Clemson ROTC cadets to fly in military helicopters during exercise

Published: April 4, 2013

CLEMSON — Contracted Army ROTC cadets at Clemson University will fly in military helicopters Saturday, April 6, as part of the spring semester field training exercise.

The helicopters will begin picking up cadets for the first of several trips at 4:30 p.m. at Fant’s Grove. More than 40 cadets will learn how to establish a landing zone, board a helicopter with combat equipment and exit aircrafts to authorize security. They will fly to the field near Jervey Athletic Center.

The public is invited to observe the exercise.

Army National Guard Major Robert Rozetar, assistant professor of military leadership and recruiting officer at Clemson, was able to get the helicopters to come to Clemson from the 2^nd Battalion, 151^st Aviation Regiment in Columbia.

Cadet 1st Lt. George William Christian III, a senior applied economics major, said Saturday’s exercise is a unique opportunity.

“In my four years in the program, we’ve never done a flyover,” he said. “We’re really happy we were able to work it in. Most ROTC programs don’t get such an opportunity.”

In addition to the flyover, Saturday’s training includes combat exercises. The cadets will participate in paintball assaults in the woods at Fant’s Grove.

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