The NIC Sentinel

Issue date: 10/6/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Jeni Fehr Members of the newly-founded ROTC program train on campus in the empty parking lot next to Siebert Hall.

Several new courses of study have been incorporated into the curriculum this school year that will allow students a wider variety of career choices. The new courses include Army ROTC and Idaho Army National Guard, Emergency Medical Technician and Medical Assisting.

Army ROTC and Idaho Army National Guard is a program designed for students seeking military careers. Students can complete the first two years of a military science degree at NIC through the college's new partnership with the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program and the Idaho Army National Guard.

The program will benefit students because it "provides confidence, leadership, time management and health and nutrition," said Steve Peyton, officer strength manager (OSM) for the State of Idaho. Peyton is one of the instructors for this program.

The Army offers scholarships and other benefits to students who enlist. These include fully-paid tuition and living stipends. The federal tuition assistance (FTA) is available along with FAFSA.

The electives Military Science 101 and 111, however, are open to all students and not just limited to those seeking degrees in military science.

Students taking these electives will learn the mission of the U.S. Army, investigate available career choices and have the option of experiencing physical training, paintball, rappelling, land navigation and combat water survival.

These programs will be an added benefit to NIC. Those students in the National Guard stay in the state once they are done with training.

"All of our guys are geographically bound to the Idaho," Peyton said. NIC will "not be losing anybody; they will be an asset to the State of Idaho."

The program was started this fall. The 200-level courses will begin fall of the 2009-2010 school year.

The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program is expected to start in January 2009. The program will prepare students for positions in emergency medical services.

At completion of the program, students will have earned an associate of applied science degree and a certificate at the intermediate level. Persons looking into additional educational training in emergency medical systems will be ready for entrance into paramedic and bachelor's degree programs.

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