Discourse Community Project

The Reserve Officer Training Course is a college program designed to train a student to
become an officer throughout his or her college career that spans through all branches of the
military. Rotc is responsible for 30% of current active duty officers in the military, so it is
unquestionable that it is an important institution.
Military instructors instill knowledge into the cadets to prepare them for the challenges
they will face when they commission. Each grade level typically are put into their of classes, for
example freshmen are AS100s, Sophomores are AS200s and so forth until your last year. Each
class has a different focus, AS100s learn about the foundations of the Air Force, AS200s will
learn about the History of the Air Force. Along with the AS class it is mandatory to go to
Leadership Laboratory, where senior cadets will give briefings and lead flights to do marches
and teach basic movements that every Airman needs to know. Senior cadets (Junior/Senior year)
are in the Professional Officer Course or POC for short. The POCs command most of the cadet
wing and each semester the leadership changes. After you graduate you must serve a mandatory
four years in the military, where your skills will be put to the test.
Not all Rotc detachments are all the same, each one will run things differently. Every new
wing commander have the ability to change how things are done in the wing. Though you can
find this information online, there are things that can only be experienced. Consequently well
look into Detachment 592 at UNC Charlotte, to see how the wing works through problems and
what the classes look like. We will get an idea of how an actual cadet wing will look like.

For our discourse community we decided to interview a member in the ROTC program.
Hearing firsthand what the people involved felt about the way the community handles problems
and daily communication is very different than it is in most communities. We observed a cadet

that is a freshman in ROTC. Anna Weeks my interviewee is a reservist in the air force and
decided to join ROTC to become an officer in her air force future. We asked numerous questions
to understand the types of communication used by the community. The ROTC program is very
structured like the air force; communication is not casual to the least. Before researching and
observing it was not as obvious that respecting people in higher authority by not directly
communicating is more important than finding an answer immediately. Throughout the interview
we asked questions about the goals and communication in this discourse community. For
communication they use what is called the chain of command. This is how and from whom they
get their questions and concerns answered. Just like most discourse communities there are rules.
In ROTC you must always remember you are a reflection of the program, you must always
adhere to uniform regulations, and you must follow customs and courtesies. My interviewee also
explained that the community is filled with professional people who are well disciplined and
think a lot about their future. Ms. Weeks enjoyed the community because she appreciated the like
minded people that shes surrounded with. The ROTC program has shared values which include
integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do (AFROTC Detachment 592.).
Unstated values Mrs. Weeks shared were hard work and discipline at all times. The last question
we proposed was wondering if the ROTC program mirrored other armed services. Ms. Weeks
felt that there were subtle differences for instance the uniform, how we march, ranks, and
commands is all different. Another genre we observed was the University of North Carolina at
Charlottes ROTC website. It was obvious when first going onto the website that the communitys
goal/ mission are emphasized on the website. Their mission is to recruit, train and commission
future Air force officers (AFROTC Detachment 592.). It was easy to find important
information like location and contacts. It also includes the promise that students in this discourse

community can get ROTC scholarship to help with tuition, gain experience, train to become a
leader and manager, and gain respect of their peers and future employers. Email is another source
to give out information in the ROTC community. Email is used to send out the OPORD,
volunteering opportunities, or upcoming events. The OPORD is a summary of the plan for the
week, it tells the cadets what the UOD is, where PT is, or what they are doing in LLAB. UOD is
uniform of the day, PT is physical training, and LLAB is lead lab which is a leadership lab. If
any cadets want to email a higher up they need to do it in a formal specific way that corresponds
to the Air Force standard tongue and quill. It is the format for writing memorandums. We also
observed informal texts as well as formal texts used by UNC Charlottes ROTC program.
Groupme is used in the detachment to get information from other cadets. All first year cadets
have a group chat that they use. This text is used in a very informal way. Each flight in ROTC
has their own group chats. Flight commanders have their own separate group chat. All of these
different forms of communication allow the people in this community to get the information they
needed.
The price of being in the Rotc program for cadets is time. Every Monday, Tuesday, and
Friday cadets must go to PT (Physical Training) to avoid receiving a form 6. Not to mention
there are optional advanced PTs on tuesday and thursday. The goal of PT is to keep the cadets in
shape and improve their physical capabilities for the FA (Fitness Assessment). The FA is a test
the Air Force is required to conduct to maintain a standard of fitness throughout the military
branch. To pass the FA the cadet must: do at least 33 pushups in a minute, at least 43 sit ups in a
minute, run 1.5 miles in at least 13:36, and finally have a 39 waist line or smaller. The FA is
conducted every semester to make sure the cadets are eligible to stay in the program. Cadets
must attend at least two of the three PT days of the week or else they will be counted absent and

be given counseling. PT can sometimes be grueling as the PFOs (Physical Fitness Officers) are
responsible for creating a workout that is challenging to the cadets and also doable. Campus runs
are the most grueling things a PFO can put you through. The beginning of a campus run will start
like any other, but as you progress and the hills take a toll on your legs you will begin to falter.
Furthermore when you think you are almost done, and the PFO is leading you back to the start,
she takes a turn to another hill.
Once every week the cadets must attend Leadership Laboratory. Just like PT if you miss
LLAB you will be given a Form 6 and counseling. LLAB is a 2 hour class where the Cadre
(Actual Officers and Enlisted) and POC (Senior/Junior cadets) will give briefings on events,
important news, problems in the det, volunteering, and etc. After announcements the Flight
Commanders will take the cadets outside to practice Drill. Drill is typical marching and
marching movements. This is where the lower ranking cadets will learn about Air Force lexicon
and standards. For example you must say exactly the right commands or the flight will not do
what you say. The proper command to march your flight forward is Forward, Harch. Instead of
March the Air Force will pronounce it Harch. It also goes with cadence, instead of regular
counting it will be Up, Twoop, Threep, Fourp like adding a p on the end of each number. You
must know which foot to call a command on, for example if you are calling a column right you
must say column right, harch on the right foot so the flight can turn on their left and vice versa
for a column left
One of the biggest things a cadet needs to keep in mind is appearance standards.
Obviously the military had appearance standards, but the IG (Inspector General) does not mess
around. First off at PT you must wear your PTUs (Physical Training Uniforms), shirt must be
tucked in, you can only wear white, or black socks, and your shoe laces must be tucked in. On

Uniform days GMC (Freshmen) must wear the Detachment Polo, Khakis, and Shoe laces must
be tucked in. In general you must be clean shaven everyday, your hair cannot be on your
forehead, your hair cannot touch your ears or the collar of the polo, you can only wear a black
backpack in uniform, you cannot have earphones in when you are walking, nor can you eat.
There are many more standards to keep in mind if you are a cadet. As for Service dresses, you
must be to the tee, everything is measured to inches and you must salute cadre and POC while in
service dress.
Communication is a big part of the program, as any problems experienced by cadets
should be addressed. If a cadet has an issue or question the first thing they can do is ask other
cadets which is a very informal way of communication. Each class has a group chat to discuss
any thing pertinent like issues or homework assignments that they can help each other on. Each
flight also has a group chat where the flight commander can answer questions, It is a little bit
more formal but at the same time the flight commander wants to be comfortable with the cadets.
Two formal ways to address issues is to use email. Any email sent must start off with a greeting
depending on what time of day it is, and it must be a formal and polite style of writing.
Furthermore every cadet must have a signature block with their name, rank, job in the cadet
wing, and contact information. One more formal way to communicate is in person. Just like an
email you must greet POC, and Cadre with the time of day greeting and name and rank every
time you see them.

Work Cited
AFROTC Detachment 592. AFROTC Detachment 592, N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2016.
The best way to chat with everyone you know. GroupMe, N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2016.
Appendix
Interview Questions:
How do you get questions you have answered?
What are some set rules in ROTC?
What do you enjoy about ROTC?
What is the community like in ROTC?
What is the chain of commands?
Is the chain of command effective for communication?
How does this set you apart from other college students?
What are common values shared among ROTC?
What are some unstated values?
Why do you think the chain of command is in place?
Does this mirror other armed services?
Observation Notes:
AS100 Class= Cadets are required to stand at attention when the Captain enters the room.
Standard classroom setting, no side talk is tolerated.
Lead Lab=All cadets in the detachments form up and sit with their respective flights while
getting a run down on announcements, issues, or news.
Drill=Cadets are formed up into flights and taken outside to practice drill. The Flight
Commander takes control of the flight and decides what kinds of movements the flight will do
and makes his/her own lesson
Informal Texts
Groupme=Groupme is commonly used in the detachment to get information around in a very
informal way. Flights each have their own group chats. The entirety of first year cadets has a
group chat. Flight commanders have their own group chat (GroupMe, N.p).

Email=Email is used to send out the OPORD, volunteering opportunities, or upcoming events.
The OPORD is a summary of the plan for the week, it tells the cadets what the UOD is, where
PT is, or what they are doing in LLAB. If any cadets want to email a higher up they need to do it
in a formal specific way that corresponds to the Air Force standard Quill and Pen.