While on the Hilltop, Saint Anselm students can join organizations that fulfill a multitude of aspirations, including the desire to serve our country.
The ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) program has offered students the opportunity to gain valuable experience that not only can be used for their future in the military but will put them ahead of their peers. Students enrolled in this program gain a college education in addition to militaristic training, enabling them to become officers and higher ranking officials in quicker time. This program is a detachment of the University of New Hampshire Army ROTC, and as a result, most events are held outside of the Saint Anselm campus. Students in this program have a direct path into the Army, where they will have opportunities to work in many different areas.
Peter Kane ’25, Olivia Wilcox ’25, and Alexander Scopa ’24 are three members currently enrolled in the ROTC program at Saint Anselm College.
Kane is a criminal justice major from Seaside, N.J. He enlisted in the Army in 2021, however he felt his options were limited without a degree. This led him to join the ROTC program, as he thought it was his best chance to commission. Once he returns to the Army, his goal is to join a master’s degree program, which may include a photography focus or a focus in a closely related topic. He is a commuter, meaning his time on campus is limited. However, he still tries to make the most of his time, balancing school with other clubs and activities in addition to his training. He has expressed that the day-to-day life of an ROTC is excellent, consisting of physical training three times per week and one class and one lab, which offers him the opportunity to practice what he has learned over the course of the week.
Wilcox is from St. Augustine, Fla., and criminal justice major as well. She joined the ROTC program at Saint Anselm because she “wanted to go into the military for as long as [she] could remember as [she] grew up in a military family.” Given this, securing a future in the military has always been a strong desire of hers. Wilcox’s goal is to commission either aviation or military intelligence upon leaving the Hilltop. She expressed that being a member of the ROTC program on campus is “very fun.” She loves the duality of being a part of an organization that is leading and teaching people to become an officer, joining the 1% of individuals who do so, while also being a regular college student.
Alexander Scopa ‘24 is a German and Politics double major from Wakefield, Mass. He wanted to enlist right out of high school, however, his parents wanted him to go to college and earn a degree, so he joined the ROTC program here at Saint Anselm to fulfill both his and his parents’ goals. He has been attracted to the idea of joining the military because it offers him a chance to contribute something meaningful to society and himself, and because of what he will gain, including direction, discipline, and purpose. His post-Hilltop goals are to commission into a military intelligence unit, enroll in more schooling, then be deployed for combat. In terms of his civilian goals, he would like to work for either Homeland Security, the State Department, or the CIA. One of the aspects of the program that he enjoys the most is the way that it has forced him to get comfortable with the uncomfortable, resulting in growth and maturity.
According to Captain Luke Rand, who coordinates the ROTC program, “"The relationship between Saint Anselm and UNH ROTC has been one of growth and success. As a new cadre member to the program, it has been amazing to see last year's seniors from Saint Anselm mentor, guide, and develop the current seniors. Although there may be fewer cadets from Saint Anselm than other schools, they make up for it with their dedication to the Army and ferocity in the pursuit of the mission."