WASHINGTON, PA (Feb. 5, 2018)—Two Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) seniors in the College’s ROTC program have received active duty assignments in the Army.
Cadets Alexandar Tolbert ’18 and Gregory Krinock ’18 will accept their active duty assignments in the U.S. Army within the Infantry and Aviation Branch, respectively, after graduation.
The process for receiving an active duty assignment is competitive. A student’s college major, grade point average, campus involvement, physical fitness and leadership initiative are all considered, resulting in the student’s national ranking within the ROTC program. Each cadet received his top choice assignment.
Alexandar and Gregory joined the ROTC in their freshman year and worked hard to earn their assignments.
“I’ve always wanted to join the military,” Alexandar said. “There’s different ways you can do it, however, I certainly wanted to become an Officer. W&J has a well-established ROTC program, which was a definitely a determining factor in my decision prior to selecting W&J for my undergraduate degree.”
Alexandar’s ROTC record reflects his dedication to the program. He was named to the Active Duty Top 10% list for his academic success and was named a Distinguished Military Graduate. He was also one of only 36 cadets in the nation to receive the RECONDO designation from Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, a recognition for cadets who get top marks at the camp in a variety of areas, including marksmanship, a physical test, and a 12-mile endurance march. Alexandar has also earned his Air Assault Badge at the Sabalauski Air Assault School at Fort Campbell, the gold-level German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency, and completed Cadet Troop Leading Training (CTLT) at Fort Hood with the Scout Sniper PLT under the Rough Rider Troop, Tiger Squadron, of the 1/3D Calvary Regiment.
Alexandar is the Charlie Company (the local ROTC branch that includes W&J and California University of Pennsylvania) Commander for the spring semester.
Even with his impressive accomplishments, Alexandar remains humble.
“There’s a saying within the SEAL teams on the Navy side that goes, ‘Individuals play the game, but teams beat the odds.’ I find that to be true. I would never say that I alone got myself to this position,” he said. “I honestly believe the people around me—God, my family, my mentors, the ROTC personnel, and my fellow cadets—helped bring me up.”
Alexandar will be attending Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course (IBOLC) from June to October at Fort Benning and will attend the U.S. Army Ranger School immediately after.
Gregory has brought that same dedication to W&J’s ROTC program. He has sought out leadership positions within the program, beginning as a team leader, which led to his services as the First Sergeant for the Charlie Company last semester, and he is currently the Company’s active Executive Officer (XO) of operations. He’s excited to start his active duty assignment as an Aviation Officer by attending flight school in Fort Rucker, Ala.
“I have wanted to become a U.S. military pilot for as long as I can remember,” he said. “My father was also a military pilot; he flew both fighter jets and helicopters for the Air Force, so my family is very proud that I will be returning to the same base where my father attended flight school.”
Some of the aircraft Gregory may pilot includes helicopters like the Apache and Black Hawk.
Gregory feels his experience at W&J has fully prepared him for the next steps as he pursues a career in the military.
“Being part of ROTC has meant a lot to me over the past three years. It has taught me numerous life lessons, such as time management, determination, perseverance, discipline, and leadership, just to name a few,” he said.
The ROTC program at W&J began in 1948, but was withdrawn in 1991 as part of a cost-saving strategy in the military. It was reinstated in 2011, and is an elective curriculum that students can take along with their regular academic courses. The W&J ROTC is part of the Three Rivers Battalion based out of the University of Pittsburgh. The program is open to students in any academic major and has scholarships available for students who are selected.
W&J was designated "Military Friendly" for the 2017-2018 academic year by G.I. Jobs Magazine.
Learn more about W&J’s ROTC program here.
About Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work. For more information about W&J, visit washjeff.dev, or call 888-W-AND-JAY.
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