The ROTC program at Ball State continues to produce modern leaders with the tools to make a difference within our community and the U.S. Army. Through this program, the ROTC produce graduates and leaders of character and a sense of service to a cause bigger than the individual. Senior Elizabeth McClure’s involvement with the ROTC is undeniable in helping her gain new experiences and developing her passion for her desired career field.

McClure is a senior majoring in Nursing with a Military Science minor. Her journey to the ROTC started in high school when she applied for a National Army ROTC scholarship and received a four-year scholarship to cover her tuition and fees. This opportunity was sought out because she wanted to serve others while looking for ways to handle college expenses. She officially joined the ROTC program at Ball State University as a freshman.

McClure has been able to participate in numerous experiences because of the ROTC program.

“This program has given me many opportunities to travel and develop my skills as a soldier and as a nurse,” McClure said. “I was able to participate in an immersive cultural experience where I learned Arabic for six weeks in North Carolina, attended Air Assault School at West Point Military Academy in New York, and gained clinical nursing experience in the OR at Bassett Army Community Hospital in Alaska.”

McClure will be an Army nurse where she will work in facilities caring for soldiers and use her nursing skills daily. The Army does a fantastic job with making sure ROTC cadets are prepared for what lies ahead of them and equipping them with the skills necessary to excel.

“There are a variety of courses offered by the Army that allow nurses to specialize in specific areas such as the Intensive Care Unit, Operating Room, Mental Health, Obstetrics, and more,” McClure said. “I will serve as a soldier and as a nurse every day, and it is a great honor to do so.”

Any college student can relate to wanting to create a work life balance between school, extracurricular activities, and social life. For ROTC cadets, they are balancing their education while serving their country. The weight of it all sounds daunting, but cadets are prepared because of the training they receive from the ROTC and from the skills they have acquired through their studies at Ball State University.

“It is difficult to balance ROTC and nursing, but it can be done with early communication and good time management,” McClure said. “ROTC is challenging but worth the benefits and the opportunity to serve our blessed country.”

Ball State’s College of Health loves seeing students apply what they are learning in the classroom to real life scenarios that can make a lasting impact in society. ROTC has the capabilities of preparing students to achieve great things in their career field.

“ROTC has shaped my character and taught me about individual discipline,” McClure said. “There are a lot of things a person cannot control in this world, however, a person can adapt and overcome with the right mindset.”