ROTC at Wheaton College

Second Lieutenant Paul Meyer, USA

The Army ROTC program at Wheaton College is a place where cadets learn not only how to be excellent second lieutenants in the Army, but also how to serve Christ within the military profession.

Cadets take the oath of office as a commitment not only to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, but also to serve the Almighty God in whatever way he calls them.

In 1952, Wheaton’s Army ROTC program began with the mission of sending competent, confident, and caring second lieutenants into the United States Army. Achieving this mission is the job of Christian officers who volunteer to come to Wheaton.

Most of the success of Wheaton’s ROTC program can be attributed to these officers, who spend time coaching, mentoring, and praying for the cadets. "I’m grateful for having the opportunity to see the example of the officers at Wheaton who love the Lord and who are also excellent Army officers," says senior cadet Ben Dykstra.

In addition to the normal ROTC classes and training events, some cadets and cadre participate in OCF at Wheaton. The focus of these bi-monthly meetings is preparing missionaries for an important field that has too few chaplains to do the job.

Wheaton’s OCF also sponsors one prayer breakfast per semester, and the annual OCF ROTC Midwest Retreat, where cadets from numerous schools come together to seek the Lord and to enjoy fellowship with each other.

Cadets at Wheaton are encouraged to delve into the issues involved with being a Christian in the military. Many arrive unsure if the Army is really the right way for them.

All wrestle with at least some degree of doubt concerning a Christian’s role in the military. Cadet Crystal Yingling thought she was a pacifist when she signed up for ROTC, but after CPT Will McCaulley, the assistant professor of military science, spent several weeks in her freshmen ROTC class discussing the topic, she realized that she was doing the right thing. "I knew God wanted me to participate in ROTC," she said.

Wheaton graduates have gone on to serve the Lord faithfully in the military. CPT Paul Hopkins, a field artillery commander in the 1st ID, recently wrote from Kosovo concerning several Wheaton graduates: "These young officers are doing an outstanding job and are representing Wheaton College in an excellent manner. The school’s motto, ‘For Christ and His Kingdom’ is truly being lived out by these fine officers."

More information on Wheaton’s ROTC program is available online: www.wheaton.edu/rotc