By Courtney Hessenauer
The Post, Ohio U.

(UWire)--With the economic recession in full swing, Joe Haas is thankful to be one of two sophomores who will receive nearly a full scholarship through ROTC, a program some students are considering to pay for college.

"Your grades, your commander's ranking of you and your physical fitness assessment is what you have to do well to get a scholarship."
-Joe Haas

"Your grades, your commander's ranking of you and your physical fitness assessment is what you have to do well to get a scholarship," said Haas, a sophomore studying pre-exercise physiology.

The Air Force ROTC's freshman class of 32 students is the largest in 10 years (at Ohio University) and the incoming class is expected to rival similar numbers, said Larry Goodnite, commandant of cadets at OU Air Force ROTC.

"I personally believe the recession has driven more people to come through our door," Goodnite said. "High school kids are coming from all over."

The ROTC provides many incoming freshmen and current students with scholarships that pay all tuition and fees, as well as $1,200 a year for books, a monthly stipend and typically full room and board, said Maj. John Hansen, OU Army ROTC scholarship and enrollment officer.

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Although the Army ROTC had noticed a steady increase in scholarship applicants and contracted cadets pre-recession, the economy has made it easier for families to decide how they will pay for college expenses, Hansen said.

"If you're committed to ROTC, chances are we're gonna pay your scholarship," Hansen said.

Still, it's hard to place a direct correlation between a bad economy and greater enrollment because the number of high school seniors applying for an ROTC scholarship increased every year before the recession and the military has stepped up marketing efforts in recent years, Hansen said via e-mail correspondence.

Without counting the enrollees who will complete the Leader's Training Course (LTC) this summer and sign a contract, the Army ROTC's freshman class totals 26 cadets. The number of high school seniors committed to an Army ROTC scholarship in the fall is 38.

Other schools in the state have also seen increases in the number of cadets enrolled in their ROTC programs. The number of incoming freshman in Bowling Green State University's Air Force ROTC is more than three times this year's class. Next year's freshman class at Kent State University's Army ROTC is twice the size of last year's. Miami University could not provide the number of cadets enrolled in this year's freshman Air Force ROTC class, but will see an increase of more than triple their current sophomore class.

Haas said he is aware of the possibilities of deployment after graduation, but is focusing on spending his summer in LTC training.

"If you wanna go the military route, I think it's the best way to go," Haas said. "It really develops a lot of friendships and also yourself as a leader."