TCNJ’s ROTC Cadets Meet with Admiral Michael Mullen

Six Army ROTC cadets from TCNJ, along with fellow cadets in Princeton University’s Tiger Battalion, had the rare and unique opportunity to meet with the highest-ranking officer in America, U.S. Navy Admiral Michael Mullen.

Words by Josephine Cusumano ’09

Six Army ROTC cadets from TCNJ, along with fellow cadets in Princeton University’s Tiger Battalion, had the rare and unique opportunity to meet with the highest-ranking officer in America, U.S. Navy Admiral Michael Mullen.

Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was on Princeton’s campus in February to deliver a major policy address titled “Global Trends and National Security. Mullen spoke about his priorities in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as the well-being of American military personnel and their families. He also spoke about the military’s role in the changing world.

Prior to the address, the ROTC cadets had a chance to engage in an intimate question-and-answer session with Mullen. The six TCNJ students in attendance were Dan Scapardine ’09, Debra Cho ’10, Zyon Zate ’10, Andrew Mason ’10, Justin Hunter’13, and Jenn Dowler ’11.

Scapardine, who will receive his commission as 2nd Lieutenant upon graduating in May, said this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “As a future leader of our nation’s military, I felt that this was a great opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of the direction our armed forces will take in the near future.”

The public talk was sponsored by Princeton University and its Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. The Princeton Army ROTC includes cadets from The College of New Jersey. TCNJ cadets belong to the Lion Company of Tiger Battalion.