by Steffanie Lindgren ‘10  

Bethel Junior and ROTC Cadet of the Month Andrew Schiller

Andrew Schiller, a junior exercise science major at Bethel, was named September ROTC Cadet of the Month for the Univeristy of Minnesota Twin Cities Gopher Battalion. Schiller earned the award out of 45 other eligible junior-year cadets. 

“It is awesome to have Bethel students represented in programs like the ROTC and to have one be Cadet of the Month,” said Seth Paradis, professor of health and physical education and Schiller’s academic advisor.  “Students like that need to be pushed to the front. We talk about being a warrior for Christ, and he is literally a warrior for Christ.” 

Schiller received an academic scholarship from the Army ROTC (Reserved Officers Training Corp) program to pursue his degree and career goals at Bethel. He is one of 17 ROTC Cadets at Bethel, up from nine last year. Schiller also has served in the Army National Guard since February 2007 as a combat engineer. “I always wanted to become an officer. I like to know what is going on,” said Schiller.  

Schiller was nominated by one of his ROTC professors at the University of Minnesota.  He then underwent the exam board process in which cadets demonstrate their military knowledge to a panel of senior cadets. Cadets are given a 30-page study guide containing army history, current events, and army doctrine. After only three days of studying, cadets are judged on accuracy, detail, and confidence.  

Schiller has ROTC classes at the University of Minnesota three days a week. He spends one weekend a month with the National Guard, one weekend a month with the ROTC, and will spend one month of the summer between his junior and senior years in training in Washington state. Schiller’s academic schedule at Bethel is also grueling. In addition to classes for the exercise science program, Schiller is taking prerequisite courses for graduate school in physical therapy.

“He is a driven, humble young man,” Paradis said of Schiller. “He does well, because he is a hard worker.”  

Later this year, Schiller will sit before the exam board again and compete for the Cadet of the Semester and perhaps Cadet of the Academic Year. Each level is more challenging, demanding more detail, more exact answers, and more confidence.