Austin Peay ROTC sends third-, fourth-ever cadets to West Point program

APSU ROTC cadet Herman Thomas, sitting, third from right, attended West Point’s Cadet Summer Training in June and July.

Austin Peay’s Governors Guard ROTC program sent its third- and fourth-ever cadets to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point Cadet Summer Training this summer.

Michelle Phillippe, a junior management major, was selected as the third Austin Peay State University cadet to attend the monthlong program. And Herman Thomas, a junior criminal justice major, became the fourth-ever selection.

“West Point is a very prestigious school, so just to get the experience firsthand about how they do things,” Phillippe said. “I’m still grateful for the experience. We’re all cadets, even West Point cadets are cadets.”

Phillippe and Thomas navigated the summer school alongside West Point cadets in such exercises as marksmanship, field training, team leading and water obstacles. The training helped the cadets identify their strengths and weaknesses to apply to their continuing ROTC training at Austin Peay.

“It was my first time doing any type of military training, so I was pretty skeptical going into it,” Thomas said. “I didn’t know if I would be able to complete a task, but going through, I completed everything, and I did really well.

“It helped solidify the kind of leaders we can be, the type of leaders we need to be,” he added.

To learn more

For more about Austin Peay's ROTC program, go to https://www.apsu.edu/rotc/.

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