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Six Niagara University ROTC cadets rank in top 20 percent of nation

by jmaloni

Submitted

Wed, Dec 4th 2013 12:55 pm

Six Niagara University students are among the top 20 percent of the 5,479 ROTC cadets nationwide that were ranked via the U.S. Army Cadet Command's cadet accessions and branching board.

According to results released Nov. 20, seniors Kit Burdick (Oswego), Ethan Froelich (Albany), Mitchell Willie (Wappingers Falls), Christian Beaucage (Syracuse), Edmond Moloney (Rock Tavern) and William Olszewski (Skaneateles) placed in the top fifth of the National Accessions Order of Merit List.

This year, 5,479 cadets from the 272 host Reserve Officer Training Corps program were evaluated on metrics that include:

  • Cumulative GPA.
  • Physical fitness.
  • The cadet's leadership performance on campus.
  • Evaluation during a leadership development and assessment course conducted at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Wash.
  • Participation in events held by the ROTC program.
  • Participation in athletics (varsity, club, and/or intramural).

Additionally, the Niagara University Purple Eagle Battalion had 11 of 13 (85 percent) cadets who elected to compete for active duty Army commissions accessed on to active duty. Last year the U.S. Army Cadet Command average for active duty officer accession was 58 percent (the Purple Eagle Battalion had 91 percent of its cadets accessed onto active duty).

"The recent achievements of our cadets continue the outstanding Niagara University legacy of developing quality future leaders for the Army," stated Lt. Col. Paul Dansereau, professor of military science. "There are several factors that contribute to the success of our cadets, including Niagara's low faculty-to-student and cadet-to-cadre ratios that facilitate individual mentorship and development training, as well as our battalion's ability to place our cadets in positions of responsibility and leadership, both within the cadre and the university. It is truly an honor to be part of such a proud and successful battalion."

Niagara University's Army ROTC program is consistently ranked among the best in the country, previously garnering the No. 1 standing in the U.S. for recruitment, retention and quality of training in 2004; being named the No. 1 program in the Northeast in 2008; and for achieving the highest average national active duty accessions board ranking in the Northeast for fiscal year 2013.

Military alumni of Niagara include two Medal of Honor recipients, Gen. William Donovan and Lt. John Bobo, and a humanitarian nominated for sainthood, Father Nelson Baker. Being in close proximity to Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station and the regional Military Entrance Processing Station, Niagara is responsive to the unique needs of military students, veterans and dependents.

Niagara University participates in the Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program, a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008.

For more information on Niagara University's ROTC program, visit http://purple.niagara.edu/rotc. To learn more about services that NU offers for veterans, go to www.niagara.edu/veterans.

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