The University of Georgia welcomed its latest group of ROTC cadets to campus this week as part of FROG week, a week-long training period akin to basic training.
Colonel Retired Joseph Matthews, Commandant of Cadets at UNG, said the week serves as a transition period for high school students as they become college cadets in the Boar's Head Brigade. It all started on Sunday when the cadets were brought in and assigned to one of nine companies. Matthews said 186 freshmen cadets were participating in FROG week ahead of the fall semester.
"The first part of FROG week is about bringing them in, administratively," Matthews said. "Everything from uniforms, to the stuff they need in their dorm room, to introducing them to a military structured life of formations, marching, running and day-to-day activities. The second half of FROG week is then building the team inside that company."
Throughout FROG week, the new cadets will participate in a variety of activities, culminating with a run together up Crown Mountain, and back to the drill field. Upon the completion of Saturday's activities, the new cadets graduate and are officially promoted to recruit.
Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Allyson Smith said the whole experience is humbling.
"A lot of the frogs come in as big fish in their high school, and then they're here and they're small fish here," Smith said. "I believe it's humbling."
AccessWDUN was invited to Thursday's activities at the Pine Valley Recreation Center, which focused on team building amongst the new cadets. A photo gallery from Thursday's events can be viewed above.
Cadet Colonel Andrew Flournoy will lead the Corps of Cadets this year and said he had four big goals in mind ahead of the start of the semester.
"One is going to be physical fitness ... the first thing that your platoon or unit is going to look at is your appearance and your physical fitness," Flournoy said. "And with part of that: discipline. [It] will take you far in your life and will set you up for success in the military life and civilian world. Another one would be academics ... and then lastly I would say retention."
More information about FROG week is available on UNG's website.
