Army ROTC News
Team-Building: On and Off the Pitch
By Cadet Grace Kim ’22
When people hear the word “rugby,” many envision rough tackling and bloody, bruised personnel. However, rugby is more than mere physical aggression.
Many of us in the New River Battalion Army ROTC who are part of the Virginia Tech Women’s Rugby Club Team joined for the challenge, camaraderie, and community.
There are numerous challenges in being part of the rugby team.
Physically, you are constantly running and tackling others, pushing your body to its limits on top of personal workouts, Army PT, and daily practices.
Cadets must balance academic, Corps, and ROTC obligations, and rugby obligations (practices, service events, games). Many, including myself, joined the team to take ownership of our own time and obligations, allowing us to be motivated to maintain balance despite our busy schedules.
Camaraderie is a huge aspect of the rugby team. Just like the Army profession, trust plays a role in rugby, on and off the field. On the pitch, trust is valuable when making plays because you need to be able to trust that your teammates will pull their weight during games. Off the field, trust builds true bonds and friendships that help the team perform well in games.
Having fellow Army ROTC cadets on the team has been helpful, as we have kept each other accountable and bonded over common struggles.
The Women’s Rugby Club embodies Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) by volunteering for numerous events in the New River Valley. The emphasis on service to the community allows us to practice the Army value of selfless service even when we are not in uniform.
I am truly blessed to have been on this team since last year. I am very excited that more female cadets are joining to experience the valuable and fun lessons I’ve learned from being part of this team.
Although COVID-19 stopped us from playing games for a year, we are back to playing on our pitch on Airport Road. Come and support us!
Building Success Through Meaningful Repetitions
Mission success can be obtained through knowledge, repetition, experience, and hard work. Army ROTC cadets achieved such success, demonstrating all three of these skills during the third weekend of September, when they deployed with the New River Battalion for their Fall Field Training Exercise.
Nearly 500 cadets attended the three-day field training exercise to learn new skills. Seniors led the way in training the freshmen, sophomores, and juniors in preparation for Cadet Summer Training — a requirement for all cadets to pass prior to commissioning. Cadets typically attend summer training between their junior and senior years.
The New River Battalion is on its way to another successful year thanks to the efforts of the cadre and cadet leadership. Starting the school year with a successful weekend in the field, executing meaningful repetitions, has set the tone for what is required from the most senior to most junior cadet.
“River Forge; United in Service”