Rock climbing, crossing a body of water, diving into the water blindfolded and then swimming while holding a demilitarized gun above water are drills that constitute part of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) routine.
But for four days last summer, Chris Voss, coordinator of intramural sports, and Dan Ray, associate professor and coordinator of the paralegal program, took part in several of these activities.
Voss and Ray are the recipients of the 2004 Ralph Cowan National Security Fellowships awarded by EMU's Department of Military Science and Leadership.
 |
RACE READINESS: (from left) Chris Voss, EMU's
coordinator of intramural sports, times students
Charley Corley and Kevin Briggs, both juniors
from Detroit. Voss is a winner of one of two
2004 Ralph Cowan National Security
Fellowships. Voss' project is to organize a 5K
race next April that promotes support for the
military and local law enforcement while
emphasizing the fitness of ROTC cadets. |
The fellowship was established in 2001 as a result of September 11 and the death of Lt. Col. Ralph Cowan, an associate professor in military science.
"It (the fellowship) is a way to commemorate Ralph's contributions to the EMU community and an avenue to integrate academia and service with ROTC to develop leaders," said Maj. Michael Knott, enrollment officer, EMU Department of Military Science and Leadership, and coordinator of the Cowan Fellowship applications.
Each year, the department awards $1,000 to one faculty and one staff person who submit proposals to interact with ROTC students on an aspect of national security.
The winners also receive a certificate of recognition, an EMU Battalion Commander's Presentation Medallion and an all-expense paid trip to the Academicians' Summer Program in either Fort Knox or Fort Lewis.
"It was probably one of the best things I've ever done. I got a feel for what cadets go through and have a new-found respect for the military and their training," said Voss, who went to Fort Knox.
That experience prepared Voss to implement his winning suggestion of scheduling an EMU ROTC 5K Gold Bar Race. The event shows support for the military and local law enforcement while emphasizing the fitness of ROTC cadets, Voss said.
Since the race is scheduled April 16, 2005, contestants have time to get in shape for either running or walking the course, Voss said. His experience with races includes the local Turkey Trot, which he has organized for the last five years.
"Getting people to volunteer and register on time," is the hardest part of organizing the race, he said.
As an incentive to register early, Voss is offering a free T-shirt to everyone registered by April 6.
As for volunteers, he's looking to involve local law enforcement, running clubs, businesses, military recruiters, ROTC cadets, veterans and local people in the community to help out. About 15 people are needed during the race to direct runners along the course and distribute water, he said.
Erik McCoy, a senior, is the ROTC cadet who first approached Voss about the race. He and other ROTC cadets are involved in every step of the race from planning, publicizing and staffing to participating as a runner.
The race will promote wellness and fitness throughout the community as well as emphasize the role of the Army ROTC program at EMU, said Voss.
"Just come out and participate. It's a fun day and a good way to exercise and support the military and law enforcement," Voss said.
Registration begins March 14. For more information, contact Voss at 487-1338.
In addition to staffer Voss, Ray was the faculty person who won the Cowan Fellowship this year.
"I was exceptionally impressed with what the Army put on," said Ray, referring to his experiences at Fort Lewis last July.
He said he observed field exercises that included jumping into water from 80-100 feet in the air and running an obstacle course.
 |
Ray |
Next year, Ray will be running another type of course. His winning fellowship proposal sets up a one-hour, online seminar, entitled "Security in an Insecure Time: The Role of Military Leadership in Times of Crisis and Threat."
The course objective is to acquaint students with American's stated post-9/11 security policy and to explore legal, moral, ethical and social implications of that policy for soldiers and military leaders, Ray said.
"We will look at the power of the executive (branch of government) to detain U.S. citizens without legal counsel and label them enemy combatants. We'll also address recent Supreme Court rulings involving due process and indefinite detaining of U.S. citizens," Ray said.
Each year, winners of the Cowan Fellowship define national security in a different context, Knott said. In years past, recipients of the fellowship focused on understanding the language or the religion of a country. This year, the emphasis is on national security in relation to physical fitness and the rules by which we wage war after 9/11, Knott said.
"My definition of national security is a moving target. Look at the enemy. There are no formal boundaries. Who are we fighting? It's global guerrilla warfare. We must change or adapt to fight a new enemy while maintaining our morality and civility," said Knott.
For more information on the 2005 Ralph Cowan National Security Fellowships, contact Knott at (734) 487-1020 or log on to www.cot.emich.edu/ms.
