Taylor Bembery
\n<\/strong>Associate Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Central African Republic (CAR) was located right down the road from Jackson State University at Choctaw Trails in Jackson, Miss. for 3 days. The simulation took place from Feb. 21 to Feb. 23 in an effort to help train JSU ROTC Cadets for deployment missions.<\/p>\n

The CAR is currently in the midst of a civil war between Muslims and Christians with well documented killings, torture and rapes.\u00a0 In December 2013, 1000 people were killed in the sectarian conflict. France deployed 1,600 soldiers to try to stop the violence.<\/p>\n

JSU ROTC students camped out in tents, ate MRE (military meals ready to eat) food packages, and trained as if they were in an actual deployment overseas. The simulation even included volunteered civilians and eight students from the JSU Department of Mass Communications that served as the media accompanied by the troops during the mission.<\/p>\n

One of the simulations taught cadets how to patrol. Patrolling is a military tactic in which small groups or individual units are deployed from a larger formation to achieve a specific objective and then return.<\/p>\n

Anthony Fuller, S4 and Cadet Captain of the Battalion, said the ROTC simulations are very real.<\/p>\n

\u201cWalking them through different scenarios, different missions will help them in a big deal. They are actually out here in the woods with weapons and training. This is the realest the ROTC can get. I have done simulations more than 30 times. Now I am just here overseeing the trainings,\u201d said Fuller.<\/p>\n

Stedman Homan, an S5 Cadet, helps underclassmen cadets in the program to prepare in case of deployment.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy position is the S5. S5 is usually dealing with the civil affairs and recruitment. I am a senior cadet of this ROTC program. I will be commissioning on May 2. My role right now is usually to evaluate the underclassmen cadets that are going through the program. I deal with the media and any concerns dealing with the cadets,\u201d said Homan.<\/p>\n

Shavon Marbory, a junior biology.pre-veterinarian major from Meridian, Miss., is a cadet and has only been in the program for about a year but said the mission went well from the time they were at base to the rehearsals of the movement.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome people didn\u2019t know the gist of the whole movement but the specialty teams kept us on track and lead us through the mission. Attention to detail and communication could have been improved. I learned how to have a better command in presence, to take action, and to take responsibility in what I have to do. I also learned that the timeline is very important to get yourself ready for battle,\u201d said Marbory.<\/p>\n

Homan believes these simulations are very important for students.<\/p>\n

<\/a>