Leadership Spotlight: Temple University ROTC cadet Marlena Gordon rises over challenges

Rising over the Challenges: Marlena's ROTC story

By Ramses Montes

Do you thrive in team settings? Are you looking for a way to enhance your college or high school experience while acquiring lifelong leadership skills? Then you might be interested in Marlena Gordon's story. Marlena is a twenty-year-old political science major attending Temple University in Philadelphia, PA and is part of the ROTC program: the United States Military's college-based officer training program that helps students pay for school and trains the majority of officers in the United States Military.

The ROTC, or Reserve Officer Training Corps, was established by the National Defense Act Yes, you learn of 1916 (alongside its high school-based equivalent, the JROTC or Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) and is the nation's largest scholarship program. They offer competitive tactics, you learn how to use weapons, scholarships, which can help pay for some or but really the all of a student's college costs. biggest thing

Marlena's story begins at home. Grow- you learn is ing up in Delaware, her mom was a massive leadership.influence. As a school principal, she imbued Marlena with a strong work ethic and a deep understanding of how college can help people fulfill their potential. "I feel like everyone in ROTC has each other's backs, but I feel like I got most of my leadership traits from my mom: she went and got her doctorate. I got to see the mistakes she made and all the things she taught people under her in the past."

Carrying this energy with her throughout high school academics and basketball, Marlena started building the foundation to help her succeed; teamwork, perseverance, and devotion guided her to join the ROTC in her first semester at Temple. "In high school, I was an athlete, so I was used to the team mentality, you know, working together, being a part of something bigger than yourself." While she faced many sudden decisions in It's okay to make mistakes; her first semester, ROTC helped Marlena find her place in college and within herself. "When I first came to Temple, I was actually a health profeseverybody's sions major. I had switched over from a political human. Just science major because I wasn't really sure about don't be scared ROTC or where I was taking my career. After to step out of doing a semester of ROTC and health professions, your comfort zone or say the I realized that I really do enjoy reading about political science, and that's something I wanted to do. Also, I found out that I enjoyed ROTC, and wrong thing. it's definitely something I want to do for my career."

But what do you need going into ROTC, and what skills do you learn? "Being accountable to yourself," says Marlena. "You need the right tools, to be on time, to have the right uniform. And the biggest thing you get out of it is leadership. Yes, you learn tactics, you learn

Cadet Gordon had this to say about her experience at US Army Airborne School:

“Airborne is one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had since joining ROTC. In three weeks, I was able to learn and build the courage to jump out of an aircraft. It has taught me that I am capable of anything and to trust my abilities. In the future I hope to inspire others to push for their goals, and see that they are capable of anything. Trust yourself. Trust your training. And reach for the sky.”

Temple ROTC Cadet Marlena Gordon shown here upon completing US Army Airborne School in Fort Benning, GA in August, 2022. Photograph courtesy of Temple ROTC

how to use weapons, but really the biggest thing you learn is leadership."

Marlena's own ROTC experience has been heavily entwined with leadership and the flourishing of her voice. When she first joined ROTC, she was shy and unaccustomed to public speaking. "After being here for a little while and getting out of my comfort zone, ROTC made me learn how to brief. You basically have to give everyone a run down. I had to speak one-on-one; I had to

speak to the entire battalion. It was so nerve-wracking, but now I don't even think about it." In your life and career, having the confidence to know what you want to do and follow through with it is I had to speak to the an incredible skill. Marlena's advice for all our entire battalion. It was readers—whether or not they're interested in so nerve-wracking, but ROTC—is, "Be confident in yourself and what now I don't even think you learned. It's okay to make mistakes; everyabout it. body's human. Just don't be scared to step out of your comfort zone or say the wrong thing."

Superando los desafíos: la historia de Marlena en el ROTC

¿T e va bien trabajando en equipo? ¿Buscas mejorar tu experiencia en la universidad o la secundaria mientras sumas habilidades de liderazgo para toda la vida? Entonces puede interesarte la historia de Marlena Gordon. Marlena tiene 20 años, estudia Ciencia Política en Temple University, en Filadelfia, PA, y es parte del programa ROTC de capacitación de oficiales universitarios de las Fuerzas Armadas de los Estados Unidos, que ayuda a los estudiantes a pagar su matrícula y forma a la mayoría de los oficiales estadounidenses.

El ROTC, o Cuerpo de Entrenamiento de Oficiales de Reserva, fue creado por la Ley de Defensa Nacional de 1916 (junto con su equivalente para la escuela secundaria, el JROTC o Cuerpo de Entrenamiento de Oficiales de Reserva Junior) y es el programa de becas más grande del país. Ofrece becas competitivas, que cubren total o parcialmente los costos universitarios de los estudiantes.

La historia de Marlena comienza en su casa. Durante su infancia en Delaware, su madre fue una gran influencia. Directora de escuela, transmitió a Marlena una sólida ética de trabajo y una profunda comprensión de cómo la universidad puede ayudar a que las personas alcancen su potencial. "Siento que en el ROTC todos se apoyan mutuamente, pero creo que la mayor parte de mi liderazgo lo tomé de mi madre: ella avanzó hasta doctorarse. Pude ver los errores que cometió y todo lo que les enseñó a quienes dependían de ella".

Llevando esta energía consigo durante sus estudios y el baloncesto secundario, Marlena comenzó a cimentar su éxito; el trabajo en equipo, la perseverancia y la devoción la guiaron a unirse al ROTC en su primer semestre en Temple. "En la secundaria era deportista, así que estaba acostumbrada a la mentalidad de equipo, a trabajar junto a otros siendo parte de algo más grande que uno". Si bien enfrentó muchas decisiones repentinas en su primer semestre, el ROTC ayudó a Marlena a encontrar su lugar en la universidad y para sí. "Cuando llegué a Temple, en realidad tenía un major en Salud. Me había cambiado de un major en Ciencia Política porque no estaba segura sobre el ROTC o adónde iba a llevar mi carrera. Tras un semestre de ROTC y Salud, me di cuenta de que disfruto mucho leer sobre ciencia política, y que quería hacer eso. Además, descubrí que me gustó el ROTC y supe que era algo que quería para mi carrera". Pero, ¿qué se necesita para ingresar al ROTC y qué se aprende? "Ser responsable contigo mismo", dice Marlena. "Necesitas las herramientas adecuadas, llegar a tiempo, tener el uniforme adecuado. Y lo más importante que obtienes es liderazgo. Sí, aprendes tácticas, aprendes a usar armas, pero lo más importante que aprendes es liderazgo". La propia experiencia de Marlena en el ROTC ha estado fuertemente entrelazada con el liderazgo y el florecimiento de su voz. Cuando se unió al programa era tímida y no estaba acostumbrada a hablar en público. "Después de estar aquí por un tiempo y salir de mi zona de confort, aprendí a informar. Básicamente, tienes que darles a todos un resumen. Tenía que hablar uno a uno; tenía que hablar a todo el batallón. Fue muy estresante, pero ahora ni siquiera lo pienso". En tu vida y tu carrera, tener la confianza de saber lo que quieres hacer y cumplirlo es una capacidad increíble. El consejo de Marlena para todos nuestros lectores, estén interesados en el ROTC o no, es: "Confía en ti y en lo que aprendiste. Está bien cometer errores; somos humanos. Nada más, no temas salir de tu zona de confort o decir algo incorrecto".

POWERED BY www.goarmy.com/rotc

Sí, aprendes tácticas, aprendes a usar armas, pero lo más importante que aprendes es liderazgo. Tenía que hablar a todo el batallón. Fue muy estresante, pero ahora ni siquiera lo pienso. Está bien cometer errores; somos humanos. Nada más, no temas salir de tu zona de confort o decir algo incorrecto.

About the Author

Ramses Montes is a Philadelphiabased writer, musician and filmmaker. Their work centers around food security and community involvement. In their free time they like to read, stretch and play video games.