For many students, graduation from Ohio State represents a new beginning that offers uncertainties and new situations. Nowhere is this uncertainty more evident than in the lives of ROTC students who, after commencement, will serve their country in a new, active and dangerous military world.

When they joined the OSU ROTC program they, like anyone else, did not anticipate the Sept. 11 attacks and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. However, ROTC students said they understood when they signed up for the program the military can be called on to do anything without much warning.

“I realized when I joined the ROTC that it was the Army,” said Tom Hardy, a senior in electrical engineering. “That’s the Army’s job, to fight the United States’ wars. I knew that would come into play at some point.”

Phil Sautter, a senior in aeronautical engineering said the conflicts gave him mixed emotions about the dangers he might face, but he is willing to do whatever the military asks him to do.

“It’s kind of a grim reminder of the business that I chose to be in,” Sautter said. “But it didn’t bother me one bit. I’m very optimistic about going over there because I know that I’m doing everything for the right reasons. I’m excited to get out there, but nervous as well.”

Now that the world has changed, ROTC students, like all military personnel, will almost certainly be called on for duty, said Army Maj. Ralph Locke.

“The Army has changed drastically recently,” Locke said. “The number of major deployments has drastically increased. A soldier coming into the Army today will be deployed somewhere around the world. He knows that he will be, whether it is in Bosnia or Afghanistan or Iraq or somewhere else.”

Locke said his students are ready and willing to face the danger.

“We will respond to whatever our civilian leaders call us to do,” he said. “It’s a very exciting time in the Army. I think our students are looking for the challenges and want to serve our country.”

When more than 60 ROTC students graduate on June 13, they will not just receive a diploma as a sign of their college career’s end. Marine, Air Force and Army ROTC students will become second lieutenants, and Navy ROTC students will become ensigns as a signal of their completion of the ROTC leadership program.

Most will then go off to basic officer training programs across the country to learn more about how to be an officer in their respective branches of the military. After that they can either choose to enter active duty or join the Reserve and enter the private sector.

Although the number fluctuates, about 75 percent of all ROTC students will choose active duty. Those who choose active duty will be assigned a leadership position in the military somewhere across the globe. Their deployment usually takes at least nine months following graduation.

OSU ROTC students have aspirations to do many different jobs once they are deployed. From flying fighter jets to being a lawyer in post-war areas to coordinating medical missions, there will be many OSU alumni serving the United States in various aspects of the military.

Adam Weitzel, who received his law degree from OSU’s Moritz College of Law on May 9, sees himself as a judge advocate general. He will enter Georgetown Law School to receive an advanced law degree while serving in the National Guard and will then enter JAG corps to learn more about military law.

“They need attorneys everywhere over there,” Weitzel said. “While I won’t be out there driving a tank or carrying a rifle, I will be out there doing some important things. Right now in Afghanistan and Iraq, lawyers are going to be a big part of rebuilding. They need lots of judges and lawyers. In the next three years, I’m sure I’ll be a part of it.”

Sautter will go to Pensacola Fla. for flight school for two years after graduation to learn how to become a fighter pilot in the Navy.

Sautter said while the ROTC program didn’t teach him how to fly a multi-million dollar aircraft, it did prepare him for the mental situations he will have to deal with in combat.

“They put you under a lot of calculated stress,” Sautter said. “They teach you how to deal with stress. They throw you into the fire and take you out and tell you what you did wrong, and you learn a lot from those situations.”

ROTC’s mission is to develop the future military leaders of America, said Marine Maj. Todd Hunt.

“The mission of the ROTC program is to develop the future leaders of the military – mentally, physically and morally,” Hunt said.

The students said they are prepared to be those leaders.

“We are going to have a lot of responsibilities,” said Neil Copenhaver, a senior in aviation flight systems. “A lot of the ROTC is based on leadership and learning how to deal with subordinates.”

“The ROTC is pretty much the best leadership course there is,” Hardy said.

Hardy will be in charge of deploying medical staff and equipment to soldiers who are in need.

“Someone higher than me will say that I need medical support here,” he said. “And I will have to get my people to respond.”

While their deployment could prove to be in a hostile area, many in the ROTC program are cautiously optimistic that they will end up safe.

“I have a lot of faith if you do your best, things will work out,” said Kyle Whitehair, a senior in aviation management. “Any normal person would be a little worried, but I have faith and confidence that things will work out.”

The students said their families are concerned about their futures but are also confident that things will work out.

“They’re worried, of course, as any family would be,” Sautter said. “But mostly they’re very supportive. They’re more proud then they are worried.”

Often times the conversations with their families tend to stay off the topic of war, said Erik Graham, a senior in history.

“Sure, there’s some concern,” Graham said. “But we never really talk about it. We just keep it light and don’t dwell on it.”

ROTC students will be officially done with the program on June 13, when they are commissioned at Mirror Lake after commencement.