Cadets from military schools across the country will meet at Virginia Tech from Feb. 11-13 for the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets 2010 Leadership Conference.

Through interactive sessions and lectures, cadets will discuss professional development as well as the art and science of learning leadership. The conference will cover topics such as leadership and technology, recruiting and retention, and peer leadership.

On Thursday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. Lt. Eric Greitens, U.S. Navy Researve, Navy SEAL, and founder of The Mission Continues, who is both a Rhodes and Truman scholar, will open the conference as the keynote speaker. The Mission Continues enables disabled and wounded veterans to continue to serve in leadership roles locally. Greitens will speak in Burruss Hall auditorium and his talk is open to the public. To learn more about Greitens visit his website.

“Leadership conferences such as these are important to everyone. It goes a long way in developing people if they can have a concentrated forum in which to discuss leadership especially when the other cadets are from schools from across the nation,” says Cadet Jason Oberoi of Fairfax Va., a senior majoring in political science in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and pursuing a minor in leadership studies who is also a Commandant’s Scholarship recipient.

Oberoi, who will commission as an Army Second Lieutenant in May, is serving as the cadet in charge of the conference in addition to his other duties this semester as the Executive Court Chair for the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and as the Army ROTC cadet commander.

In addition, at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12 the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets will hold a formal retreat ceremony at the flag pole on Upper Quad. The regiment will be formed between Lane, Brodie, and Rasche Halls. The color guard will lower the flag; Skipper, the corps cannon, will fire; and the Highty-Tighties, the Regimental Band, will play. All are welcome to come view this event.

Military Weekend will conclude with the Senior Banquet and Military Ball on Saturday, Feb. 13. For more information about these events contact Colonel Dave Miller at (540) 231-9455 or visit the conference website.

Free parking is available around the Drillfield with a visitor’s pass from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. No pass is necessary on the Drillfield after 8 p.m. or on weekends. Parking is also available in Perry Street Lot 1, 3, 4 and 6 near Prices Fork Road. In addition, with a visitor’s pass, parking is available in the Squires Lot, located at the corner of College Avenue and Otey Street, or the Shultz Hall Lot, located off Alumni Drive near the North Main Street campus entrance. Parking meters within the Squires Lot will need to be paid. A visitor’s pass may be obtained Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Visitor Information Center, located on Southgate Drive. Find more parking information online or call (540) 231-3200.

This article was written by Cadet Christopher Pajonk of Colonia, N.J., a senior majoring in history in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and pursuing a minor in leadership studies. Pajonk is an Emerging Leader Scholarship and Commandant’s Scholarship recipient who is serving as the Regimental Historian and the Leadership Conference Public Affairs Officer.

Share this story