KU students honor veterans and prepare for service
LAWRENCE — The temperature can be brisk at 6 a.m., with frost on the ground and the crisp air biting rosy cheeks as you stand at attention, trying not to shiver. It can also be lonely, with only an occasional jogger or squirrel passing by. The daily hustle and bustle of campus will come, but for the University of Kansas ROTC students who hold vigil at the Campanile on Veterans Day, the still, quiet morning offers a chance to reflect on the price of freedom as they honor those who sacrificed in service to our country.
Each year on Veterans Day, ROTC students participate in an honor guard vigil on Memorial Drive, along with other remembrance activities, such as laying wreaths at each of the veterans memorials on campus.
“It is important to remember the past and to take part in these ceremonies because they allow us to remember the ultimate price our veterans have made to protect our freedom,” said Jairub Constable, KU senior and Army ROTC cadet.
Each ROTC student has a unique story, but all say they’re motivated by a desire to serve others and an inner drive to face challenges and grow as individuals and leaders. While some of them are following in the footsteps of family members, they all say they’re inspired by others who have served.
KU’s military history dates back at least to the Spanish-American War, with Alfred C. Alford being the first KU student killed in battle in 1899. Another Jayhawk, Lieutenant William T. Fitzsimons, is considered the first Army officer killed in World War I. Although neither distinction is one a person or their family wants, their service and sacrifice strongly resonates this week as we honor all who have served.
In 1919, a year after WWI ended, KU’s first Army ROTC program was established. KU’s Navy ROTC began in 1945, followed by the Air Force ROTC in 1946. Today, KU’s ROTC programs have grown to average a combined 240 students each year over the past five years. This year’s record freshman class includes 79 ROTC students.
KU is a top school for military-affiliated students, including ROTC, active military and veterans. In May, the university ranked fifth nationally among Tier 1 research institutions in the annual “Military Friendly Schools” survey. KU consistently ranks as a top school in the survey, which is the longest-running review of college and university investments in serving military-affiliated students.
One of the primary resources contributing to KU’s ranking is the Lt. Gen. William K. Jones Military-Affiliated Student Center, which serves a wide range of military-affiliated students: ROTC, veterans, active duty, guard/reserves, military spouses and military dependents.
Emma Hanson, senior and Army ROTC cadet, said that in addition to the Military-Affiliated Student Center, the campus memorials and university efforts to involve military-affiliated students in campus activities, such as the color guard at football and basketball games, show appreciation for the people who serve.
“These elements demonstrate a recognition of the military's contributions and create a sense of community for those of us who are military-affiliated,” Hanson said.
The KU community honors military veterans this week, led by students who will become the next generation of military leaders. The profiles below introduce you to some of them.
Jairub Constable
Army | Senior | English
Constable exemplifies the reason many students participate in KU ROTC programs: personal growth and sacrifice for the greater good.
“Serving my country means laying down my own comfort and safety for the sake of others,” Constable said.
While he has close friends who inspired him to serve, Constable is blazing his own path as the first in his family to serve in the military. With no family boots to fill, he had no doubts about where he wanted to serve. He chose the Army because it is the “go-to military force” and, as the largest branch, has the most career options.
“There is no place I would rather be,” Constable said. “In my mind, Army was the only option.”
With plans to become an infantry officer, Constable credits ROTC with challenging him to become a better leader and pushing him to step up physically, mentally and intellectually.
Emma Hanson
Army | Senior | Business Management & Leadership
Playing sports has been an important part of Hanson’s life. When she came to KU, she decided to join a different kind of team, one where she would be physically challenged and have unique opportunities she couldn't find elsewhere.
“I chose to join Army ROTC to further develop my leadership skills and continue being part of a team-focused environment — something I really valued from playing sports growing up,” Hanson said.
She said the Army presents a number of possibilities to use her business management and leadership degree, including military intelligence, the Engineer Corps or the Signal Corp. And she plans to pursue a master’s degree to expand her skills and future opportunities.
While contributing to a team was part of her motivation, so was continuing a family tradition.
“With grandparents, a cousin, an uncle and both parents all having served, I grew up with a deep appreciation for the military and the values it represents,” Hanson said. “They often spoke of the opportunities they gained, the friendships they formed and the pride they felt of their service. I’m excited to commission this spring and share in those experiences.”
Andrew Holmes
Marines | Senior | Business Administration
Andrew Holmes knew he wanted to be in the military from a young age. His inspiration came from his family’s patriotism and passion for the United States.
“I have had the desire to serve this great country since I was 8 years old and have held to this desire through the past 14 years,” Holmes said.
He said ROTC was the best path toward his goal, and he chose the Marines because of their reputation as the world’s most elite fighting force.
“Seeing the challenge, pride, professionalism and honor of being a U.S. Marine, it did not take much deliberation to choose the Marine Corps,” Holmes said.
For Holmes, military service is an opportunity to defend the United States, uphold the Constitution and preserve democracy in the world. He said standing watch at the Veterans Day vigil is a “sobering and inspirational time” to remember and honor those who previously carried the mantle that he and his generation are now taking on.
“The time that we get to think about the sacrifices, both of service and lives, keeps me motivated to one day lead Marines and make a difference in the United States Marine Corps,” Holmes said.
Kylie Jost
Navy | Senior | Computer Engineering
Joining Navy ROTC brought an unexpected benefit for Jost. Her grandfather was in Vietnam but never spoke much about his service when Jost was growing up.
“Since I’ve joined NROTC, he’s started opening up more about his experiences in the military,” Jost said. “He’s getting older now, and it’s nice to hear him talk about his life in a way he never used to.”
When she is commissioned into the Navy, Jost will be part of a small and select group — in two ways. She will join the 7% of Navy personnel who are in the submarine force, and she will be one of about 700 women who serve on a submarine (.03% of submarine personnel). That places Jost in the .002% of all Navy personnel.
“Women have only been serving on submarines for a little over a decade,” Jost said. “When I join the fleet, the first group of female COs will be completing their command tours. I want to be part of that legacy, and I want to learn from the women who broke those barriers for me.”
Being part of another select group also motivates Jost — the 1% of Americans who serve in the military. She’s also motivated by a desire to make her family proud and to make a difference.
“I want to be able to look back on my life and know I did something meaningful with it,” she said.
Katherine Kelly
Air Force | Junior | Accounting
It’s fairly common for fathers, grandfathers, uncles and brothers to inspire military service. It’s more unusual, however, for a sister to be the source of inspiration. Kelly is following in the footsteps of her older sister, Jacqueline, who is a second lieutenant in the Air Force.
Kelly chose the Air Force partly because of her sister, but also because her interest in a military career comes from wanting to surround herself with highly motivated and driven colleagues while making a difference in people’s lives. And she also wants to be a part of something greater than herself.
“Serving my country means not treating lightly the freedom we are blessed to have here in the United States and making the commitment to preserve our values, freedom and rights,” Kelly said.
Participating in the Veterans Day vigil reminds her of the sacrifices others have made for the country.
“The memorial vigil serves as a reminder that freedom is not free. It’s a tribute to our veterans and fallen heroes,” she said.
Sam Kirk
Army | Senior | Exercise Science, Pre-PT
Kirk is looking forward to commissioning into active duty with the Army in the spring, but he also has his sights set further out.
“The Army allows me to pursue a fully funded doctorate degree, which will allow me to support our soldiers recovering from injuries and regaining their physical abilities,” Kirk said, who plans to be a physical therapist.
Kirk said KU’s Army ROTC program has provided an environment where he can grow through discipline, teamwork and taking on responsibilities that have pushed him to become a stronger leader.
In serving his country, Kirk said he is helping to ensure future generations enjoy the same rights and freedoms Americans have today. Participating in the Veterans Day vigils is a way for him to honor those who came before, including his father and grandfather who served.
“It’s important to me because it represents a moment of reflection and gratitude for the freedoms and security their service has provided,” Kirk said.
Zachary Razak
Air Force | Senior | Atmospheric Science, minor in Math
You could say Razak’s dreams are boundless; after all, he’s following in the footsteps of a Jayhawk who piloted the Space Shuttle.
Razak has been selected for the Air Force pilot training program, a path that led KU alumnus and U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Joe Engle into space. But when it came to a choosing a military career, Razak didn’t have to look that far — his inspiration was at home.
“My dad served in the Air Force, so I grew up a fan of the U.S. Air Force,” Razak said.
He said participating in something greater than himself by serving in the military gives him a sense of purpose and the Air Force lined up best with what he wanted to experience and achieve through his military service.
“I take pride in knowing that in some form or another my contributions give back to the freedoms and luxuries that I grew up with,” Razak said.
For Razak, KU’s traditional 24-hour Veterans Day vigil at the Campanile helps ensure no one forgets those who protected the freedoms sometimes take for granted.