ROTC at Auburn

While there’s a friendly camaraderie between branches, every ROTC student is loyal to his or her own program. That was showcased this past April during the Battle of the Branches.

The Commanders’ Cup is a yearlong series of competitive events that culminates in the Battle of the Branches. The competition includes a 5K run, track and field events, swimming and friendly games of soccer, basketball, flag football and Ultimate Frisbee.

At the close of the Battle of the Branches, Army ROTC was awarded the Commanders Cup, having collected the most points in events over the past year.

To kick off the fall semester, Naval ROTC midshipmen completed the Marine Corps obstacle course, named in honor of Auburn’s only Medal of Honor awardee, Maj. Gen. James Livingston.

Naval ROTC students who will become officers in the Marine Corps, referred to as Marine Option midshipmen, complete the obstacle course as a test of physical strength, endurance and sheer will.

Enlisted Marines of Naval ROTC teach proper form and supervise midshipmen to help them successfully negotiate obstacles and minimize the risk of injury.

As part of required physical fitness training, Navy and Marine Option midshipmen train in boots and camouflage “utilities.” Since they’re training for different missions, Navy Option midshipmen run one-and-a-half miles while Marine Option midshipmen run three miles.

The day after their obstacle course training, Naval ROTC midshipmen were thrown into the deep end – quite literally. Both Navy and Marine Corps officers serve at sea and need to know how to safely abandon ship, and they train to do so by dropping from the 20-foot platform at Auburn’s Martin Aquatics Center.

After water entry, Naval ROTC midshipmen must demonstrate four different survival strokes during a 500-meter swim. All ROTC programs highly recommend training in various required areas of fitness before arriving on campus.

In addition to being able to swim, Naval ROTC midshipmen must demonstrate techniques to conserve energy and stay warm while awaiting a water rescue. In combat water survival training, they learn to swim in boots and make flotation devices out of their camouflage utilities.

Beginning at dawn, Air Force ROTC hosted its annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

All members of ROTC were invited to participate, as were local first responders, Auburn student-athletes and the Auburn Student Veterans Association.

Participants attempted to make it all the way around the stadium, top to bottom, in just 45 minutes.

ROTC students debriefed at the end, celebrating the morning’s hard work with a hearty “War Eagle, hey!”