Commandant's Column

Moving Forward Always

By Commandant of Cadets Maj. Gen. Randal D. Fullhart, U.S. Air Force (retired)

It is a busy time in a busy year. It always seems to be that way. Fall semesters are filled with major events and we rarely find an open weekend between football games, reunions, leadership training events, and ROTC requirements. When spring semester rolls around, the assumption would be that it would come at a slower pace. It never does. The full sprint to the end of the semester hits around Military Ball and before we know it, command selection, graduation, and planning for cadet training in August is upon us.

We are also looking, along with the university, outward at the cost of education and barriers to access that our cadets and prospective cadets are facing.

Some senior military colleges (SMC) are now offering in-state rates for all cadets and free room and board to any cadet with an ROTC scholarship. Other SMCs are following suit.   

For us, achieving in-state rates for cadets requires permission from the Commonwealth. Covering room and board would require a substantial increase in financial support to the Corps, not just from alumni and friends of the Corps, but a whole university and Commonwealth approach. Meeting our campaign goals now has a new sense of urgency.

The need for global, ethical leaders remains important, now, more than ever. Smaller populations of high school graduates, and lower numbers that meet the basic requirements for serving in the military, paired with low unemployment, fewer families with first-hand knowledge of our military, adjustments in ROTC scholarship awards, and the rising cost of higher education are the challenges of our time.   

We have the state-of-the-art facilities to house (and programs to inspire) a corps of 1,400.  

It is going to take work by everyone to accomplish our mission of filling our facilities with cadets capable of becoming “leaders of character.”  

 As we think of these things, we look forward to the coming year when we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of women in the Corps. In 1973, we welcomed extraordinary women to blaze a trail that countless others have followed. The Corps admitted women not because we were told to, not because we were ordered to, but because we lead from the front and set the example. We will be welcoming many of these strong women back to campus throughout the year and during Corps Reunion to share their stories, experiences, and how the Corps shaped their lives that followed.

For all our challenges, this is the year where we stake our claim on the future and announce boldly for all to hear: the Corps is here and moving forward!