ROTC serves God and country

At a time of wars and rumors of wars, Army ROTC cadets are making the choice to serve their nation and honor their religion.

Each cadet has a different reason behind why he or she decided to serve in the military. A common theme is a dedication to putting others before self. This selfless service leads to a majority of cadets serving missions for the Church.

Zach Neukirchen, a junior business management major from Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., said he began his service in the Air Force ROTC and then joined the Army after completing his mission to Joao Pessoa Brazil.

“I like to think of the ROTC as sharing a lot of the same standards that the Church values highly,” Neukirchen said. “In the Army, we have the core values: loyalty, honor, selfless service, personal courage and integrity. Really, that is what drives us as ROTC cadets.” 

Neukirchen said reading the Book of Mormon during his mission took on several new meanings.

“We need people to step up to the plate that are willing to put freedoms, liberties and families above themselves,” he said. “Going back to selfless service, which is really a key element, we try to become like Captain Moroni and hoist that title of liberty despite the assaults that are made on it by the enemy.”

Cooper Boice, a freshman business finance major from Carlsbad, Calif., also spent time with the ROTC before serving his two-year mission to Rosario Argentina. He said he learned valuable lessons that helped shape his missionary experience.

“I think the biggest lesson I learned was about extraordinary people,” he said. “The only reason they are extraordinary is because they give an extraordinary effort. They try harder and give more than everyone else. It’s not because they were just born like that. That was something I learned and tried to take with me on my mission.”

Extraordinary leaders within the Church have spent time in the military. Four members of the Quorum of the Twelve spent time in the military. The entire First Presidency served in branches of the military.

Freshman members of the ROTC are actively preparing to serve a mission for the Church. Taylor Powell from Salem, Va., majoring in Chinese, has had several experiences with the ROTC that he said will help him as a missionary. One of the important lessons he has learned is how to be obedient.

“You have to conform your life to the things that they want you to do,” Powell said.

He added he thinks this level of obedience will help him to be a better missionary.

 This article was originally published in the Daily Universe on October 5, 2010.