FAMU hosts AROTC Alumni Leadership Seminar

By Capt. Fernando Ochoa

311th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

FAMU conducted a two-day AROTC Alumni Leadership Seminar to help mentor young cadets on the planning of their future with the U.S. Army at Howard Hall on the campus March 27-28.

The event organizer, Lt. Col. Larry Rentz, currently serves as an Active Guard Reserve Officer in the U.S. Army Reserve and put this seminar together specifically to discuss what is expected of lieutenants serving in the U. S. Army.

“The purpose of this event was to provide information to the cadets that we felt would be beneficial for them to know as they plan their future with the U.S. Army,” said Rentz. “I hope this event will lead to an active mentorship link between military alumni of FAMU and the Army ROTC cadets. I would also like this to become an annual event to provide a venue for the alumni to give back to the ROTC program by donating time, energy or money.”

Almost 80 personnel, including 25 alumnus, three cadre and 50 cadets assembled to hear lectures that taught giving and receiving mentorship, understanding Army culture, behaviors and social norms, evaluations, separations and personal financial planning.

The mission of ROTC is to develop the future officer leadership of the U.S. Army and to motivate young people to become better citizens. This includes recruiting, training, evaluating, selecting and commissioning quality people for military service in the Army.

Retired Col. Ronald Joe and Lt. Col. Edwin Escobar, Professor of Military Science, also helped put this gathering together.

“Twenty-two FAMU Army ROTC graduates wanted to demonstrate to current ROTC students that they cared for them and want them to understand what it’s like to be a part of our current active and reserve forces,” said Joe.

Professor Phyllis Taite from the FAMU College of Law, a former Ms. Army ROTC and Army JAG Officer, discussed education delay, admission into law school and serving in the JAG Corps. The purpose of her presentation was to provide cadets with a road map to a career as a JAG officer. She wanted them to know that no matter the major, the option to obtain an educational delay to attend law school is an option.

“I hope that my presentation will persuade more cadets to pursue a professional education, attend the FAMU College of Law and ultimately lead to more JAG officers of color in the Army,” said Taite.

This seminar was important because the U.S. Army culture teaches Soldiers to train their replacements. The older, experienced Soldiers were happy to pass on their knowledge and wisdom, and the young cadets were happy to met and learn lessons from those who have served their country with honor.

This was the first time an event like this has been held in over 25 years and for many of the alumni participants it was their first visit back to the school in many years. The event was also a time for alumni to have a reunion with old ROTC buddies and build relationships with younger graduates that they had not met.