John Bomsta
Current Class: Junior
Graduation Date: April 2012
Major: Biophysics
Minor: History
Hometown: Bear Lake, Idaho
Other Interests: Farming/Ranching, Outdoors
On Choosing to Join Army ROTC
My first year at BYU was Fall of '07. I was a civil engineering major and I had no idea what ROTC was. During that winter semester I realized that I didn't want to be an engineer and I began looking around at options. I ate lunch in the Cougar Eat one day and two of our Cadre sat at my table. I asked them what they did on campus and by the end of that day I was signed up for ROTC. I first joined because I thought it would be a fun class and it was. I have always wanted to join the services but didn't know when that time would come as I had previously been engaged in college. ROTC has allowed me to get an education, gain leadership experience, and be in the service.
On Cadre quality in the ROTC
The quality of our Cadre is superb. I am thoroughly impressed with how well prepared and polished most of the BYU ROTC cadets are. Much of their preparedness and quality is a reflection of their instructors. I have enjoyed learning and interacting with the Cadre at BYU.
On what friends and/or family think of your participation in ROTC
My father was a Marine during the height of the Vietnam War. He had always told my older three brothers not to join the Marines. My family initially wondered why I would join ROTC (in their eyes the Army) when I was in the middle of my schooling. They had heard to many horror stories though. As things have progressed and they have seen the good aspects of ROTC, they have become much more comfortable with the situation.
