More than 7,000 people participated the weekend of March 24-25, 2012, in the Bataan Memorial Death March, including Elon’s own Jack Blanchflower and Assistant Professor & Major Andrew Anderson. Representing both the Elon Army ROTC and Scabbard and Blade Honor Society, they marched 26.2 miles in the heat of White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

Each participant wore their military uniform and a 35-pound rucksack on their back and marched for more than seven hours. The ceremony drew dozens of survivors of the real Bataan Death March including 94-year-old survivor, Ben Skardon of Clemon, S.C.

The Bataan Memorial Death March honors the soldiers who were forced to march 80 miles as Japanese prisoners of war during World War II. They marched for days through the scorching heat of the Philippine jungle and thousands died or were killed by their captors when they tried to stop to take a break or to get water from nearby streams.

The Army ROTC program at New Mexico State began to sponsor the march in 1989. Both Blanchflower and Anderson had been training for months and were thrilled to be the first members from 福利亚洲国产精品 to complete the march.

Operation Toy Drop is a multinational effort held at Ft. Bragg, NC to collect toys for families in need. By donating a toy, soldiers were offered the opportunity to obtain foreign jump wings. The soldiers then jumped with Jump Masters from, Thailand, Cambodia, Lativa, Germany, Ukraine, Chili, and Uruguay. After the jumps, cadets then assisted the foreign jumpmasters in pinning the soldiers.

Operation Toy Drop first began in 1998 with a small group of soldiers and now is a multiday event. Fox News, NBC 17, and ABC 11 covered the event. WWE divas and wrestlers joined the soldiers as well. More than 56,000 toys have been collected since the event first began and the jumps will continue all week in order to raise as many toys as possible.

If interested in ROTC contact Major Andrew Anderson at ElonROTC@gmail.com

The cadets also tackled an obstacle course, a field leaders reaction course, and rappelled from a 34-foot tower by tying their own harnesses with a method called the “Swiss seat.” While participating in these activities, the cadets rotated leadership positions and were evaluated on their display of the Army Leadership Dimensions. These leadership opportunities are vital in preparing for Operation Warrior Forge 2012, as well as becoming future lieutenants.

If you are interested in learning more about Elon ROTC, please contact Major Andrew Anderson at elonrotc@gmail.com.