A “Welcome Back Lab” was held  August 19 on MSU’s campus honoring the cadets of the ROTC program. Cadets were awarded scholarships during the afternoon’s activities, along with various hors d’oeuvres for all to enjoy.
Brendan Jones, sophomore   kinesiology major, from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, competed his entire freshman year through physical training, academics and extracurricular activities in order to receive the ROTC scholarship.
 “When I set my goals high, I usually try my best to achieve them,” Jones said.
     Jones said that he was overwhelmed to finally be accepted and be on the payroll.
    LTC Brian Locke, professor of Military Science/Battalion Commander, described the different types of scholarships that were received.
 “There’s a national board that meets three times a year for high school seniors,” Locke said. “So it takes a number of things into consideration, their ACT score, GPA, leadership involvement, sports activities, and they have to do an interview with a professor of military science.”
 Locke said those requirements must be met at the national level, resulting in any high school senior being able to apply.
MA    Brad Hollingsworth, assistant recruiting operations officer, described how current Mississippi State students can work to earn scholarships by going to class and maintaining a 3.0 GPA or higher.
A standardized test score and past high school achievements are recognized as well. Hollingsworth said about half of the students earned this type and the other half have earned the Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty scholarships.
Hollingsworth said warfare in the future will be different than it is today and eligible students should apply for the ROTC scholarship.
Hollingsworth said to a student, “It’s not about what the army can give you, but what can you give to the army.”
 
“We’re all accustomed to tanks and infantry and men running across battlefields,” Hollingsworth said. “In twenty years I don’t think that’s what war is going to look like. It’s going to be fought socially, economically, politically; different than what we’re accustomed to.”
Hollingsworth described why young adults need to continue applying for these scholarships and the assets they will be to the military.
“We need their minds to help us win the wars in twenty to thirty years from now,” Hollingsworth said.
The ROTC program teaches young adults responsibility, perseverance and valuable leadership skills that guarantees success in their futures.      For further information regarding MSU’s ROTC program and available scholarships contact MAJ Brad Hollingsworth by phone at (662)-325-3503/1585 or via email at bhollingsworth at armyrotc.msstate.edu.