UWF Army ROTC student named Honor Graduate at Basic Airborne Course

The Basic Airborne Course is divided into three weeks named ground week, tower week and jump week. Ground week builds individual airborne skills that teach students to parachute jump and land safely. Tower week training builds upon the skills developed in ground week and introduces team effort skills. During jump week, students must successfully complete five parachute jumps with the T-11 parachute at 1,250 feet from a C-130 or C-17 aircraft.

“This was a real military experience for me,” said Douglas. “I never saw myself doing this three years ago when I started here at UWF, but it was huge for me. I learned patience, to enjoy every moment and to absorb all I can.”

Douglas is an Army ROTC scholarship recipient from Orlando, Florida. He is a junior majoring in public relations with a minor in military science, and he is on track to graduate in the spring of 2017.

“Military units and ROTC programs across all branches of the military send their most qualified people to Airborne School, to include Army Rangers and Navy SEALs,” explained LTC Henry Delacruz from UWF Army ROTC. “Cadet Hakeem Douglas has demonstrated that not only can he perform with these officers, non-commissioned officers, enlisted soldiers and cadets, but lead them as an honor graduate. As an honor graduate he’s considered the ‘best of the best,’ and that’s all due to his dedication in preparing mentally and physically for this demanding course, and due to the training and preparation he received in UWF Army ROTC.”

“UWF’s Army ROTC program is one of the best out there,” said Douglas. “They are good people with a great support system. It’s given me confidence, and I’ve loved every second of it. It’s also given me plenty of opportunities. I don’t think I could have done this at any other university.”

For more information about the Army ROTC program at UWF visit uwf.edu/armyrotc.

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About the University of West Florida: Founded in 1963, the University of West Florida is a vibrant, distinctive institution of higher learning with undergraduate, graduate and targeted research programs. With multiple locations in Northwest Florida, the University serves a student population of more than 12,000. Dedicated to helping students realize their full potential, UWF favors small class sizes with quality teacher-scholars who deliver personalized, innovative, hands-on learning and leadership opportunities.