The life of an army ROTC cadet may be hard, but the life of an active duty soldier is even more challenging.

Tyler Cowan, a senior Teacher, Assessor, Coach in Syracuse University’s ROTC program, knows this all too well. Cowan’s brother, 1st Lt. Ryan Cowan, currently serves in Afghanistan at a combat outpost. One of the most difficult parts of serving overseas is not having access to everyday necessities, Cowan said.

To aid these soldiers, Cowan recently decided to start a drive to collect goods, specifically hygiene products, to send to soldiers in Afghanistan. Soldiers at combat outposts receive air-drops every three to four days, but only receive a small number of goods, Cowan said.

“I’m here living high and mighty and they’re there for nine to 12 months living in a pretty bad place. There’s still a war going on; most people don’t realize that,” he said.

ROTC participates in community service work throughout the year, mostly with disabled veterans through the Team Red White & Blue program. This year, ROTC is resurrecting a drive to collect goods for active duty soldiers, a project that was done in the past, said Lt. Col. Michael Kubala, head of the SU ROTC program.

Cowan said that personalized packages filled with things like a soldier’s favorite candy give soldiers the most joy. The army calls these packages “Lickies and Chewies.”

While it may be nice to receive candy and treats, SU ROTC Battalion Cmdr. Robbie Edgin said soldiers also require more basic necessities.

“Anyone of us could end up in that situation and we would want the same support from back home,” he said.

It’s difficult for soldiers to find the necessary items to meet military standards because of the remote locations, said Kubala, who has previously served overseas.

“Sometimes the truck comes in and there’s tons of shaving cream and razors, and sometimes there’s not, and as a soldier you’re expected to shave,” Kubala said. “It’s really nice to get a care package. It’s a morale booster.”

But ROTC has faced some challenges collecting these items. A protest earlier in the school year by anti-war activists, combined with the difficulty of promoting the drive, has made it hard for ROTC to collect items, Cowan said.

He said the cause is important regardless, though.

Said Cowan: “It made it sink in. Whether you agree with war or not, there are still people over there.”

 

Published on October 16, 2012 at 1:38 am

Contact Leslie: laking04@syr.edu