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Since its inception, OSU’ s Army ROTC has commissioned more than 6,000 officers and more than 90 generals have come from its ranks.
“ OSU Army ROTC is very fortunate to have the ability to train our students as US Army officers at a high level,” Ferguson said. He said the students did“ exceptionally well” this year at an advanced competition against ROTC programs throughout the country. The cadets“ were ranked number 13 of 275 schools based on their evaluations, physical training, and tactical training.”
Ferguson added,“ We have a wide variety of students covering all academic majors and departments,” he said, pointing out that Army cadets are in the veterinarian school, equestrian team, intramural teams, Greek life, homecoming parades and a previous student was a founder of the hockey team.
“ OSU is an elite Air Force ROTC unit,” said Major Michael Vander Sys, assistant professor of aerospace studies.“ We routinely fall in the highest national rankings for cadet performance. I have been all over the country as an assessor to help evaluate other Air Force ROTC units, and I can confidently say our cadets are among the toughest, most motivated, highest performing cadets anywhere.”
“ Air Force ROTC is not an extracurricular activity, but an immersive training pipeline that synchronizes military officer qualification training with an undergraduate degree,” Vander Sys said.“ A distinct draw that keeps our program relevant is the sense of community and camaraderie that our cadets share. Similar to a fraternity or sorority, students who become cadets share a common purpose, common space and common bond – often through shared suffering during some tough workouts!”
Douglas Dollar of Stillwater, one of the distinguished ROTC graduates from OSU, achieved the rank of Major General in a US Army career, served in Vietnam as an infantry lieutenant, founded the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame and is executive director of the National Society of Scabbard and Blade, a military honor society for ROTC. He said that in his travels in military duties, it is a“ genuine distinction” to say he was a graduate of OSU ROTC.
" I am very impressed with the character and commitment of the OSU ROTC cadets today,” Dollar said.“ A few of us ROTC alumni meet once annually and are briefed by the cadre and some cadets, and it is always a revealing occasion. The training the cadets are receiving is notable, and also that they appear to have planned out their careers, at least in the near term. I certainly am proud of being an alumnus of this program.”
‘ An Important Life Moment’
One of Matt Barnes’ most memorable moments at OSU occurred when he had a unique opportunity to merge his two personas as Pistol Pete and an ROTC cadet.
OSU was honoring military veterans at a home football game against Houston. With fanfare, Barnes appeared on the field donning his massive Pistol Pete head – but he defied protocol and replaced Pete’ s usual orange chaps and cowboy attire with his ROTC camouflaged uniform.
It was in pre-game ceremonies. Military jets soared over the stadium. The national anthem played. Barnes saluted the American flag and became awash with emotion.
It was in pre-game ceremonies. Military jets soared over the stadium. The national anthem played. Barnes saluted the American flag and became awash with emotion.
“ It was really an important life moment,” Barnes recalled,“ when I saw myself standing there representing our nation in the uniform, and the university as Pistol Pete, and all of my family who have cared for this university for generations. It was something special.”
Michael Dale, the enrollment and scholarship officer at OSU Army ROTC and one of Barnes’ instructors at OSU, said it has been a joy to watch him emerge as a leader in life and work.
Dale pointed out that Barnes, in reality, wore more than two hats while on campus. In addition to being Pistol Pete and a cadet, he served in the Oklahoma National Guard and was a full-time student, eventually earning a master’ s degree in higher education leadership.
“ Matt Barnes personifies what it means to be a cadet at Oklahoma State,” Dale said.“ OSU Army ROTC cadets have always been actively involved in nearly every aspect of student life at OSU.
“ Matt is one of a long line of cadets that the Army ROTC program has created and continues to attract. Students who are well-rounded, leaders, successful at attaining goals and multi-talented,” Dale said.“ We develop these types of individuals every year at OSU … and these individuals are exactly what
SwOk the US Army strives to commission as officers.“
STORY BY: DALE INGRAM Stillwater Oklahoma Magazine
PHOTOS by OSU AND O ' COLLY ARCHIVES
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