This year, Spring Quarter brought about major, unexpected challenges—not only for UCI, but for students throughout the country and people around the world. With the COVID-19 pandemic upending traditional modes of teaching and forcing UCI to a remote campus setting, similar precautions had to be adopted by the UCI’s ROTC program and the ROTC community across 1,700 campuses.
In accordance with social distancing guidelines, UCI’s ROTC program has leveraged available technologies to ensure that cadets can continue their education and their training. For instance, the program has offered remote classes and labs via Zoom so cadets across all MS class levels can continue to develop their leadership and tactical skills. Additionally, to keep track of everyone’s physical fitness, the program has utilized the app Strava to ensure that cadets adhere to their regular workout plan. Three times a week, cadets log in to the ROTC Strava group and run through the workout regime created by the program. Upon completion, each cadet posts on the app so program coordinators can monitor their progress and ensure that each student is maintaining their fitness level.
While cadets cannot physically be out in the field to train, UCI’s ROTC program has found alternative methods to adapt. For example, cadets who lead the mission of the week have leveraged virtual resources to help portray how they would conduct the mission if they were actually in the field.
At the outset of Spring Quarter, MSIII cadets were uncertain if they would be attending the 37-day Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox, KY. MSIII cadets are required to complete this training in order to commission as a second lieutenant. Cadets across the nation received guidance on May 11th, 2020 from Major General John Evans announcing that they would not be conducting a centralized CST at Fort Knox, but they will be completing the requirements at their home campuses during the 2020-2021 school year. That being said, it’s important that senior cadets and cadre enforce continuous training virtually to ensure that they are as prepared as they can be for when the time comes to conduct advanced training.
Interested in learning more about UCI’s ROTC program and how they can support your success? Then visit their website here. If you have questions about the program, then check out the article “FAQs About UCI’s ROTC Program” or contact the program coordinators here.