Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Joining the Army has been the most fun I never want to have again. I do not mean this as a complaint, not in the slightest.
I am the first woman in my family to don the uniform. Since transferring schools to the University of Idaho and its highly accredited ROTC program, I will also be the first officer. These are big titles to carry and to bring such pride to my family couldn’t make me happier.
I celebrated my graduation from Fort Sill Basic Training exactly one year ago, on October 21. That day marked a milestone for me. Uncle Sam changed my life for the better.
In the last year, I have shared my experiences with readers of the Whitman County Gazette, documenting my journey from enlistment to graduating from Advanced Individual Training.
Now, I begin documenting a new chapter of my military career in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).
I recently transferred schools from Detroit, Mich., to Moscow, Idaho. I made this big decision after hearing about the ROTC program and what it could mean for me.
The University of Idaho’s ROTC program is incredibly competitive. It creates some of the most excellent and prepared officers out there. I promise I am not biased when I say this. I went through basic training and advanced individual training. I completed every physical and mental test there was to offer. But nothing could prepare me for the life of a cadet. I get the best of both worlds. The physical training is far more challenging than anything I have ever experienced.
I jokingly thank my older half-brother for calling me bossy when we were kids. I often remark that “my brother called me bossy, so I figured I’d make a career out of it.”
ROTC teaches and reinforces the Army values while also allowing me to finish my degree. Next semester, I begin my senior year. I took an oath to be a soldier. With this ROTC program, I look forward to taking an oath to be a leader—a leader for the best team in the United States military.
Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.
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