For Brigham Young University Army ROTC cadets Joseph Macfarlane and Alissa Reno, the ROTC program has tested their endurance and strength: “It’s tough physical training, and it would be easy to just call it quits because it’s hard,” Reno says. But despite the physical difficulty, neither cadet has given up—and they’ve seen how ROTC events and training have not only strengthened them but also increased their ability to lead and their potential to serve.
Macfarlane and Reno—alongside their team of 11 BYU Army ROTC cadets—experienced a literal test of strengths in the 2025 Ranger Challenge against Army ROTC teams from 22 western schools. The cadets participated in events such as basic rifle marksmanship, land navigation, physical fitness test, field leadership reaction course, and a 12-mile ruck march, where cadets carried 35 pounds of gear.
“The competition demands relentless dedication, discipline, and sacrifice,” Macfarlane reflects. The pre-business student from Yorktown, Virginia, says that even though he knew competing would be a challenge, he’s grateful for the lessons he learned from participating. “I learned that effective leadership is not about individual excellence. It’s about empowering those around you.”
Reno, a pre-nursing student from Yuma, Arizona, appreciated how her captain and leaders buoyed her up throughout the challenge: “Through their encouragement, they pushed me past what I thought I was capable of, and I became stronger and more resilient.”
Her experience in the Ranger Challenge, and in other ROTC trainings, exercises, and events, has helped Reno learn about leadership. “I think it’s important that leaders know their team members and know what they are capable of,” she attests, saying that her own leaders’ commitment to pushing her to reach her potential motivates her to do the same for others.
“When I have the opportunity to be a leader—whether in school, in the Army ROTC program, or in my future career as a nurse in the army—I will know my soldiers,” she confirms. “I won’t quit on them. I will push them and help them see what they are capable of while being a support for them.”
For Macfarlane, lessons on leadership have also been abundant in the ROTC program. During his spring training exercise, which serves as a preparation event for third-year cadets, he saw a freshman cadet consistently volunteer to lead whenever the opportunity arose, and the cadet’s willingness to take initiative caught Macfarlane’s attention. “That experience reaffirmed what I’ve come to believe: Leadership is about courage, initiative, and a commitment to growth. It’s about being willing to take risks, to lead even when it’s uncomfortable, and to learn through action,” he says.
Macfarlane plans to apply the leadership lessons he’s learned in the ROTC even after graduation. “Leadership, discipline, and service are not confined to the battlefield or training grounds—they are principles that can strengthen homes, uplift communities, and inspire others,” he explains. “My hope is to live by those values, to lead by example, and to help others grow, just as I have.”
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Written by Nicholas Day and Sarah Griffin Anderson