ROTC. This is a program that few know about, understand, or partake in. ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) is a program that trains college students in leadership, military tactics, and basic military skills in order to commission as officers in the United States Army, Marines, Navy, or Air Force upon college graduation. I am currently an MSI (or in other words, an ROTC freshman) in Army ROTC. As winter break approaches and my first semester of both college and ROTC are coming to a close, I have looked back on being an MSI. So, for your enjoyment, here are 5 things you will probably think of as an MSI in Army ROTC:

1. When You're Doing Land Nav: "What do you mean there's more than one North?"

Ah, yes. Land Navigation. Every directionally challenged MSI's worst nightmare. In a nutshell, land navigation (land nav for short) is using maps and compasses in order to plot and find designated points in an area of land. There we all were, standing in the middle of a clearing in the woods when I hear a question being asked. "Which North is it?" A cadet pondered. Which North? What the hell do you mean, "which North"? Soon, all my pre-conceived notions of direction were destroyed as I learned of the three types of North: True North, Grid North, and Magnetic North. In that moment, I had come to the conclusion: "Oh man, am I going to get really lost"; And oh man was right my friends, oh man was right.

2. When Someone Says, "Thank you for your service!"

You're walking back to your dorm from lab, adorned in your ROTC issued ACU's. Then, you notice it. There is another human walking towards you on the sidewalk, with a smile on their face. Naturally, you smile back, but as they walk closer, you see their mouth moving in the form of words, five words that could make any first-year cadet become totally petrified by awkwardness. Out of their mouths you hear, "Thank you for your service!". In the split two seconds you have to respond, you will probably mutter something unintelligible as you are somehow trying to combine the phrases, "But I'm not enlisted" and "But I'm just in ROTC" and awkwardly scurry away. Good job, cadet.

3. When Your Roommate Says, "My 8 a.m. lecture is just so early".

Granted, those who decide to participate in ROTC willingly choose to get up at "O-dark thirty" for PT, lab, or training events. As MSI's, many of us have never had to routinely awaken before the sun decides to bless the earth with its presence. So you can say it's a little normal for us, "early wake up newbies" to snap at a roommate who is complaining about waking up when the sun has already been out for more than an hour. Still, there are times when we can't help but reiterate how tired we are by 8 a.m. by responding with, "I've already been up for 4 hours. Cry me a river".

4. When You're On Your Way To FTX: "This is going to be so cool!" And Post FTX: "This is the end"

FTX translates to Field Training Exercise, which also translates to a weekend or so of little to no sleep, blisters, and a severe case of the grumps. Initially, you think FTX is going to be tough, but a good time. You'll build camaraderie, friendship, confidence in yourself and strengthen your knowledge about life in the field. What really happens is you will nervously hover around an older cadet, following their every move so you have some grasp on just what in the world is going on and hope you don't screw up. In the end, FTX is not that bad of a time and you really do learn a lot. Just two things to remember: follow the packing list and get your blisters taped up by the medic on hand.

5. When You're About To Take The Combat Water Survival Test: "Oh, God, am I going to be the first cadet to die from this?"

You're in your ACU's and you're supposed to what? Oh yeah, that's right. Swim the length of a pool keeping your rifle above water, get pushed into water and take your FLC (think of it as a vest you would wear in combat) off underwater, then jump off of a diving board blindfolded while holding a rifle above your head. As you walk to the pool, you think to yourself, "Lone cadet dies in tragic swimming accident" would be an adequate title for the article describing your accidental death in tomorrow's newspaper. In all seriousness, the actual test is not scary by any means. But before you take it, all you can think about is standing blindfolded off a high rise diving board and if the small possibility of drowning creeps into your head, well, Somebody needs to grab the chaplain because you need to say a few Hail Mary's.

ROTC is really nothing like I expected it to be, and for that I am grateful. This program is teaching me new things about not only the military, but about myself everyday. Although I am just an MSI who is still new to the program, I can honestly say I have never found a group of people, from freshmen in college to graduate students, so profoundly tight knit, caring, and determined to help serve this country. Each day I wake up and I am proud to know and strive for excellence along side of these incredible individuals.