University of North Alabama - Diorama Yearbook (Florence, AL)

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MISSION FIRST, PEOPLE ALWAYS (opposite page). A radet learns how lo become a soldier dur- ing; a squad-level tactical exercise. I AM THE PAST. A camouflaged soldier is on his tiuard. I AM THE PRESENT. Cadet Joey Luster enhances his skills in a field training exercise. I AM THE FUTURE. Cadet William Boyd readies himself to follow the cadet creed. Many people ask me if I had it to do over again, would 1 have chosen a path other than the military? My answer, with- out hesitation, is no. 1 am proud of being an ROTC cadet. 1 can ' t wait to be an Army officer. It is a good thing to be in the military. Many people feel that we are wasting our time in ROTC and the train- ing is pointless — not so. ROTC is com- missioning 75 percent of the officers in the Army now. We will be in charge of America ' s young men and women, and responsible for their lives. The time and effort ROTC requires is worth it. The problem is finding men and women dedi- cated enough and selfless enough to serve. The place to find them at UNA is with my fellow cadets — a chosen few who will uphold a higher standard. I am proud to be an Army cadet and 1 promise you I will do my duty. — Ryan Huston 17

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•S ii.- ; . • , W - M ,L ■ V ;.j ; HI csiim mvi AXiramy ccacdcelt c»oc» 16 Soon I will take an oatJi and become an Army officer committed to defending the values that make this nation great. Honor is my touchstone. I understand mission first, and people always. I am the past: the spirit of those warriors who have made the final sacrifice. 1 am the present: the scholar and apprentice soldier enhancing my skills in the science of warfare and the art of leadership. But above all, I am the future: the future war- rior leader of the United States Army. May God give me the compassion and judgment to lead and the gallantry in battle to win. I will do my duty. These words of the cadet creed mean more to me than most people will ever understand. 1 am in Army ROTC. Upon my graduation in May. 1 will become a lieutenant in the United States Army, fulfilling a dream I have had since 1 was five years old. 1 grew up in a military family and had the privilege of seeing firsthand how great it is. I can ' t think of a greater honor than to serve my country, and protect my fel- low Americans. ROTC is a very demanding course. The sacrifice of cadets is great. Many nights are spent in the woods learning how to set up a defense, or how to navigate — cold and alone. We do this while we could be out with friends, at parties or watching the big game. Last summer, as an MS 111 cadet, 1 went with fellow junior cadets to Advance Camp in Fort Lewis, Wash., and then to Cadet Troop Leadership Training at various places such at Fort Carson, Colo. We were gone for two months, and missed out on many things that other people our age would like to be doing. 1 had just gotten married in March, and the separa- tion from friends and family was tough, but knowing that 1 am learning how to be a better leader and might some day protect those friends and family members from an enemy makes it all worthwhile. Most people don ' t understand the life we commit to when we sign on the dotted line, promising to obey and defend. To many, we are Just those guys in the green uniforms. They don ' t know about those early-morning sessions of physical training, the afternoon labs, or the weekend field exercises. The hours tacked onto our normal workload are tremen- dous, the sacrifice great. Why would anyone want to do it? Why? That question has been asked throughout countless generations. 1 say doing it is a privilege. I feel blessed to have been given a drive in my being to serve others by becoming a soldier for my country, with its proud history of defending freedom. 1 have the honor of serving with our nation ' s greatest men and women — men and women who may have the potential to lead Fortune 500 companies but instead choose to serve their country by bearing arms.

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You are getting very ... 18 Spring Fling caused students to forget their manners: they ate with no hands, they spat their watermelon seeds, they drew on sidewalks, fought over ropes, and much, much, more. Me, me! I wave my hand around. 1 want to be hypnotized. I ' ve heard about Tom Deluca and his show last year, and I want him to choose me. My friend Klrstie was hypnotized and she had to do some crazy things. Everyone says this will be the best part of Spring Fling 1999. i He ' s coming this way ... pick me ... Yes! Everyone ' s looking at me. I hope I don ' t do anything too stupid. He ' s saying I should Imagine a vase of flowers. Imagine the roses leaving the vase one at a time. Now count backwards from 200 ... I ' m not hyp- notized — am I? 1... 2 ... 3 ... I love kindergarten. It ' s my favorite grade. I love to play with the blocks. Where are my Barbies? I need some Barbies. See, see my playmate, come out and play with me ... Hey, what are those big people doing? That one over there is dancing around really funny-like. That man keeps telling him to do stuff. I hope I don ' t act like that when I grow up. 1 ... 2 ... 3 ... I have absolutely the biggest mus- cles of anyone on this stage. Why doesn ' t everyone believe me? I ' ve got to show them. I ' ll flex and flex and show them my biceps. It ' s hard being a woman body-builder these days. No one appreciates the time I spend working out. But one thing ' s for sure — that football player over there ain ' t got nothing on me. Flex ... I ' ve got to make my muscles bigger than his. I think I won. I ' m sure I did. 1 ... 2 ... 3 ... Cluck, cluck, cluck. 1 ... 2 ... 3 ...Wait a minute. Have I been cluck- ing like a chicken? No, surely not. The hypnotist man is saying that I am about to be in a dance con- test. I don ' t like to dance In front of people, but ... this music just makes me want to dance! I ' ve got rhythm and I don ' t care what anyone thinks. This girl beside me doesn ' t have any coordination at all. I ' m sure glad I ' m not making a fool out of myself as