All cadets also have opportunities and responsibilities between semesters. Below are some of our exciting options through Army ROTC!
Nurse Summer Training Program
For Junior and Senior Students:
The NSTP is a three-week clinical elective for Army ROTC nurse cadets that takes place between junior and senior year. Attendance is voluntary. This paid elective is conducted at Army hospitals in the United States, Germany and Korea. You attend NSTP during the summer with Advanced Camp, which is usually attended between the Junior and Senior year of college. During the NSTP clinical elective, you will receive “hands on” experience under the direct supervision of a preceptor — an Army Nurse Corps officer who works with you one-on-one.
While you follow the same duty schedule as your preceptor, you could receive training in such areas as patient assessment, planning of patient care, nutrition maintenance and feeding techniques, range of motion and mobility, medication administration, emergency procedures, intravenous (IV) therapy, and other special techniques. Partnership in Nursing Education Programs award academic credit for this program. And by the end of the summer, NSTP will have shown you a preview of the real world of nursing, developed your professional skills and given you valuable insights into your abilities. NSTP provides nursing students an opportunity to practice leadership and clinical skills between their junior and senior year of college.
This past summer, I had the opportunity to go to Ft. Benning, GA to complete the Nurse Summer Training Program (NSTP) at Martin Army Community Hospital (BMACH). During the 4 weeks I was there, I interned in the Labor & Delivery, Mother-Baby, and Medical Surgical Unit. I assisted in a natural birth, scrubbed in for a Cesarean birth (I administered a nerve block injection with the Anesthesiologist), performed prenatal and postnatal care to new moms, and did workups (baths, vaccinations, weights. etc.) on the babies. On the Medical Surgical unit, I administered all types of medications and cared for patients with different diagnoses across the adult lifespan (trainees with Cellulitis, soldiers with fractures from Jump Week, elderly patients who were not recovering). I learned how to start IVs with and without an Ultrasound Machine and perform Electrocardiograms (EKGs), both of which I do not learn in my Nursing program. I was the team Leader for the few cadets that were in the same cycle as me. We worked together on a presentation that we briefed to the Commander of the hospital about Communication. I participated in Ventilators, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Life Support (ALS), Code Blue, and Code Cart training.
This experience was worthwhile because I got to do and see a lot more contrary to my experiences in Clinical at my home school, Stevenson University. Although I shadowed LPNs and RNs during NSTP, I was more autonomous in my patient care. I got to confidently display my clinical knowledge and facilitate my learning opportunities because of the independence and trust the BMACH team instilled. I got firsthand experience of what it will be like as an Army Nurse. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and am even more excited to Commission this May!
CDT Shiana Allen, Stevenson Class of 2023
Cadet Troop Leadership Training
For Junior and Senior Students:
Cadet Troop Leadership Training (CTLT) is designed as a “follow-on” training experience for ROTC Advanced Camp graduates. CTLT offers cadets the opportunity to intern and perform the duties of a Second Lieutenant for up to one month with an active duty unit in the continental United States or overseas.
Actual duties performed will vary by branch and unit but will generally be those duties expected of a Second Lieutenant in that unit. Many cadets will serve as either platoon leaders or assistant platoon leaders. This is a fantastically rewarding opportunity and should be sought by all eligible cadets. Cadets receive pay and allowance equal to 1/2 that of a second lieutenant. Must be an Advanced Camp graduate and not participating in the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP).
Last summer, I had the opportunity to join A Troop, 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division for Cadet Troop Leadership Training (CTLT) and shadow a 2nd Lieutenant in his daily duties and what leading a platoon was actually like, to include the types of relationships that are formed between your enlisted personnel and yourself. I learned a great deal, such as how hectic a surprise deployment can be, how to deal with various situations that present themselves unexpectedly, and how to manage many things at once while also adhering to the training schedule put out by higher headquarters. What I found to be the fun from the training was to see the change in tempo from being in a National Guard unit to an Active-Duty unit, going to the range to qualify on an M240B machine gun, and seeing what type of work behind the scenes goes into making various training events happen. The knowledge I learned during CTLT helps me prepare to be a Platoon Leader by letting me know what to expect and giving me valuable experience to pass on to my fellow peers so that they may succeed at their units as well.
CDT Olexandr Logvinovsky, UMBC class of 2022
Airborne School
For Sophomore and Juniors Students:
Looking for summer adventure between yourĀ sophomoreĀ and junior academic year?Ā Do you thinkĀ you have what it takes to step up to the door of an airplane, look down at theĀ landingĀ zone, jumpĀ 1,000 feetĀ and land safely–ready to fight? The sky’s the limit in Airborne. Airborne School is a three-week school conducted at Fort Benning, GA and is the most popular of all the special training courses offered.Ā Ā
Instruction is broken down into three one-week phases, Ground Week, Tower Week, and Jump Week, and encompasses all aspects of jumping. In Jump Week, the student makes five parachute jumps at 1250 feet from a C-130 or C-141 airplane. A cadet obtains a slot in Airborne School by virtue of his/her performance during the school year.
Over the summer, I had the opportunity to go to Airborne School down in Fort Benning, Georgia! This experience was so much fun – I met cadets from other schools, lived on base, and, of course, jumped out of a plan a few times. In Tower Week, we practiced exiting the aircraft by jumping out of a 34′ tower and ziplinning across the field. 34 feet is where people tend to realize their fear of heights; luckily I had no such fear. Our last (and hardest) week was Jump Week – we woke up at 3 am to sit in the shed, harnessed up to 100+ pounds of equipment for 12 hours – but there was no greater feeling than facing my fears and trusting my training and equipment, as I exited the aircraft, went into freefall, and then eventually floated down to the ground. After landing, I packed up my parachute and rucked back to the pickup site, ready to do it all over again!
CDT Kaitlin Pinaire, JHU class of 2022
Air Assault
For Sophomores and Junior Students:
Another exciting summer adventure opportunity for cadets. Air Assault School is a two-week school conducted at various posts across the country. Instruction is centered around the combat assault from helicopters. The school is broken into three phases. The first covers conducting air assault operations; the second covers sling loading equipment to helicopters; and the third instructs the student on all aspects of rappelling. The school is physically demanding, and the student is required to conduct two road marches within specified time blocks. Successful completion of this school qualifies the cadet to wear the Air Assault Badge.
Last summer, I attended Air Assault School at West Point, New York. The course consisted of three phases: combat assault phase, sling load phase, and rappel phase. The course began with the dreaded “Day Zero” and concluded with a 12 mile ruck. Even though Air Assault was demanding, there were many unique (and even fun!) parts. I was able to meet and befriend many new cadets from around the country, get hands-on training attaching sling loads like the M1151 armored HMMWV, and even rappel 90 feet out of a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. As I prepare to commission into the Army as an officer, this course taught me many valuable skills such as being attentive to detail, following directions, and persevering when times get tough. Air Assault!
CDT Grant Walnoha, JHU class of 2022
