Army ROTC
By Cadet Michael Peterson '26
The New River Battalion had another successful semester this fall, thanks to the work of our excellent cadre, staff, and committed cadet leadership. Following two years of being ranked as the top Army ROTC unit in the country, the excellence continues. One of the most notable reflections of the New River Battalion’s success was this semester’s Field Training Exercise (FTX). We conducted a 4-day FTX at Fort Pickett, Virginia, consisting of the entire New River Battalion. Cadets executed training in weapons familiarization and live fire ranges (M4 and M17), land navigation, tactical leadership lanes, ruck march, and warrior skills. Though cadets and staff faced tough weather conditions, with constant rain throughout the weekend, the battalion completed all training with professionalism and high morale. Tough, realistic training illustrates why Virginia Tech’s New River Battalion commissions the best lieutenants the United States Army has to offer.
Our success as a battalion is directly impacted by our phenomenal cadre and staff. Our current Military Science 1 professor, Master Sgt. Lucas Parrish, is a prime example. Over the summer, he received recognition as the instructor of the year for United States Army Cadet Command (USACC) which encompasses 274 universities nationwide. Since his arrival at Virginia Tech during the fall semester in 2023, he has made a tremendous, positive impact on all cadets in the New River Battalion. With a professional and confident demeanor, he is always willing to provide strong advice or lend a helping hand to aid in the excellence of our battalion. Parrish takes pride in the opportunity to train, mentor, and coach our cadets, a phrase that he lives by every day as a leader in the U.S. Army. For him, the reward is witnessing the cadet journey.
“Seeing the transformation of a cadet from MS1 to the day you commission them is rewarding,” said Master Sgt. Parrish.
His words and actions made it clear that he wants to leave the Army a better place than he found it, and he serves as a role model for our entire battalion.
The United States Army Cadet Command provides high-performing cadets with the unique opportunity to attend Army schools during the summer. The New River Battalion sends more cadets to schools than any other ROTC program in the nation. Thirteen cadets graduated from Air Assault schools in varying locations in 2025. Cadets Katy Lock and Christian Finken Duque graduated from the 3-week Airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia, completing five jumps each. Cadet Sean Borachok completed the Basic Military Mountaineering course in Jericho, Vermont. One-hundred and nine cadets completed the Cadet Summer Training (CST), a culminating event for their first three years in ROTC, at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and 39 cadets had the chance to shadow current Army leaders worldwide at Cadet Troop Leadership Training (CTLT). Cadet Jack Grassi attended CTLT at Camp Humphreys in South Korea, a unique experience for him that highlighted joint military relationships.
“My time at Camp Humphreys highlighted the excellent relationship between the U.S. and Korean Armed Forces and how many joint training exercises are incorporated on a day-to-day basis,” said Grassi.
The United States Army’s Sapper School has the reputation of one of the most challenging courses in the Armed Forces. It is a grueling 28-day course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, with a graduation rate of under 50 percent. For cadets, attending this school is the highest honor. The New River Battalion sent two cadets, Kai Cerana and David Iobst, both members of the battalion’s Ranger Company. Cadets Cerana and Iobst demonstrated levels of resilience and perfection in execution, skills that they honed during their 6-week assessment to join Ranger Company. Their completion of Sapper school is a testament to the quality of Virginia Tech Army ROTC cadets and the preparation and support the New River Battalion provides. Following graduation, the newly tabbed cadets received high praise from the Sapper School Commander, who stated that Virginia Tech sends the most capable and competent ROTC cadets they have seen. As the fall semester ends, the New River Battalion has already begun identifying cadets to send to the Army’s most prestigious schools and training centers this spring and summer. River Forge!