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| Hill receives highest
ROTC student honor |
Grayson
Mendenhall
Chancellor | Student Development Beat |
An Appalachian
State University ROTC cadet joined senior United States government
officials and other cadets from across the nation at the 26th annual
George C. Marshall ROTC Seminar in Lexington, Va., April 15-18.
Frank B. Hill, a 27-year-old senior psychology major from Chapel
Hill, was selected to participate in the event as the top Army ROTC
cadet at Appalachian.
While attending the seminar, Hill received the George C. Marshall
ROTC Award, given annually to the most outstanding Army ROTC cadet
from each university represented at the seminar.
“It is given to the top cadet for each college or institution
that hosts ROTC,” Hill said.
Hill has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments while attending
Appalachian.
He has served as cadet executive officer and as sergeant major for
the ROTC unit as well as been on the dean’s list at Appalachian.
Lt. Col. Robert M. Speir, chairperson of the department of military
science, said Hill was the most qualified to receive the award.
“He is a real good all-around student and cadet … he is
tremendously reliable,” Speir said Friday.
The award is named after George C. Marshall, known for his numerous
military achievements in the first half of the 20th century but
mainly for helping rebuild Europe after World War II with the Nobel
Peace Prize winning “Marshall Plan.”
The award is based on the cadet’s GPA, their performance in
the Army’s physical fitness test and evaluations of the cadet’s
leadership potential.
“Hill wasn’t the first choice, but the previous cadet
had issues academically so Hill was able to go to the seminar,”
Speir said.
The focus of the seminar this year was national security and the
role the U.S. military will play in terms of protecting it.
“It was three days of speeches by authorities on the subject
such as generals as well as the secretary of the army … there
were also two three-hour classes on electronic warfare and the roles
of non-commissioned officers,” Hill said.
Hill learned many skills at the seminar that he will use in his
future career in the military.
“The main thing I gained was politicking skills, how to rub
elbows, how to network, but above all, how to manage and lead,”
Hill said.
Maj. Gen. John T.D. Casey, commander of the Army ROTC program, said
Army ROTC provides the best leadership training in the world.
“We are all extremely proud of the scholar-athlete-leaders
selected to participate in the Marshall Seminar … At times
like these, it is comforting to know that our Army will have leaders
like this joining its ranks,” Casey said. |
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