ROTC Shadow Day at RIT by C/SMSgt. H. Watkins

April 10th found C/2Lt C.Shoemaker, Arm.T.Jacobs,C/SMSGT H. Watkins and Capt. J. Mckelvey in the Canandaigua CAP van by 0800hours. The swapping of various stories and information kept the ride to Rochester interesting.Once we got to the college we had an interesting time with the speed bumps. Finding a parking spot and the building we were supposed to be in wasn't a problem at all.

We were the first ones to arrive and were greeted excitedly! Fresh sandwiches, chips, and soda were available and we were all given a free bag of stuff including a ball. T-shirt, and notebook. After more people arrived, introductions were made. The man leading it and four or five other cadets at various stages in the ROTC program told us their experiences and gave us a good overview of the program. Then we split up into groups and headed for their main office. We were given a thorough tour of the room and everyone working there. Next we headed outside for awhile and the college students did their best to answer every question we could think of.

Soon it was time to meet up with the parents so we began heading over to the gym. Along the way, the college students poited out different buildings and things. At the gym the entire ROTC group was practicing drill. They had some interesting activities, like one about how to cross a street!

The official Shadow Day ended around 1300hours, but the friendly college students offered to show us the rest of the campus. They assured us we would get a better tour with them than with the college tour guides! We gladly agreed and it was so neat to be able to walk around the campus with them and learnall sorts of different things. All my questions were definitely answered qutie well. Everyone was superfriendly and helpful and I think it was a very successful trip. The college is very impressive and the program looks great!

By; C/SMSGT. Hannah Watkins CAP