"The order, the self-discipline, the pride that had been instilled in me by ROTC was a tremendous companion to my basic liberal arts education and prepared me well for my Army career, or for that matter, any career I might have chosen." Secretary of State Colin Powell, former Chairman, The Joint Chiefs of Staff.
News & Events
OSU mascot Pistol Pete (as performed by Army ROTC cadet Matthew Barnes) during the flyby that took place as part of a salute to the armed forces during the OSU-Iowa State home game on November 1, 2008
Cowboy Stars in National MTV Video
OSU Army ROTC veterninary science sophomore Tyler White was recently featured in a national MTV video about university students and the jobs they are preparing for. To view the video, use the following link: http://www.mtvu.com/video/?id=1599361&vid=319363
Three Cadets Top in Their Regiment
Three out of the fourteen Cowboys sent to Warrior Forge this summer earned top honors. John Andrews and Stephen Gagnon received the Association of U.S. Army 2008 Outstanding Cadet Award. Andrews is university studies major for Elgin, OK and Gagnon is a construction management technology major from Tulsa, OK. Troy Duerr a fire protection and safety technology major from Ripon, CA., earned the Sinclair L. Melner Award for outstanding performance. John Andrews was selected as highest rated cadet out of 381 cadets in his regiment. Gagnon was ranked the number one cadet out of 363 cadets. Troy Duerr was the second highest rated cadet out of 295 cadets. LDAC or Warrior Forge is a very challenging course; to earn top honors such as these is an extremely incredible achievement. Oklahoma State was the only university in the nation to have multiple award winners. This says a great deal about the quality of training and the quality cadets and cadre we have in the Cowboy Battalion. Cadets Gagnon and Andrews plan to join the Army’s Infantry branch and Duerr plans to join the Army’s Aviation branch. Infantry and Aviation are the most competitive branches out of the sixteen. Congratulations Cowboys!
Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Hensley, Professor of Military Science; Cadets Troy Duerr, Stephen Gagnon, John Andrews; Dr. Burns Hargis, OSU President; Dr. Peter Sherwood, Dean of College of Arts and Sciences; at the September 2, 2008, Leadership lab and awards ceremony. (click on above box to view photo)
COWBOYS Dominate Warrior Forge 2008
The Cadets and Cadre of the Oklahoma State University Cowboy Battalion completed another summer at Ft. Lewis, WA. Fourteen cadets graduated from Warrior Forge, six of which received an “Excellence” rating from their evaluators. Warrior Forge or the Leadership Development Assessment Course (LDAC), tests the cadets ability to make decisions in difficult situations in different leadership positions ranging from platoon to company. Cadets that attend LDAC receive six evaluations: 2 Garrison, 2 Squad Tactical Exercise (STX), 1 Field Leadership Reaction Course, and 1 patrolling. During LDAC cadets also participate in, first aid training, weapons familiarization, combative training, Land Navigation, etc. During their MS III year here at OSU, the cadets received extensive training on land navigation, company garrison operations and STX/ Patrolling operations. Major Michael Dale is the MS III instructor who developed the course curriculum and crucial training plans that prepared those individuals. Each year lessons learned from the previous class are applied in order to improve the quality of training. Focusing on strengthening the weak points in the training in order ensure success for future classes. The MS III cadets whom returned from Warrior Forge finished extremely well, with the highest overall ranking in the brigade. Oklahoma State had the 2nd Highest Land Navigation score and 2nd Highest Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) score in the 10th Brigade. The cowboys finished above the brigade’s average in all events. The returning class was held in high regards prior to departing for Ft. Lewis. Each cadet did exceptionally well as expected and has definitely set the bar for the new class. Now veteran instructor, Major Dale has a new crop of MS III cadets to mold into leaders, with the acquirement of new equipment, lessons, and assets; the future is bright for the Cowboy Battalion.
