October for Edinboro ROTC: Promotions and mobile exhibit

Major Benjamin Kavanagh was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel (LTC) on Oct. 4, at a ceremony held in Van Houten Dining Hall. Kavanagh serves as the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) professor of military science for both Edinboro University and Allegheny College.

“Being promoted to LTC is a great honor,” Kavanagh said. “To me, it means that the Army has recognized the hard work and dedication I have given to the Army and [that I] have the potential to continue to serve as a senior leader in the Army.”

Cadet Noah Hunter stated: “It was an honor to witness LTC Kavanagh’s promotion ceremony. He sets an example for all of us cadets to live up to and it was great to see his hard work get recognized.”

“My strong family has put up with long work hours and multiple deployments,” Kavanagh said, as he talked about the “unwavering support” they give him. “My wife keeps my kids and home life on schedule and on time; she tells me where to be and when so I can focus my energy on the Army.”

Kavanagh also talked about the noncommissioned officers (NCOs) that he has worked with over the years.

“Great NCOs train and support officers. They are considered the backbone of the Army and make missions happen.”

“Being assigned to Edinboro ROTC is one of the most rewarding jobs I have had,” Kavanagh continued. “My team is producing officers for the Army that may end up in our own unit when we return to the force, or we are providing officers that will end up in units where we know the leadership. Both are humbling thoughts.”

On Oct. 3 and 4 the Edinboro University campus hosted the Army’s Mobile Usability Lab Exhibit under the direction of Sgt. 1st Class Michael Beard and Staff Sgt. Thomas Fleischer.

Cadets and students were able to experience some of the latest advancements in virtual reality, learn about land navigation through new technology, see the consequences of drunk/distracted driving through a simulation, do some virtual skydiving with the Army’s Golden Knights and take a picture on a Humvee.

“The trailers were on campus to showcase some of the advanced technologies the Army uses,” Kavanagh said. “Yes, recruiters were on hand if a student was interested in joining the Army ROTC program, but I wanted to have the trailer on campus to provide students an opportunity to see what ROTC cadets will be using when they graduate and are sent out to the Army.”

The VR simulators were geared into different games that let students and cadets have some fun, but Fleischer said that VR is used for so much more in the Army. They have different VR simulators for testing surgery strategies, practicing taking apart planes and Humvees, and practicing different tactics that could be used in the field.

On Oct. 7, some of the ROTC cadets also completed the Army’s 10-mile run in Washington, D.C. one of the many activities that cadets participated in.

Kelly Staschak can be reached at edinboro.spectator@gmail.com.

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