New ROTC Training Exercise Builds Leadership

PROVO, Utah – Apr 15, 2015 – Sprinting from challenge to challenge over hills and through fields, Brigham Young University Army ROTC cadets had the chance to develop not only their physical stamina but also their mental prowess during the program’s new Leadership Development Exercise.

The training, held at the end of the semester at Camp Williams in Riverton, Utah, was an updated version of the annual Field Training Exercise for ROTC students from BYU, Utah Valley University, Southern Utah University and Dixie State University.

“Our new training looks at the holistic range of what an army officer has to face today,” says Lieutenant Colonel Chanda Mofu, BYU professor of military science. “Instead of just being tactically focused on conducting maneuvers against an enemy, we’re trying to build leaders who will lead in their communities as well.”

The training exercises reflect the changing roles of military officers and prepare students for all aspects of leadership. Challenges included creating plans for an enemy when civilians are present, dealing with nongovernmental organizations in a conflict area and combating terrorist groups.

A program included for the first time this year was a 10-kilometer tactical lanes challenge. Squads of nine cadets worked together to find and complete tasks such as performing first aid, taking a written test and providing artillery in a call for arms. Squads were led by sophomores instead of juniors or seniors, giving underclassmen opportunities to lead and learn.

“It was cool to work with someone who was my same age and in a leadership position,” says Makayla O’Reilly, an exercise science freshman from Middletown, Conn. “I got to see how people adapt and step up to fulfill a role when asked,” she says.

She says the tactical lanes course was not only the most challenging part of the weekend but also the exercise she learned the most from.

“It was about seventy degrees with no shade, and we were running from station to station,” she says. “A lot of our team members had blisters from running a marathon earlier. Thankfully the military does a good job of teaching us to all look out for each other and make sure everyone is doing all right, and we all did well.”

Brendan Hales, a philosophy senior from Sandy, Utah, helped plan the tactical lanes course and says the weekend was a valuable experience for all involved.

“Instead of making it a stressful situation with someone grading you, the training was focused more on mentoring and development,” he says. “Everything came together well and it was rewarding to see everyone learn and grow.”

The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally recognized programs in accounting, business management, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems and public management. The school’s mission is to prepare men and women of faith, character and professional ability for positions of leadership throughout the world. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School’s graduate and undergraduate programs.