This isn't going to be another Nam, more than 99% of this nation is 4 square behind our actions against these terrorist bastards! Even some of the Japanese of WW-II understood they had awakened a sleeping giant and unleashed a terrible fire storm upon themselves when they raised the ire of the whole of the USA.
Dan Rather is left - far left, Bush center-right, much of the Republican Congress the extreme-right & we all want the last terrorist & all their supporters Dead.
NATIONAL
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Surge in patriotism swelling cadet ranks
By JENNIFER W. SANCHEZ
Scripps-McClatchy Western Service
October 18, 2001
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Nick Thomas, 18, dreams of becoming a U.S. Air Force officer and pilot someday.
"Ever since I was a kid, I've been fascinated by aviation," said the Albuquerque native.
Encouraged by his grandfather who was in the Army, Thomas said he wants to serve in the military.
"He always taught me to have a great respect for my country," Thomas said.
So when Thomas enrolled at the University of New Mexico this fall, he also signed up for its Air Force ROTC program.
Thomas is one of more than 30 freshmen enrolled in this year's program, the largest freshman enrollment in four years.
ROTC officials expect more new cadets next semester. They said there is an increase in traffic through their recruiting office.
Interest jumped soon after last month's terrorist attacks, said Capt. Chris Mazzei, the unit's admissions officer.
Instead of students being "lukewarm" about joining the military, they want to serve their country, Mazzei said.
"People are a lot more enthusiastic about it," he said.
Mazzei added the Air Force program's intense recruiting and retention efforts this year have also helped increase enrollment.
However, there is a correlation among world events, patriotism and students interested in ROTC, officials said.
For example, during the Persian Gulf War in 1991, there was an increase in Air Force ROTC enrollment. Whereas six cadets were commissioned as Air Force officers in 1992, the number jumped to 11 in 1995, three years after the war ended.
Currently, there are 104 students, including 43 females, in the Air Force ROTC program.
To enroll, a person must be a full-time UNM student. In May 2002, officials expect to commission about 25 cadets from the current class of 104.
The university also has a Naval ROTC program, which has about 75 students. In 1995, the UNM ROTC program was cut because of military budget cuts and a lack of student interest.
Some students, such as Elizabeth De Jesus, said they joined Air Force ROTC because they wanted a challenge.
De Jesus, a senior majoring in journalism and psychology, said she's glad she stuck with the program. This is her third year in ROTC.
"I always thought it was too hard," she said. "But, I did it."
This year she was awarded a full-tuition scholarship. She also receives a $300 monthly stipend from ROTC.
It's very unlikely De Jesus will go into combat when she is commissioned, but she said she'd be "ready to go."
Thomas, wearing a crisp navy blue uniform, agreed.
"It's our hopes and dreams to do so," he said. "...That's why we're here."
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(Contact Jennifer W. Sanchez of The Tribune in Albuquerque, N.M., at jsanchez(at)abqtrib.com)
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