KRISTIN MELODY
PRIDE STAFF WRITER

The Veterans Success Center will hold its annual Salute to Veterans event tentatively scheduled for Nov. 10, during U-Hour in Tukwut Courtyard.

Veterans Day is special because “all military recognize it,” Captain James Lehner of the CSUSM Army ROTC office said.

According to the Veterans Center, the event will host an Air Force Veteran/CSUSM professor guest speaker, offer information from veterans, have an Army Cadet color guard ceremony and provide refreshments for attendees.

The Army ROTC program is relatively new to CSUSM and works in conjunction with the San Diego State University Army ROTC program.

The program is intended to introduce or commission students to enter the U.S. Army by enrolling them in Leadership and Profession Development course open to any students. Students continue with on-campus physical training sessions, labs and later, commission.

“We have three categories of cadets on campus…30 students [participate], freshmen through seniors,” Captain Lehner said.

If students continue in the Army ROTC program, they commission and earn health benefits, advance degree options and are eligible for a student loan repayment program.

There is also the Simultaneous Membership Program where students in the Army Reserve or National Guard participate in the ROTC program as they complete further training.

The Army ROTC office is currently located at the UVA, where they also train.

For more information, contact Captain Matthew Horstman or Captain James Lehner at (760) 750 – 4874 or email [email protected].