UM Engineering Assistant Dean Attends US Army Leadership Symposium

Photo by Nathan Latil, UM Brand Photography

The University of Mississippi Army ROTC Program nominated Engineering Assistant Dean Marni Kendricks from the 6th Brigade to attend the U.S. Army Summer Cadet Training Leadership Symposium in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Forty people from across the nation who attended this symposium were identified as “Persons of Influence” (POI) or as representatives of the “Centers of Influence” (COI) to spend a few days with the cadets and cadre to learn more about how the army prepares the next generations of military officers.

Marni Kendricks

The POIs and COIs who attended may recommend this program to potential future officers and leaders to help the U.S. Army recruit the best to lead. Marni Kendricks said the U.S. Army is particularly interested in increasing the number of officers with engineering and technical backgrounds.

Kendricks said, “I had the pleasure of spending a few days with Provosts, Deans, Chancellors, Athletic Directors and associates from all across the U.S. representing a variety of Army ROTC universities. We interacted with senior military officers, professors of military science, and as cadets in summer training. They invited the academics to participate in several activities to experience some of the Army training first hand…”

Kendricks got to practice loading a magazine and shooting enemy threats on an electronic rifle range. Among others, she participated in a computer simulated attack and a virtual training activity in heavy protective gear.

“I will never forget rappelling from a 64-foot tower and going through the full-scale ropes course,” said Kendricks. “I quickly developed a great deal of trust and confidence in the professionals that were teaching these events.”

She came out of that “high-adrenaline week with a few bruises and scrapes,” and with admiration of the power of the program that coached “even a bunch of nutty professors” in those challenges.

She said, “It was obvious the U.S. military has the ability and experience to transform fit, focused, young, capable 22-year-olds into great leaders to serve our country in a critical role.”

Callie Daniels Bryant is the senior managing editor at HottyToddy.com. She can be reached at callie.daniels@hottytoddy.com.