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Cadets conducting an After Action Review following a simulated battle.

Military Science

The Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) provides leadership, management, ethics and personal confidence training to prepare cadets for responsibilities as commissioned officers in the Army National Guard, the Army Reserve and active duty. Classroom instruction, hands-on training and field training encompass the values and skill sets necessary for success. Opportunities abound for specialized training.

Cadets are preparing to travel through a cultural and language training program to Laos, Tunisia, Korea, Spain, Estonia and Senegal this summer while other cadets will be training in more traditional Army environments such as hospitals at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Sam Houston, Texas and Fort Lewis, Washington. Cadets attend Airborne School, Air Assault School, Cadet Troop Leader Training and internships at various Army posts across the country.

SDSU alumni Gene and JoAnn Goodale funded the Goodale-Renz Family ROTC Confidence Obstacle Course on campus in 2011. The course is an exceptional training area for ROTC cadets to hone their skills and build confidence. The obstacles include: the tough one station; the weaver station; the swing, stop, and jump station; confidence climbing station; six vaults station; low belly over station; reserve climb station; Tarzan station; incline wall station; belly crawl station; one rope bridge poles and a thirty-four foot rappel tower. The course is challenging and provides a training opportunity on the SDSU campus.

Army ROTC develops critical skills in management, leadership and analytical decision-making that are valuable to any civilian or military career. Students gain confidence, self-discipline and technical experience. New lieutenants will enter the workforce as a leader and supervise as many as 45 people, while being accountable for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of assets. For those cadets who prefer to serve part time, programs such as PAYS and the USAR Employer Initiative Program focus on civilian employers who prefer to hire college graduates with leadership experience and technical knowledge. Whether a student pursues a full-time career in the Army or in the corporate world, Army ROTC provides the fundamental skills for success.

Our department and staff are always pleased to hear from you. Stop by for a visit and share your story with the cadets. The coffee pot is always on.

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Natvig sisters outside DePuty Military Hall

Natvig sisters / Trio committed to serving country through Army ROTC

Following a family history of answering the call to serve, Catie Natvig will be commissioned into the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant Friday, May 3. The South Dakota State University senior was preceded in the ROTC program by her grandfather, Virgil Natvig, and her father, David Natvig. There are two more Natvigs in the wings. Sisters Carlee and Kimber Natvig are slated to commission and earn their bachelor’s degrees in 2025 and 2027, respectively.