Name: Judah Anolick
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Evanston, IL
Judah, an Air Force ROTC student, is one of only six Air Force ROTC students in the country to participate in the one-year exchange program with the Air Force Academy.
Why do you have this poster up on your wall and why do you like it?
It makes me think of the spirit that built the country and the people who work hard to make it. It also reminds me that you have to have a good time. You have to eat lunch, but you can do it in a cool place.
Where’s the coolest place you’ve eaten lunch?
Last summer I did a hiking trip in Wyoming and we summited the peak in the Wind River. We were up at 13,000 feet and got to see everything and it was pretty crazy.
Why did you choose to do ROTC?
The biggest thing would be the opportunities from doing it. I also feel a huge sense of debt to my country after all it’s given to me and I feel very privileged to live the life that I have. So as a result I feel like I have to pay it back.
How many hours a week do you spend doing ROTC?
We meet on Thursdays for five hours. We do three hours of leadership laboratory where we learn how to act in a military environment. That’s the more mentally strenuous part. Then we have an hour of academic class where we learn about the history of the Air Force. And we wrap up with an hour of physical training.
Is going to the Air Force Academy a requirement for ROTC?
No, it is not at all. It’s something I get to do which I’m very excited about. This is the first year they’re sending a few Air Force Academy students to non-service schools around the country, and in exchange the Air Force Academy is taking a few ROTC students for a year.
What is your favorite quote that you’ve had to memorize?
A quote by General George Patton: “Lead me, follow me or get out of my way.” I like the sentiment. I think it’s a good way to approach problems, especially in a military environment.
Photos are from Facebook