Sometimes in life, things do not go according to plan. It is what we do in moments like these that define who we are. My name is Caleb Anderson and I am currently a contracted cadet at Tennessee Tech.
As some of you may know, our program is slated for closure at the end of this school year. This news was not easy to hear. Many things are going through my mind at this moment. Why did this happen? Where will I go? What will happen to my fellow cadets?
The Army gave cadets a few options. As a contracted cadet, I have the option to forgo my contract. I can also transfer to another school’s ROTC program to fulfill my contract. I am choosing the latter. I made a commitment to serve my people, and I will stand by that. I have wanted to be a soldier since a day in September many years ago. On this day we were attacked. Many men and women took an oath the next day to defend this country. The Army, however, would not allow eight-year-olds to enlist. I was blessed to be able to take my oath in February of this year.
This will be my last semester at Tech. This university has taken great care of our program and me. For this, I will be eternally grateful. To say Tech is a “military friendly,” campus is a gross understatement. I will truly miss this place. My fellow cadets and I will be all right. We will as always, adapt and overcome.
