By Aubrey Hastings
Student Life Editor
No one can truly know the cost of the military unless you have walked in their shoes. Senior Zechariah Rogers has found his own place amongst these few brave men and women in the U.S. Marines. Rogers spent his summer training with the Officer Candidates School at Quantico, VA.
Training under the motto the Marines live by, Rogers endured rigorous physical training and self-discipline to epitomize “leadership by example.”
“Officer Candidate School has been a life changing experience for me that has transformed me physically and mentally. I will forever be changed for the better due to my training in Quantico, VA during the past two summers. Obtaining the title of United States Marine is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done and it is a great source of pride for me to have earned the honor of being a part of the greatest brotherhood in the world,” said Rogers.
Officer Candidate School is considered the best leadership school in the country and is a tool the Marine Corps uses to train screen and evaluate officer candidates. This summer was the second 6 week period of this training for Rogers.
The School was designed to train up soldiers in the doctrine and duties of infantry leaders. The institution has a long spanning history, through times of war and peace, beginning in 1891. 120 years strong, the Officer Candidate School has seen countless honorable men and women come through its doors and walk the demanding path to military leadership titles. Rogers lives true that to whom much is given, much is required.
Now that his training has been completed, upon graduation from WC this spring Rogers will be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the USMC.