Duquesne ROTC students move up the ranks

A group of ROTC students running on a track while carrying American flags during a military event. — [Courtesy of Amani Mitchell] Amani Mitchell (second from left) and other cadets carry flags during the annual 9/11 Run to Remember at Carnegie Mellon University.

Charlotte Shields-Rossi | a&e editor

Up at the odd hour of 4:45 a.m., Conlan Moore is running and doing pushups, Monday through Thursday, all because he dreams of becoming a U.S. Air Force officer.

“[I’m] definitely sleep deprived a lot more than the average college student,” Moore said.

Moore is one of 104 ROTC students at Duquesne, who will join the armed forces in some capacity after graduation.

“Our goal is to bring in the best possible students that we can for the Army, Navy and Air Force to produce the best possible leaders for the future of the military,” said Christopher Boissonnault, director of the Office for Military and Veteran Students at Duquesne.

All 104 students choose between those three branches, whose facilities are housed at universities across Pittsburgh.The Army’s home base is at Duquesne, the Navy is located at Carnegie Mellon University and the Air Force is at the University of Pittsburgh.

Moore always knew he wanted to be in the military. With both of his grandfathers serving in World War II and a father with a passion for military history, he said service is his heritage.

After high school, he had a decision to make: Go to a military academy or join a college ROTC program.

He chose the latter because he didn’t want to be in a military setting all the time.

“I like the idea of having a normal college experience, while also still receiving officer training,” he said.

He will graduate from Duquesne as a second lieutenant.

Boissonnault said when these students graduate, they will be in charge of more than 200 subordinates.

A person carrying another on their back during a fitness training session at dawn on a sports field. — [Courtesy of Conlan Moore] Conlan Moore fireman carries another cadet at an early morning workout at the University of Pittsburgh. Workouts start as early as 5:30 a.m.

To prepare them, ROTC students are required to take a leadership laboratory class.

“Basically you are just training how to become a leader,” Moore said. “It’s a leadership development program.”

Moore said the skills the program has taught him, such as public speaking, problem solving and time management, have helped him in the classroom.

“The balance is definitely tough, and it’s also something that just has to be figured out with time,” he said.

After graduating, Moore will travel to Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas, to receive job specific training in military intelligence, at which time he will become active duty.

Seniors like Moore, lead the ROTC program, although their leadership roles begin sophomore year.

Sophomores like Amani Mitchell, a nursing major, are tasked with mentoring ROTC freshmen. Mitchell has dreams of becoming a U.S. Navy nurse, combining the professions of her father, who was in the Navy as an aircraft mechanic, and her mother, who is a nurse at a hospital.

She said her future career is a perfect blend of both of her parent’s occupations.

“I just really like medicine. I feel like it’s magic,” she said. “I also really love helping people.”

After serving in the Navy, she hopes to retire and become a middle school nurse. Choosing a nursing major on top of ROTC means that after graduating, she won’t have to do any additional training.

Mitchell said being in ROTC has changed her college experience. She said it keeps her disciplined, but doesn’t compromise her freedom.

“I still have freedom, but also remembering that I have a purpose and I have to hold myself accountable,” she said. “I know that I’m representing an organization.”

A young man in military fatigues sits on the skids of a helicopter with a friendly smile, wearing tactical gear and a harness, showcasing his training experience. — [Courtesy of Conlan Moore] Conlan Moore sits on the side of a helicopter at Maxwell Air Force base in Montgomery, Alabama. Moore and other ROTC cadets were given tours of the base and other helicopters.

Mitchell said ROTC can be a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. Her favorite memory was last year’s Steel City Games where all three branches of ROTC competed in games of football, spikeball and basketball.

“Of course, the Navy Marine Corps won because we’re awesome,” she said. “It was just so great. Seeing all the branches working against each other, it was just a great unit-bonding moment.”

Elena McNickle, a junior health sciences student, joined the Army ROTC program also hoping to pursue a job in the military healthcare field.

She spent her summer at Air Assault School in West Point, NY, where she rappelled out of a Black Hawk helicopter 150 meters above the ground.

“It’s definitely nerve-racking for a little bit, and then the adrenaline kind of gets pumping and then next thing you know, you’re rappelling out of a helicopter,” McNickle said.

McNickle is not a traditional college student. Alongside being in ROTC, she married out of high school

“Being married and being off campus and having to commute, it’s definitely more challenging. The course work was something to get used to after not being in school for three years, but I’m getting used to it, keeping a good relationship with all my professors and communicating openly with them about any issues I might be having,” McNickle said.

Part of her training includes shooting M4 carbine guns and practicing combat casualty care.

“Having that sort of background and perspective helps me make future decisions as a cadet and future officer,” McNickle said.

Charlotte Shields-Rossi can be reached at rossishieldsc@duq.edu