitments with school work, the program and my commitments that have resulted from it have definitely not negatively affected my time in college and has provided an opportunity to try things and meet people I never would have without it,” Wendell wrote.
As part of the program, cadets must attend regular physical training, classes and lab sessions, which are held at a military camp in Colchester, Vt.
“ROTC labs are held at Camp Johnson and consist of field exercises, such as learning land navigation in daylight and in the dark, survival skills (especially in Vermont’s cold winter), medical preparedness in case of emergencies in the field and in daily life,” Cook wrote.
She added that the labs also help cadets learn about and practice a wide breadth of possible roles.
“We’ve even had the opportunity to explore possible future career paths in the military on our recent trip to one of the National Guard’s bases in VT where we studied Army aviation practices and skills,” Cook wrote.
The workouts and labs work simultaneously towards a commission and a degree. Completing the first two years of ROTC counts for one academic credit, the junior and senior year programs count for one each, and the program fulfills a P.E. credit at Middlebury.
Cadets are also able to apply for generous scholarships that cover tuition at the college in addition to a $420 monthly stipend and $1,200 per year for textbooks. Students can receive two types of scholarships, one that can be applied for during high school and another that one applies for once they have joined ROTC at Middlebury.
Another merit of Middlebury ROTC is the connections it provides to neighboring Vermont colleges. Cook told The Campus that she collaborates with 60 other students from nearby colleges because Middlebury partners with UVM for ROTC.
President Laurie Patton recognized the impact of Middlebury’s ROTC program in a Middlebury Magazine titled “Wired for Service” from 2021. Reflecting on Veterans Day that year, Patton wrote of the importance of military service for Middlebury students looking to serve their domestic and international communities.
“Middlebury students have served and sacrificed in the military — some giving their lives — throughout American history, through times of peace and times of war. Middlebury’s student population was heavily influenced by those choosing ROTC in the mid-20th century,” Patton wrote.
Some students on campus noted a similar effect of the program on campus; although they make up a relatively small portion of the student body, Middlebury’s ROTC members are unmistakable when spotted in their Army uniforms every Wednesday.
“I often see them in the gym during my workouts and am consistently impressed by their ethic and dedication,” Chloe Filipowicz ’28 said. “With heightened global tensions, it’s inspiring to see Middlebury students training to protect America and freedom abroad.”
Harry Revenaugh ’28 shared his admiration for the program as well, even though he was unable to join ROTC due to time constraints from playing on the Middlebury squash team.
“I wanted to join because it’s a pipeline to becoming an officer in the army and being in the Army is a great way to serve the nation,” Revenaugh said. “Middlebury ROTC is one of the top programs in the nation.”
The ROTC program at UVM in which Middlebury participates has been recognized in recent years for its impressive instruction. The MacArthur Award is awarded to the best program out of the 42 located in the northeast; last year the program ranked third for the award.
“The criterion for winning this award is based on Cadet achievement in academics, Cadet Summer Training, extracurricular activities, demonstrated level of responsibility, and much more,” Lieutenant Colonel and UVM Professor of Military Science Travis McCracken wrote in the fall 2023 UVM Army ROTC newsletter.
Wendell shared that the UVM program is up for consideration as the best Army ROTC program in the country, an honor which he attributed to the unique group of people across Vermont who chose to serve.
“I truly feel that is mainly due to the people and culture in this program that set us apart from our peer programs,” Wendell wrote.
Editor’s Note: Editor in Chief Ryan McElroy ’25 contributed reporting to this article.
