By Howard Wilkinson
The Cincinnati Enquirer

OXFORD - On university campuses in the Tristate and around the country, more and more young people are willing to do what Jose Madera of Forest Park does one day a week at Miami University.

He wears the uniform of military service for his country.

Mr. Madera is one of 120 members of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Miami. He has made a commitment that goes far beyond the willingness to wear military fatigues, which make him stand out on a busy campus where dungarees and sweaters are the standard student uniform.

The real commitment is the one ROTC students accept if they stay with the program to their junior year in college - to spend from four to eight years as an active-duty military officer once their college days are over.

"It's a big step to take when you sign up,'' said Mr. Madera, a Withrow High School graduate. "Some people say it is a dangerous time to be in the military. But, to me, it is worth it.''

The number of young people willing to make that commitment is growing.

At Miami, the Air Force ROTC program has gone from 45 students two years ago to 120 today - a jump that is reflected in many Air Force, Army and Naval ROTC programs around the country.

Enrollment numbers compiled at Air Force ROTC headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base show there are approximately 17,500 Air Force ROTC cadets nationwide this fall, compared with 13,351 on Oct. 31, 2001.

An increased interest in military service might be attributed to the terrorist attacks last September, but military officials and military officers who run collegiate ROTC programs are reluctant to make that assumption.

Lt. Col. Timothy Gobin, who heads the Army ROTC program at Xavier University, said he has seen increasing numbers in recent years as well.

"Some people think it stems from what happened September 11, but I'm not sure that is the case,'' said Col. Gobin, who has 80 Army ROTC cadets in his program.

"College isn't cheap any more, and this is a good way for a lot of young people to go to school who might not otherwise,'' Col. Gobin said. "Of course, there is an obligation to serve at the end of that.''

It is a considerable commitment - and a serious one - especially at a time when the United States is waging war against global terrorism and the possibility of a military conflict with Iraq is very real.

Some day, today's ROTC students may find themselves in harm's way somewhere halfway around the globe, but, for now, they live lives much like any other college student.

ROTC cadets live among other students in freshman dorms and off-campus. The courses they take are much the same as other students, except for the ROTC program classes:

A study of Air Force structure for freshmen.

A course in the history of military air power for sophomores.

Management and leadership classes for juniors.

A political science class on American defense policy for seniors.

For those receiving scholarships, the obligation to serve as an active-duty officer begins in their sophomore years. Others can stay in the program their freshman and sophomore years and opt out without committing to active duty.

The financial benefits are considerable.

Air Force and Army ROTC scholarships pay all tuition and textbook expenses, and monthly spending money. Scholarship students automatically receive room and board money, as well.

The money they receive for a college education is a prime motivation for many ROTC students, but many other factors move young people into ROTC programs.

Maj. Rob Schiller of the University of Cincinnati's Army ROTC - the "Bearcat Battalion'' - said "there are as many reasons for joining as there are students.''

"We sum it up with the acronym TEAMS - Travel, Education, Adventure, Money for college and Service to country,'' Maj. Schiller said. "That pretty much covers it.''

Lt. Col. Joseph Martinelli, commander of the Air Force ROTC program at Miami, said there is no easy explanation for why more students than ever are joining.

"Obviously, there's an increased interest in the military in the country generally, and the scholarship money has a lot to do with it,'' Col. Martinelli said. "But I don't get the impression these kids are just in it for the money. There's something else going on here.''

There was a time, not so long ago, when students like Mr. Madera, walking across campus in uniform, would have stood out like a sore thumb.

Thirty years ago, in the Vietnam era, young people wearing ROTC uniforms on college campuses were often the objects of scorn and sometimes even violent protest.

But today, in an era when attitudes toward the military have turned nearly 180 degrees, they blend into the mix of campus life.

"I feel like I'm just like any other student,'' Mr. Madera said. "I go to classes. I hang out with my friends. The only thing that makes me different is that I wear a uniform one day a week.''

For Mr. Madera and his fellow Air Force ROTC cadets, that day is Thursday, when they gather at their headquarters in the basement of Millett Hall for their weekly "Leadership Laboratory'' class.

On a recent Thursday afternoon, dozens of them crowded the headquarters. Some stopped to talk with a visitor about why they joined ROTC.

"I'm doing this because I want to go into politics and it will look good having a military record,'' said Mike Westrich of St. Bernard, a Roger Bacon High School graduate. "This helps me build the self-confidence I need to go out and have a public career.''

Renee Bailey of Norwood, another Miami Air Force ROTC cadet, said she hopes to have a career in law enforcement some day.

"What ROTC can give me is the kind of leadership skills I need, the ability to manage people,'' Ms. Bailey said.

Justin Brockhoff of Cleves said he comes from a family where military service is considered a duty.

"I'm getting a good education and a chance to serve my country,'' Mr. Brockhoff said.

Mr. Madera said his parents had misgivings about his decision to join ROTC.

"I think they were just scared by the idea of military service and the fact that, someday, I may have to go into some dangerous situations,'' Mr. Madera said.

Mr. Madera said he would like a career in diplomacy and foreign affairs. He can see himself coming out of ROTC after four years as a young Air Force officer assigned to an American embassy abroad.

"I see this as a means of reaching my goals,'' Mr. Madera said. "I can serve myself and my country at the same time.''

E-mail hwilkinson@enquirer.com