Master Sgt. Elmer Duncan said MSU’s ROTC unit is conducting “business as usual” during stressful times throughout the country.

“It is the best way to go about this, keeping things close to what we normally do,” the military instructor said, a day after terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Although flags are flying at half-mast outside Demonstration Hall and members of ROTC say they are shocked, no further actions or demonstrations have been planned in conjunction with relief efforts, Duncan said.

Lt. Col. Michael Pacheco, who chairs the Department of Military Science, said ROTC procedures haven’t been altered but leaders are using extra caution.

“The Army has increased its security policy for all military personnel throughout the world,” he said. “That includes us, so we are just more aware of our surroundings.

Pacheco said the ROTC unit will make extra efforts to keep track of its members.

And if the situation escalates further, he said responsibilities would increase, too.

MSU’s ROTC program is designed to prepare cadets for leadership roles in the military.

“We have the mission of producing officers for the total force which is the active Army, Reserves and National Guard,” Pacheco said. “In the event of any hostilities, the mission would increase in officers and our job would become more important.”