New faculty in Military Science and Leadership program

“This growth is due to the support of the CSC administration, faculty and staff. Without that backing, we wouldn't have been able to do this,” said Maj. Raymond Phillips. He has been involved with the CSC ROTC program as an assistant professor of Military Science and Leadership since 2008.

He is being transferred to Lincoln and will assume his new duties there as an administrative officer with the Nebraska Army National Guard Construction and Facilities Management Office Nov. 4. Phillips, a 2003 CSC graduate, is currently pursuing his master’s degree and received the rank of Major Oct. 9.

Ten Military Science and Leadership courses - all with co-requisite labs – are taught at CSC from the 100 level through the 400 level. The dual mission of the program is to develop model citizens who have an increased appreciation and understanding of the U.S. military and produce Second Lieutenants for the Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve.

“I’m leaving with mixed emotions. I enjoyed my time at CSC as a student and as a staff member. It’s been the most rewarding experience in my life – to watch young students grow and be part of their development. I’ve also enjoyed the community support given to CSC. That’s the purpose of ROTC, to develop the cadets to give back - either in the army or in their communities,” he said.

Phillips, who is currently in the Nebraska Army National Guard Support Operations Office, is being replaced by Maj. Jeremy Bryan and Lt. Nate Reicks.

Bryan received the rank of Major Oct. 14. He will commute to Chadron since he also has teaching responsibilities at the other two member institutions of the Army ROTC Mount Rushmore Battalion - Black Hills State University and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He has been affiliated with the Battalion since 2006.

Bryan, a 2001 graduate of SDSMT, has been teaching MSL courses at CSC since the beginning of the fall 2013 semester. He served as an enlisted soldier for six years before receiving his commission.

“CSC students, faculty and staff are good people. I’m looking forward to working here. I don’t want to make any big changes. We just want to continue to improve upon what we have. These students show up and try hard. You can’t ask for more than that,” Bryan said.

Lt. Nate Reicks is full-time active-duty with the Nebraska National Guard. He has been in the military 12 years, deployed twice to Iraq, and is now a platoon leader in Norfolk. He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Kearney in 2011.

“I will have an experienced mentor in Maj. Bryan. The ROTC program is very demanding. It takes a lot of the students’ time plus they have jobs and volunteer on campus and in the community.  They’re hard working and have good values,” Reicks said.

Bryan and Reicks, assistant professors of Military Science and Leadership, both report to Lt. Col. Lynna Speier, professor of Military Science and Leadership, with the Mount Rushmore Battalion. Reicks will attend training at Fort Knox in December to be certified to teach ROTC.

The War Eagles club affiliated with the ROTC program is helping with the Social Work class Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder conference for veterans on the CSC campus Nov. 13.