Student learns important lessons from military service
Thursday, November 10, 2011
It’s Veteran’s Day, a day when we honor veterans for their service to the United States. According to the Oklahoma State University Office of Veterans Affairs, there are 615 veterans enrolled in the fall 2011 semester.
Cadet Edward Echohawk, an OSU graduate student, is one of many veterans honored for service to the country. Echohawk is a political science graduate student, who is also a soldier in the United States Army. He is the only current ROTC cadet who has been deployed overseas.
Echohawk’s first tour started in February 2004, after he received his undergraduate degree from OSU in political science. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the Army and was sent to Germany, then to Iraq and eventually Afghanistan. He served in the Army for five years before returning to the United States to pursue his master’s degree.
He describes his service in the Army as an experience that has shaped him into the person he is today and has changed his life for the better. “I think the Army forces you to think about the people to the left and right of you, and it’s no longer about you,” said Echohawk. “I would say that is one of the most beneficial things about the Army for me.”
Echohawk insists that he has gained much more from the Army than just war training. He has spoken to students around the country about his experiences and the opportunities in the military. “I’ve had a lot of different experiences and learned a lot of different ways to approach things that I don’t think I would have developed on my own.”
Upon receiving his graduate degree from OSU in May, Echohawk will be commissioned and go back into service as an officer. His initial commitment to the Army will be another four years.
Veterans Day is an especially important holiday to those who have a connection to the Armed Forces and those who have served or are currently serving our country. Lt. Col. Will Beck said the ROTC cadets have a chance to reflect on what their commitment means to the community and the country on Veterans Day.
“For the majority of our cadets, Veterans Day is a chance to see the deep symbolism of their commitment,” said Beck. “Stillwater is a truly patriotic community that shows its support for their military.”