Forged to Lead: Inside the Islander ROTC Experience

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas­— The whir of rotor blades cuts through the early morning air as cadets line up, boots planted, eyes forward. A UH-60 Blackhawk waits just ahead, ready to lift the Islander Battalion into the sky. In a matter of minutes, those cadets will be whisked away to the La Copa training area, where a grueling 72-hour exercise will test everything they’ve learned this semester: marksmanship, rappelling from dizzying heights, maneuvering through obstacle courses, navigating unfamiliar terrain day and night, and leading tactical operations under pressure.

 This is what the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) looks like at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, a program defined by challenge, camaraderie, and the relentless pursuit of becoming something more.

 For freshman Rion Ochoa ’29, that pursuit is personal. What began as curiosity has quickly become a calling — one measured not only in miles or missions, but in growth.

“It’s stressful, but it’s going to make me strong,” Ochoa said. “Every drill, every rep, I give 100%; it’s all preparing me for the challenges ahead.”

Ochoa, a criminal justice major from Pleasanton, just south of San Antonio, represents a new generation of cadets embracing the challenge of the U.S. Army ROTC, a program which blends classroom academics with hands-on leadership and military training, preparing students to commission as officers in the U.S. Army upon graduation.

Like many of his peers in the Islander Battalion, Ochoa’s plans after high school did not initially include serving in  the military.

“I thought I might go into the oil field like my dad,” Ochoa said. “But then I saw the ROTC scholarships, and everything kind of fell into place.”

U.S. Army ROTC scholarships can be earned after a cadet’s first year, are worth more than $6,000 each semester, and are funded by U.S. Army Cadet Command. The program has been shaping leaders around the nation since 1916.

“Over 75% of officers in the Department of Defense come through programs like this,” said Lt. Col. Andrew Stevens, Professor of Military Science and the Islander Battalion’s commanding officer. “Our cadets spend four years balancing their degree requirements with military leadership training. It’s a demanding path, but the results speak  for themselves.”

Those results are impressive. Between their junior and senior years, cadets from around the country gather at Fort Knox, Kentucky, for a 35-day assessment known as ROTC Advanced Camp. It’s a grueling crucible of physical fitness tests, tactical operations, medical drills, and leadership evaluations. TAMU-CC’s program boasts a 100% success rate.

Stevens believes the Islander Battalion’s size gives it a unique advantage.

“Because we’re a smaller yet growing battalion, we can offer one-on-one mentorship. I know each cadet’s strengths and weaknesses and can help them compete nationally,” he said. “That’s why nearly 90% of our cadets get their first branch choice and 100% get their first or second branch choice after graduation.”

The battalion’s growth tells its own story. Now in his second year leading the Islander Battalion, Stevens said when he first arrived at TAMU-CC, the program numbered just over 30 cadets. Today, it’s more than doubled, with about 70 students in uniform and projections pointing past 80 by next year. That kind of momentum is rare at a time when many university ROTC programs are struggling to hold their ground — a sign that word is spreading about the unit’s leadership training, career opportunities, and culture of purpose.

“Not everyone has the same motivation or work ethic,” Ochoa said. “I’ve had to learn how to challenge people while still respecting their differences.”

That lesson comes early and often. First-year students typically start by observing labs and participating in team drills, while sophomores and juniors take on leadership roles as squad or platoon leaders. Seniors serve as mentors and planners, guiding operations which range from field exercises in the brush behind campus to tactical drills on the Momentum Campus training grounds. It’s a structure designed to build confidence step by step, turning timid first-year students into decisive leaders.

“Even cadets who were quiet and unsure at first end up standing in front of a formation and leading effectively,” said  1st Lt. Ashley Fryer ’21, a program alumna now deployed as a logistics officer with the 101st Airborne Division in the Middle East. “That transformation is one of the most rewarding parts of ROTC.”

Fryer, who studied biomedical sciences with a minor in military science at the Island University, didn’t know much about ROTC when she first arrived on campus.

“My dad suggested I sign up,” said Fryer, whose father and uncle each served 20 years in the military. “I loved the camaraderie, the leadership roles, and the mentorship. Even if you’re unsure about the military, I’d say give it a try for a year or two. It gives you a new perspective on leadership and a real confidence boost.”

The path to commissioning is rigorous. Freshmen attend lectures, physical training, and leadership labs for about five hours per week. By senior year, the commitment climbs to around eight hours a week, not counting extracurricular opportunities like Ranger Challenge, a two-day endurance event testing everything from navigation and marksmanship to teamwork under stress.

Ochoa, who captains the Ranger team, sees the challenge as a proving ground.

“The Ranger competition is exhausting. You’re running on little sleep, pushing your limits, leading under pressure,” Ochoa said. “But it’s exactly what I need to prepare for Ranger School after college.”

ROTC’s influence on cadets often extends far beyond graduation. Stevens says the mentorship aspect of his job, helping students navigate not only military decisions but also financial planning and personal challenges, is one of the most meaningful parts of the role.

“This program doesn’t just produce officers,” Stevens said. “It builds resilience, discipline, and leadership skills which will serve students whether they stay in the Army for four years or four decades.”

For Fryer, lessons learned in ROTC proved invaluable as she transitioned from college cadet to officer.

“ROTC taught me to lead through words, not just actions,” Fryer said. “As battalion commander my senior year,

I learned how to delegate tasks, build confidence in others, and lead effectively without doing everything myself. Those skills are essential in the field.”

And while Fryer now oversees logistics for a Combat Aviation Brigade halfway around the world, she still carries with her the lessons she learned at the Island University and watches the battalion’s progress from afar with pride.

“I’m proud of how much the program has grown,” Fryer said. “The training, the coordination, even the social media presence — it’s stronger every year. And bonds you build here, those never fade.”

Upon graduation, every ROTC student is commissioned as a 2nd Lt., but not all will enter the Army the same way. Cadets rank nationwide using a points-based system that weighs leadership evaluations, academics, physical fitness, and summer training performance. Cadets at the top of the list get first pick — including coveted active-duty slots, serving full-time as Army officers. Others are assigned to the Reserves or National Guard, where they balance military commitments with civilian careers.

“Plan A for me is active duty,” Ochoa said. “I’m working hard to earn the chance to serve full time.”

In a program built on challenge, mentorship, and relentless pursuit of growth, Ochoa and his fellow cadets are charting their own courses — one drill, one decision, one leadership lesson at a time.