On 27 Jan 24, the DONS Battalion conducted a welcome back event consisting of multiple briefs from SHARP/Title XI, EO, MRT, Cadre, and Cadet Staff introductions to expectations. The day ended with an Esprit de corps football event and battalion Dining in.

USF Army ROTC Dons Battalion playing two-hand touch football for Esprit de Corps event.

Dining In

USF ROTC Nursing Cadets with School of Nursing Dean Eileen K. Fry Bowers and guest speaker COL Joleen Pangelinan ’02.

Dining-in events are a social gathering within the ROTC community. While the primary purpose is to foster camaraderie, this event allows military leaders to share their experiences and insights.

Experienced military leaders may be a speaker who shares stories to showcase the tangible and positive effects of their service actions. In the past years, Major General Miles Davis, the office chief of the Army Reserve that supports the Army’s mobilizations and deployments, and Colonel Joleen Pangelinan, the Deputy Commander for Nursing, were in attendance. Dining-ins allow such leaders to highlight their service to their country, so cadets internalize and foster a sense of duty that extends beyond the military to serving others in their community. These stories inspire cadets to apply similar leadership attributes and competencies on the battlefield, in school, & civilian jobs. Their interactions also broaden cadets’ perspectives and encourage them to engage in community service projects. The sense of duty, leadership development, and exposure to positive role models collectively influence cadets to extend their commitment to service beyond their military roles.

This year, the Battalion continues to cultivate its centers of influence both on- campus and within the local community. The battalion had the Deans from the School of Management and Nursing attend the Dons Battalion Dining in.