BVU ROTC Cadet Salutes Family, Friends, All Soldiers, Sailors, Marines on Veterans Day
Freshman double-major from Florida is grateful for opportunities provided through his involvement in BVU’s ROTC program.
Nolan Nguyen thinks of his father and his brother, as well as several friends, on Veterans Day.
"Veterans Day is important to me,” says Nguyen, a Buena Vista University freshman from Fort Myers, Fla. “I’ve not yet served in the active military, but the military is a way of life for me. I have family members and friends who are veterans, and it is important to appreciate their service and what they do for us and our country.”
Nguyen is one of 18 Cadets in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at BVU. Once he graduates, he’ll be commissioned as a U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant. He then plans to serve in the Infantry.
He selected BVU to continue his course of study, based on three leading factors:
- His ability to be a double-major in criminology and psychology.
- His chance to compete with the Beaver wrestling team.
- The opportunity to continue training as a Cadet with the ROTC. Nguyen was a Jr. Cadet with the ROTC throughout high school.
BVU Cadets are part of the “host” Cyclone Battalion in Ames, which includes students from Iowa State University, Drake University, and Grand View College. Cadets receive high-quality education at BVU with most of their training occurring in the Storm Lake area. They also take part in combined training with Cadets from other institutions twice per year at Camp Dodge in Johnston.
“I love the other ROTC members at BVU,” Nguyen continues. “I appreciate the effort and enthusiasm they have. I consider these people my role models.”
Nguyen trains two times per week with other ROTC members. He also works out daily with teammates on the wrestling team. In his first collegiate wrestling action, Nguyen recorded a pin on his way to a fourth-place finish at the Luther Hill Invitational at Simpson College.
“Classes are going great for me and I’m also learning a lot in the wrestling room,” Nguyen says. “ROTC presents another opportunity for me as I’m able to be in college and practice military values. I can learn how to be in the military and remain in college. My ROTC leaders have helped me map out my four-year plan in great detail.”