"I stumbled upon the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps ( 

ROTC

 ) scholarship in the middle of senior year when my high school guidance counselor handed me an application. Before then I hadn't heard of ROTC, let alone considered the military as a career possibility.

"After a lengthy application process that included references, an interview with an Air Force Major, and an in-depth physical, I was awarded a three-year scholarship. This type of award doesn't pay for the first year of college, but picks up the sophomore, junior, and senior years, giving students a chance to try out the ROTC program before they commit. I chose a university and entered the ROTC program that fall.

"As a freshman cadet, I learned military basics. During Leadership Lab, a three-hour course held once a week, we learned how to salute, drill, and properly wear the Air Force uniform. Every week of the lab was different. Sometimes we practiced taking our physical fitness test, or PFT. Other weeks, we reviewed Air Force policy, which included details about the chain of command, military ethics, and leadership basics. ROTC also taught me how to work with other people, to take pride in my work, and to pay attention to detail. These last skills helped me greatly in my studies as well as in the workplace.

"At the end of my freshman year, I chose not to accept my scholarship. Although the experience was a positive one, I realized that a military career was not for me. Looking back, I am glad I participated in the program, even if only for one year. It helped me seriously consider what I wanted to do after graduation. And I learned that I was too out of shape to pass the PFT!"

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