Taylor Bembery
Associate Editor
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.
The CAR is currently in the midst of a civil war between Muslims and Christians with well documented killings, torture and rapes. In December 2013, 1000 people were killed in the sectarian conflict. France deployed 1,600 soldiers to try to stop the violence.
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.
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.
Anthony Fuller, S4 and Cadet Captain of the Battalion, said the ROTC simulations are very real.
“Walking 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,” said Fuller.
Stedman Homan, an S5 Cadet, helps underclassmen cadets in the program to prepare in case of deployment.
“My 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,” said Homan.
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.
“Some people didn’t 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,” said Marbory.
Homan believes these simulations are very important for students.
“The simulations are relatively important for these cadets because it is reality. When these cadets in the future get commissioned and go to the actual army, they will be going overseas and actually dealing with the media on the battlefield. They need to know how to interact and how to protect the media, it is very important,” said Homan.
This particular simulation was the first time the ROTC has ever collaborated with the Department of Mass Communications. This gave ROTC students the ultimate simulation experience. Emmanuel Ngwainmbi, chair of the Mass Communications Department, has worked hand and hand with military affairs at JSU to make the participation of students possible. He said he hopes the collaboration will continue for years to come.
Tenesha Hughes, a senior Mass Communications major from Columbus, Miss., participated in the simulation as the media. She said it was a great experience being able to do hands on international journalism.
“I was able to actually see what the ROTC does. We got to follow behind them while being able to take pictures, videos, and get footage. They work really hard and get down and dirty. I was protected by two cadets through the simulation, making it feel like a real experience,” said Hughes.
The collaboration will not only help prepare ROTC students for the battle field but Mass Communications students that plan to explore a career in international journalism.
