Once a UND industrial engineering student in 1996, now UND’s professor of military science, Lieutenant Colonel Murphy is incredibly honored to be celebrating with UND’s Army ROTC’s 100th year anniversary on campus. 

When Lieutenant Murphy was enrolled at UND back in 1991-1996 and was actively participating in Army ROTC, he never thought that he would eventually end up being in the position that he is in today, but he is extremely grateful for it. During his college years of enrollment in Army ROTC, he was honored by being a part of their 75th anniversary as well. 

Since having been apart of UND’s Army ROTC program back then and up until present day, Murphy has seen many changes throughout campus and the program itself. He has seen the changes with the aerospace building, new medical school building, Aleurus Center and the chapel by the river. Regarding the ROTC’s program and the Armory, it has seen the change from the program having an active rifle range that was discontinued around 1998 due to air quality, which has turned into a weight room. 

Along with building and structural changes, UND Army ROTC has evolved with an Army combat fitness test. In the past, the fitness test that was required to pass was merely based on the amount of push ups and sit ups that could be done in two minutes and then followed up by a two-mile run. However, now the fitness test will consist of six different events including deadlifts, throwing 10 lb. medicine ball overhead, leg tucks, hand release pushup and a sprint-drag-carry, along with the two-mile run. These new fitness requirements are good for functional fitness. 

“We don’t see a lot of soldiers doing pushups and sit ups in combat,” said Murphy. “But what we do see them doing is sprinting, carrying weight, they may have to drag something or someone or maybe even have to pull themselves over a wall.” 

This new fitness test will be more realistic to actual battle life and will better prepare soldiers for combat and this new testing system was activated on October 1st. 

“I really like how the new physical training is constructed in how there is no male or female standard, which is vital to the new stance of equality in the world as a whole,” Haley Sailer, a UND sophomore cadet, said. “Overall, I am excited to see how this new standard will impact the Army and the soldiers that encompass it. I think that this testing will show the true strength and agility in the soldier.”

With this honoring milestone, Army ROTC looks to increase their current average of 85-100 students enrolled into their program. They look to do this by bringing back the flight training program and their hope is to bring their numbers back up to around 150 students participating.

“Being here for the 75th anniversary and now the 100th, I just feel incredibly blessed,” Murphy said. “Being in the position of bringing up strong leaders is truly a humbling experience.”