The Alabama A&M University ROTC program celebrated the 51st annual Military Ball Saturday night, and guest speaker Lt. Gen. Robert Rasch Jr., commander of the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, asked cadets to start thinking now about the kind of legacy they want to leave behind.
During the event at A&M’s Event Center, retired Maj. Gen. Patrick Burden, president of the Bulldog Brigade of Military Alumni, introduced the 2024 BBMA Hall of Fame inductee, retired Col. James Heyward. Heyward, the professor of military science at A&M from 1979 to 1983, was also the director of admissions at the university for more than 12 years.
“The military history of our nation is very well-documented through countless battles and numerous wars,” Rasch said. “And the young men and women who fight those wars are quite frankly the most precious resource that our nation has.
“As many of you continue your studies and receive your commission, you will have an opportunity to lead them. That is a sacred opportunity and I ask that as you take on that responsibility, remember you’re their leader, but you are no better than them, you are one of them.
“But you have been given this awesome responsibility and weight of this thing that we call leadership. And every organization you are a part of and every Soldier you lead will have an enduring memory of you. You will become a part of that organization or that individual’s story and you will leave behind your legacy whether you want to or not.”
Rasch called on the cadets to reflect now on the type of legacy they want to leave behind.
“What is the legacy that you will leave behind at this university, in this ROTC program, with your first platoon, with your Army? How will your leadership be remembered?”
There’s a popular misconception for many that the most important leader in an organization is “the one at the top,” but the cadets who will soon be commissioned and have an opportunity for leadership will actually be the most important leaders to noncommissioned officers and Soldiers because of their direct impact every day, Rasch said.
“Do not take that as a right. Look at it as a responsibility because the environment that you create will have a lot more influence on those Soldiers’ and noncommissioned officers’ service and their retention in our Army than anything the division commander can do and, quite frankly, anything the company commander can do.
“Your legacy will start with you making a difference in their lives and hopefully it’s a positive one. Your Soldiers will look to you for organizational purpose and vision, so make sure you have one.”
Rasch said he’s confident that the Bulldog Battalion cadets will be remembered “as caring leaders with high personal and organizational standards to continue to keep our Army the best the world has ever seen. And know that I’ll be watching.”
In introducing Heyward as the 2024 BBMA Hall of Fame inductee, Burden described him as “a Soldier for life, the epitome of a leader and a great American.
“He was my PMS,” said Burden, who still vividly remembers the day Heyward welcomed him on campus. “He had an enormous impact on my life as a cadet, as a college student and as a military officer. He also inspired me as a field artilleryman. He is absolutely a legend of our ROTC program.”
Heyward retired from the Army after 30 years of service. He served on the staff at the Army War College and was a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division. His leadership assignments included locations in the United States, Europe and Asia. He is a Vietnam veteran.
“I’d like to thank everyone for giving me the opportunity to serve my nation and this community as I had wished to do,” Heyward said after a standing ovation.
Rasch told the ROTC cadets they’re blessed to have Lt. Col. Early Howard, professor of military science and ROTC department chair, at the helm of the program. Howard “not only cares a lot about this program but is of this program,” Rasch said. “This is part of his legacy. It’s personal to him.”
Rasch’s son, Michael Rasch, now a first lieutenant, was among members of the Bulldog Battalion commissioned second lieutenants in May 2021.
In his remarks, Howard noted that for the second year, more than 300 people attended the Military Ball. Saturday night, cadets from Grissom, Austin, Lawrence County, Bob Jones, Buckhorn, James Clemens and Madison County high school JROTC programs were included. The Madison County High School JROTC Color Guard presented
the colors at the event.
A&M ROTC cadets played major roles at the event, leading toasts, giving the invocation and benediction, conducting the Fallen Soldier Table ceremony and welcoming guests.
The A&M ROTC Bulldog Battalion also includes students from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Athens State University, and Howard read the names of 11 cadets who will soon be commissioned.
He shared a quote from Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Co.: “‘If everyone is moving forward together then success takes care of itself.’ And for 51 years, we’ve been moving forward together producing excellence and achieving success.”
Starting in October, “we will add the University of North Alabama – UNA – as an extension program to our ROTC program. So, we’re getting bigger, we’re getting better and we’re victims of our own success,” Howard said to the applause of the crowd.
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