Harding University Army ROTC

This morning at 0430, Harding ROTC began a 9.11-mile memorial ruck march.

This was not a test. It was not a competition. It was not a race.

It was a deliberate act to pause, reflect, and mourn the loss of the 2,977 Americans tragically killed on September 11, 2001. It was also an opportunity to remember the more than 5,000 American service members killed by hostile action and more than 53,000 wounded in action during the Global War on Terror that followed.

We are grateful for the first responders who, without hesitation, answered the call of “Here I am, send me” when terror struck the American homeland, as well as the thousands of service members who answered that same call in the years that followed.

A special thank you to Major Alec Baldwin and 1SG Ryan Brown of 2-153 Infantry Battalion Battalion, SSG Kami Turley and SSG Eli Steil of Join AR Guard, and the 80 Harding University students, faculty members, Cadets, and Soldiers who joined us this morning.

As the miles added up, our packs grew heavier and our feet grew tired. But those temporary discomforts do not equal even a fraction of the pain, sacrifice, and lasting toll experienced on that infamous day and throughout the years that followed.

Twenty-five years later, we remember.

We remember those who went to work that morning and never came home. We remember the first responders who ran toward danger while others fled from it. We remember the service members who raised their right hands and answered the call to serve in the years that followed.

May we never take their sacrifice for granted, and may we strive to be worthy of the legacy they left behind.

We will never forget.

As we near the first day of classes, our Cadets are still out putting in WORK! Cadets Reardon and Grisham finished up CST26 a few days ago representing both A-State and Harding University Army ROTC extremely well. Great work, men. Rest, recover, then back to the grind!

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Congratulations to Harding University MSIII Cadet Joseph Burchfield for his completion of training at The Sabalauski Air Assault School!

Cadet Burchfield is going to start his MSIII year and junior year at Harding during the Fall 2026 semester. He is a Criminal Justice Major. Cadet Burchfield is also a member of the Arkansas Army National Guard, he is an 09R (Cadet) assigned to Delta Company 2-153 Infantry Battalion, a part of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

We are proud of your hard work and dedication and ability to rep the program well!

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If you are interested in these challenging opportunities in-between school semesters, contact Harding ROTC today!



A-State ROTC
5th Brigade Army ROTC
Join AR Guard
2-153 Infantry Battalion
Death-Dealer Company, 2-153 IN
Harding University

👏👏 Hats off to our Cadets! 👏👏

One of our MSIII Cadets, Zach Ramos is almost complete with CST!

Zach Ramos completed his 9 day FTX and his 12 mile foot march and is close to complete with his stint of Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky!

Once he completes his training he will go to Fort Benning, Georgia to work at the hospital for the NTSP program through US Army Cadet Command!

Once he is complete with his training this summer, Cadet Ramos will return to Harding University. Finishing his final year of college to complete his Nursing Degree.

Our Cadets are everywhere working hard and developing themselves mentally and physically!

Keep up the good work, Zach!

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A-State ROTC
5th Brigade Army ROTC
Harding University

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🦬💥Highlighting Special Perfomances from our Cadets at Harding ROTC 💥🦬

CDT Joseph Grisham has had a very busy summer as a Cadet participating in the Simultaneous Membership Program with the Arkansas National Guard.

CDT Grisham has recently completed and earned his Norwegian Foot March badge, German Armed Forces Badge. And was coined by Arkansas Army National Guard LCC, Brigadier General Jaskolski while at 2-153 IN’s Annual Training.

CDT Grisham took a diagnostic test of the new Combat Fitness Test and earned one of the top scores in the 39th IBCT with a total time of 19 minutes!

CDT Grisham will soon be going to Fort Knox Kentucky to complete Advanced Camp. Once he returns he will be A-State ROTC’s Redwolf Battalion’s Executive Officer during his senior year of college.

Excellence and constant refinement is what we strive for no matter if school is in session or not. If you think you are the same caliber individual, contact us today!

ICYMI:

Harding ROTC Commissioned three great Second Lieutenants into the US Army to close out the spring semester.

2LT Joshua Johnson will be an active duty Military Intelligence Officer.

2LT Gabriel Oppermann will be an active duty Infantry Officer.

2LT Elysia Sullivan will be a Military Intelligence Officer in the Arkansas Army National Guard.

We are so grateful and thankful for their great leadership and dedication to Harding ROTC for 4 years. We know that these three will represent the Harding ROTC well and will be the right type of leader to stand in front a formation and say “Follow Me!”

A special thank you to Colonel Shawn E. Keeter, Commander of the 77th ECAB for being our guest speaker for this tremendous event.

We are so grateful for the faculty and staff of Harding University for hosting such a special event for our new officers and their families.

This could be you in the future. Contact Harding ROTC today!

Through Harding ROTC and the Arkansas Army National Guard with the SMP program and minuteman scholarship. Cadets have the opportunity to graduate debt-free or with significantly reduced educational costs while developing the leadership, discipline, and tactical proficiency required to commission as Army officers. This program produces leaders ready to serve and succeed downrange and beyond.

Want to follow a path similar to 2LT Eagleman? Contact Harding ROTC today!

Minuteman Monday! Second Lt. Alaina Eagleman is a 70B, health services administration officer, assigned to the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade. She contracted as an ROTC cadet at Harding University ROTC. She was awarded a three-year Minuteman Scholarship that cover her tuition and provided two monthly stipends.

“These benefits allowed me to focus exclusively on my academic responsibilities, resulting in the successful completion of a bachelor of science in nursing degree,” she said. “Upon graduation, I had no college debt and was able to direct my financial resources toward other aspects of my life, an opportunity that would not have been possible without the support and benefits provided by the Army.”

She credits basic training and four years of RTOC with providing her insight into her personal strengths and leadership capabilities. “Through this experience, I developed discipline, determination, and resilience, and gained formal training in effective leadership,” she said. “These qualities have also significantly benefited me in civilian life and throughout my medical career.”

Harding ROTC’s Color Guard had the honor of supporting Harding Academy for their Baseball and Softball team’s Salute to Service night , recognizing all military branches and local first responders across White County and the state of Arkansas.

Cadets proudly presented the colors for the National Anthem during both games, demonstrating professionalism and respect for those who serve.