By Joe Castelli
Staff writer
Most Cadets attending the Leader’s Training Course have yet to earn their college degree. Currently pursuing his master’s in criminology, Cadet Hank DeMott is one exception to the rule.
Though just now entering LTC, his decision to join the Army was no whimsical one for the 27-year-old said.
“The Army’s actually been something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” he said.
DeMott had been working a steady job after earning his bachelor’s degree, but the implosion of the economy is partially to thank for his presence at LTC this year.
It all began when his pledge dad in his fraternity, who was a broker at the time, asked DeMott to caddy for him at an amateur golf tournament. It was just before DeMott graduated with a degree in criminal justice, and his pledge dad asked DeMott if he’d ever thought about being in the banking business. They’d discussed his aspirations to attend law school, but he saw the opportunity through anyway.
“They showed me what they were doing, and it was actually pretty interesting. So about two days after I graduated with my undergrad I was down there turning out paper for a bank,” DeMott said. “I did that for about three years, and obviously, if you watch the news, the banking industry isn’t really what it was back then.”
It came time for the criminology grad student to make some life decisions, and going back to the University of Central Missouri for another degree was a top priority.
“My life had kind of opened up to where I didn’t have all these obligations right away,” he said. “So I had time for some training.”
DeMott finally had some room to explore his options in the Army. The Co. D 1/46th Inf. Cadet considered entering the enlisted ranks, but graduate school was already in full swing, and he didn’t want to put that on pause.
Starting from scratch in enlistment would also be more difficult in his mid-20s. A friend who had been in the Army for about a decade suggested DeMott speak with the recruiting officer for the ROTC program at his school.
“[I] went up, talked to him, loved it. They ended up having kind of a two-year program for graduate students, and LTC was part of that program,” DeMott said.
It was a perfect fit for DeMott – he escaped an industry that was rolling downhill and was able to be a part of the Army.
“With the job market how it is, it’s one of the most secure jobs you can have right now,” he said. “And I’m getting in on the best side of it through ROTC.”
DeMott wants to further his education by getting his doctorate in either law or sociology, and would like to ultimately teach military science.
“I’d like to teach somewhere at the university level,” said DeMott, who thinks LTC should be mandatory for all officers. “I’d also like to continue my career in the military for however long they’ll keep me in.”
His desire to be a leader and educator has already manifested itself at LTC when he was the first in Delta Co. to act as company commander, ensuring the timely movement of the entire unit.
“To keep morale up, you use cadences,” said 2nd Lt. Alex Bohn, the squad tactical officer for DeMott’s squad, 1st squad, 2nd platoon. “Cadences keep you in step, cadences keep morale up.
“He chose Vanilla Ice. Excellent job using innovative cadences to keep morale high, and keep it clean.”