Lt. Col. Jack Gumbert credits patriotism and a quality staff among the numerous reasons for the growing number of applications to Ohio State’s Army ROTC.

The program has seen about a 30 percent increase of applications over the last two years.

Gumbert, professor of military science for the ROTC, is proud of the students and cadre but remains focused on program goals, despite the dramatic increase of applications.

“We don’t want to be just big. We want to be the best,” he said.

Maj. Alan Burley, recruiting and operations officer for the ROTC, has received 154 applications for 2003, including 15 for scholarships.

“It’s not just new freshman coming in greater numbers, it’s people on campus coming in greater numbers too,” Gumbert said.

The Army ROTC has worked diligently to get the word out to students about program incentives.

“We find a lot of people are not aware of the benefits we offer,” Burley said.

With the faltering economy, more students need scholarships and financial assistance, Gumbert said.

Merit-based scholarships to cover fees and tuition are among the financial benefits the ROTC program offers. Scholarships are offered through ROTC as well as the Army National Guard. They also offer stipends each quarter for scholarship students and a Scholastic Incentives Program exclusive to OSU that awards military science students based on their quarterly academic performance.

“There is good advancement and almost everyone makes captain by the time their four years is up,” Gumbert said.

Academic assistance is also offered. The cadre counsels cadets twice a quarter about their classes. The staff offers to pay for a tutor and monitors class attendance and performance.

“We are an academic focused community,” Burley said.

Students should maintain focus on their academics, and part-time jobs can interfere with that, he said. The tuition and academic assistance the program offers keeps students concentrated on their academic performance.

Students joining are typically looking for leadership training and an opportunity to challenge themselves.

Sophomore cadets can attend a leaders training camp at Fort Knox, Tenn. Students are given the opportunity to be placed in leadership positions and participate in activities such as repelling and white water rafting.

“They want to do something above and beyond normal student requirements,” Burley said.

Cadet Nicole Watkins, an undecided freshman, joined the program as a reservist. She said every cadet she spoke to before joining had something positive to say about the program.

“I wanted leadership training, but I stayed because the people are excellent. They are very motivated and everyone is dedicated and involved in teamwork,” she said.

Watkins said her closest friendships have been made at the ROTC program.

The interactive ROTC Web site offers a prospect sheet for people interested in the program to fill out and receive information on the program by direct mail. Students have also been invited to the campus to get a closer a look at the program, Gumbert said.