People often believe there are two separate options after high school graduation: the military or college. What if there was a way to do both? That’s where Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, better known as ROTC, comes in. Yutan graduate Carter Tichota (class of 2022) is in the Air Force ROTC at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and has seen firsthand how this program prepares students for the future. 

“ROTC is a college military program that trains and prepares students to become commissioned officers in the United States military after graduation,” Tichota said. “It’s like being a part of a team sport, but at the end, you graduate and become an officer and join the U.S. Air Force.”

Before entering the program, Tichota says that there aren’t many specific requirements to join.

“You must be a U.S. citizen before you commission. There are some other requirements while in the program, but to join initially there aren’t any big ones,” Tichota said.

Regular requirements need to be met once in the program, however.

“You have to maintain a good GPA, physical fitness standards, Physical Training and Leadership Labs,”  Tichota said. “For ROTC, as you go up over the years, there is added responsibility and more leadership. Juniors and seniors are also in charge of training sophomores and freshmen.”

One requirement is LLAB, or Leadership Laboratory, where 64 individuals complete 2 hours of training once a week. 

“Usually, it consists of presentations for a little bit and then different skills. Skills include marching, expeditionary skills like land navigation, small unit tactics and problem-solving exercises called GLPs among others,” Tichota said. 

Not all work happens during the school year. Three weeks of training in Alabama is a requirement for all before entering their junior year of the program. 

“Generally, I would say there are some hard parts and there are easy parts. A lot depends on who you are doing it with because a lot of it is leadership-focused,” Tichota said. 

While Tichota prepares for his future with his military officer position, he is also taking classes towards a bachelor’s degree. 

“I’m a biomechanics major, so I will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Biomechanics,” Tichota said. 

This semester, Tichota has three classes to take while managing all ROTC training to meet his degree requirements. His daily schedule also includes time to volunteer, work part-time, study and manage his little free time. 

“I will be honest and up front and tell you that I am kind of busy, and I wish I had more free time at times. With ROTC and school, work part-time and volunteering, it can be difficult,” Tichota said. “However, I absolutely love everything that I do, especially outside of school.” 

To get more social interaction within busy schedules, Tichota finds ways to study with peers. 

“I like to try and study with people. Sometimes we just start yappin’, but it is also fun to be with others and help each other,” Tichota said. “Collaborate to graduate as we say.”

With the support from the program, Tichota finds his intimidating schedule manageable. 

“I just feel like my path helped give me guide rails to do what I want. There is a great support system, mentors and everyone there to help you accomplish your goals,” Tichota said.

Amid the busy schedule, Tichota has made many memories in activities and with other individuals. 

“‘Planning missions and playing paintball/airsoft in the woods is fun. Flying in helicopters is cool, and running out of the back of a Chinook as it lands is all fun,”  Tichota said. “ But the thing I will cherish the most when it is all said and done is without a doubt the people.”

After graduation, Tichota will continue his work in Texas while moving up in ranking.

“ROTC is the stepping stone that will make me an officer in the United States Air Force after I graduate college in May 2026,” Tichota said. 

Family time is something that will be cut down when leaving for training, but Tichota says so far, ROTC has not affected his family. 

“It hasn’t affected my family in any big way. If anything, it has made me value family time more because I know I will be leaving to go to Texas for training in about a year,” Tichota said. 

Amy Tichota, Carter’s mother, agrees that ROTC hasn’t affected their family day to day but expresses how ROTC has had a positive impact on Carter’s college experience. 

“Being in ROTC has brought Carter a group, something to belong to. As I think about kids moving to college, as a parent, you want them to find a group that they can get involved with that helps them in the transition and not feel lost on campus. This was Carter’s group,” Amy Tichota said.

Carter’s parents have also noticed how ROTC has helped him prepare for his future. 

“ROTC has helped define who he is as a person, and it has given him opportunities to see where he wants to go in life. He has a call-to-serve mentality that I didn’t see as much in high school as I do now. He wants to help people so much that sometimes it comes at sacrificing his own priorities, such as school work or having downtime,” Amy Tichota said.

Tichota acknowledges the impact that the program had on him, ranging from his viewpoints, self-respect and plans for the future. 

“It has expanded my worldview, and it has helped me become a better young man. It has helped me know what I really want in life, and it has helped me develop into a better leader,” Tichota said. 

Because he has seen a positive impact from this program, Tichota believes incoming college students should consider it. 

“I highly recommend it. It has given me a path that allows me to get a college degree as a normal college student would, get scholarships to help pay for school, the opportunity to be a part of a team while in college, and the opportunity to serve the country and lead as an officer after graduation,” Tichota said.