UA ROTC Cadets Rank Top in Country
October 8, 2009 - Filed under: Awards & Honors, Students | Tagged: ROTC
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – An Army ROTC cadet from The University of Alabama has been named the third-ranked cadet in the country and two others are in the top 10 percent nationwide.
Cadets John Beck, Brian Thebaud and Travis Tarbox
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Travis Tarbox of Birmingham, a senior majoring in criminal justice, was ranked third in the country on the National Order of Merit List. Two other UA students, John Beck of Birmingham, a senior majoring in electrical and computer engineering, and Brian Thebaud of Starkville, Miss., a senior majoring in political science, were ranked in the top 10 percent on the national merit list.
Each year, Cadet Command, which controls all ROTC programs across the nation, publishes a National Order of Merit List of cadets who will graduate and commission into military service in the current academic year. The cadets are evaluated on academics, demonstrated leadership performance and physical fitness. More than 4,000 cadets were assessed and honored.
Third-ranked Tarbox currently serves as Cadet Battalion Commander at UA. “Travis is doing an outstanding job of leading the Corps of Cadets here at the Capstone. This is an exceptional accomplishment and we are very proud of Travis, John and Brian, ” said Lt. Col. Jim Shaver, UA professor of military science.
The top 10 percent of cadets on the list are given first choice of Army branch they will serve.
The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is experiencing significant growth in both enrollment and academic quality. This growth, which is positively impacting the campus and the state's economy, is in keeping with UA's vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students. UA, the state's flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.
CONTACT: Clayton Bryant or Linda Hill, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8325 or lhill@ur.ua.edu
SOURCE: Lt. Col. Jim Shaver, UA professor of military science, 205/348-5130 or jpshaver@bama.ua.edu