Two ROTC members to attend special training, others honored

Cdt. Megan McLean of Brewster, Nebraska, will be the first CSC cadet to ever attend Airborne School in Fort Benning, Georgia.

Cdt. Cristian Salazar of Puerto Barrios, Izabal, Guatemala, will be participating in the Cultural Understanding and Language Program known as CULP.

McLean is among the top 10 percent of ROTC students nationwide selected to participate in Airborne School. Physical fitness, academics, participation, attitude and character were among the criteria used in her selection, according to Master Sergeant Jonathan Mudget, senior military instructor with the Mount Rushmore Battalion.

McLean said her parents are both pilots and very excited for her to receive the opportunity.

The training she will attend June 25-July 18 includes Ground Week during which she will study the proper methods to land and roll to prevent injury.

The second week, called Tower Week, involves jumping from progressively taller towers ranging from 30 feet to 200 feet.

Instruction during the third week, Jump Week, covers all aspects of jumping. McLean will make five parachute jumps at 1,250 feet from a C-130 or C-141 airplane as a prerequisite to graduation. Cadets who graduate are awarded the U.S. Army Parachutist Badge.

Salazar, a native Spanish speaker who is fluent in English, will travel to Fort Knox, Kentucky, on May 10 for a five-day soldier readiness process.

He will complete an assignment in Lille, France, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country, as part of a cadre making presentations to members of the French Army.

His plans include learning about French culture in Paris and two excursions, one to Normandy and the other to Belgium. He will be responsible for posting photos of the experience to a designated CULP Facebook page and will return to the U.S. in early June.

Mudget said, “CULP is a great opportunity. It gives the cadets insight into how their attributes and characteristics affect others around them. The cultural awareness and foreign language proficiency skills they gain in this training are transferable to other situations they may encounter in the future.”

Lt. Col. Lynna Speier, commander of the Mount Rushmore Battalion, recommended Salazar for the foreign culture immersion program designed to build relationships with U.S. allies. He was chosen through a competitive process considering academics, physical fitness, an essay, and other criteria.

During a year-end dinner this week, ROTC members attending CSC received the following honors.

The Association of the United State Army recognition: Dalton Boden

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1273, VFW of the USA award: Marina Podio

Superior Cadet Decoration: MSIII Victor Mercado, MSIV Amanda Tallman

Bronze Medal Athlete Ribbon: Dalton Boden, Daniel Hogsett, James Barrows, Victor Mercado, Taylor Allison, Caleb Geiger, Johnny Jones

Silver Medal Athlete Ribbon: Andrew Cameron, Jerrick Bowers

CSC President’s and Dean’s Lists: Evan Baker, James Barrows, Dalton Boden, Victor Mercado, Jerrick Bowers, Taylor Allison, MSIV Amanda Tallman, Evan Oakley, Daniel Starke

It was announced that Boden is on a wait list for a Airborne slot with the Nebraska National Guard.  

Also, cadets Evan Baker, Dalton Boden, Kalee Brewer, Daniel Hogsett, James Barrows, Victor Mercado, and Jonathan Lordino will be attending Warrior Forge this summer.