UMD Army ROTC

This university’s Army ROTC program was one of eight to receive the MacArthur Award, which honors the top eight programs in the country.

The award, presented in May by the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Foundation, recognizes programs committed to “the ideals of ‘duty, honor and country,’” according to a news release. This university, representing the 4th Brigade, ranked first out of the 38 senior Army ROTC programs in the mid-Atlantic region, the news release stated.

Award recipients were distinguished by the achievement of their schools’ commissioning mission, high performance levels and a high cadet retention rate, according to the news release.

This is the second time since 2011 this university’s program received the award, said Lt. Col. Curtis Burrell, this university’s Army ROTC director. He said the win can be attributed to the caliber of the students enrolled in the program and the mentorship of those students.

Cadet Robert Knieriem, a junior finance and marketing major, said his battalion is competitive and self-motivated. It had an average GPA of 3.2 and an average Army Physical Fitness Test score of 265-269 out of 300, according to this university’s Army ROTC website.

“It sucks getting up early in the morning, especially after long nights,” Knieriem said. “But we’re high achievers at Maryland. We get good grades, and we do really well.”

Knieriem and his fellow cadets report for physical training, usually consisting of running, weight lifting or other high-intensity workouts, most mornings at 6 a.m. The workout typically ends at either 7:30 or 8 a.m., giving the cadets enough time to make it to morning classes.

Cadets are expected to balance their general coursework with at least one Army course per semester, according to this university’s Army ROTC website. Instructors offer little direct guidance outside the classroom, said kinesiology major Ryan Scott.

“What’s interesting about the ROTC program is how hands-off the cadre is,” Scott said. “Everyday operations really come down to the cadets.”

Upperclassmen cadets essentially run the battalion, Scott said, devoting at least five days per week to commanding and planning morning physical training. They also help lead and structure weekly lab courses.

“It’s a true leadership challenge to make missions a success while also balancing all of your exams, labs, papers and general rigor of courses,” said Oliver Fryer, an Army ROTC alumnus and a former recruiter for the program. “Sometimes, you have to be willing to put in some extra hours.” But the balance is less demanding than people think, he said.

Leadership skills are assessed at the end of every cadet’s junior year via the Leader Development and Assessment Course. 33 percent of cadets at this university received scores of “excellent” on the LDAC, and 18.3 percent placed in the top five since 2005, according to the university ROTC’s website.

“There’s so much that goes into it, all kinds of requirements to fulfill every year,” Scott said. “But ROTC makes you more fulfilled, more well-rounded and actually teaches leadership.”

These accomplishments, coupled with the university’s prestige, help the majority of cadets — 87 percent — receive either their first or second branch choice upon joining the Army, according to the group’s website.

“These kids are willing to learn and work hard,” Burrell said. “The quality of students at Maryland sets us apart.”