AUGUSTA, MICH. - Sleepy-eyed and gripping her M-16 rifle, Susie Johnson went over last-minute signals to her squad.
Sixteen years earlier, Johnson, a 5-year-old blonde full of spunk, followed her brother, P.J., into the woods.
“We’d set up forts and play Army,” the environmental biology and zoology junior said.
Last weekend Johnson was one of 65 cadets who participated in Spartan Fury - the annual camp for MSU’s ROTC program - during the past weekend at Fort Custer, near Battle Creek.
Cadets participated in missions and classes aiming to build leadership and tactical military skills. Six squads were led by 11 military science juniors, who were evaluated by seniors, in preparation for advanced training camp - a test determining a cadet’s military commission.
Lt. Col. Michael Pacheco, chair of the Department of Military Science, said the weekend prepares officers.
“In the Army you have to be able to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously and do them well,” Pacheco said.
Among the mix, some students from a wilderness survival class had a crash course in Army life.
“I feel like I’m on ‘Survivor,’” said Audrey Brockhaus, a studio art freshman. “I think I’ll survive.”
Army 101
Lights were out at 10:30 p.m. Friday and back on at 2 a.m. Saturday, as most cadets woke with little sleep but in high spirits.
“I woke up in a rush for the bathroom,” Brockhaus said while applying camouflage at 2 a.m. “I think it would take me a beating normally to get up this early.”
Packed in the 5-ton trucks like sardines, the cadets were out to the woods by 3 a.m.
Fourteen hours of missions began in a woods resembling the “The Blair Witch Project.” The squads practiced night navigating skills, led ambushes, searches for the enemy and a platoon attack.
“Visualizing the missions from paper to real life is a challenge,” Johnson said while searching for an enemy base.
Barracks, mud, Army rations and military tactics are part of the experience.
“As cadets go through different experiences they build a camaraderie,” Pacheco said.
Keeping an eye out for movement, cadets munched on their Army rations and joked of the Army’s issued “BCGs” - Birth Control Glasses - glasses so ugly they discourage sexual attraction, the cadets said.
Double life
Memorizing military tactics and studying for classes in the barracks, the cadets wear both their camouflage and MSU colors with pride.
“It’s different than just being a college student,” said Julie Crowley, a journalism junior. “We all wear the same uniform and are a part of an unbreakable bond.”
Tom Enterline, an interdisciplinary studies in social science senior, said he juggles Army life, family life - diapers and marriage - and his studies while maintaining a 3.1 grade-point average.
“I laugh when students say they don’t have time,” Enterline said.
The cadets, like most students, have exams and papers, but last weekend was set aside for Army life.
“We’re crawling around the woods, we’re wet, dirty and crazy,” said Kevin Matthews, a history sophomore.“This is living!”
