Audio clip
Maj. Ben Smith
trendsetters with military ties
Retired Army Brigadier Gen. Carl Levi, 78
* Company and title: Hamilton County Trustee and Korean War-era veteran
* Claim to fame: Organizes Chatta-nooga's annual Armed Forces Day celebration and is working with U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., to expand Chattanooga National Cemetery.
* He said: "The wheels of government move slowly. But I'm getting to the age that if I don't keep pursuing (the cemetery expansion), I don't know who will do it after I'm gone. I'd just like to see it done, because it's one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the United States."
Retired Army Gen. Burwell B. Bell III, 62
* Company and title: U.S. Army, four-star general,
* Claim to fame: Climbed the ranks from ROTC cadet at UTC to prestigious posts as head of U.S. Forces Europe and U.S. Forces Korea before retiring in June 2008.
* He said: "Chattanooga and our surrounding communities have a large reserve component and veteran population, and many different service, philanthropic and volunteer organiza-tions and activities benefit from their contributions. I look forward to continuing to work with these wonderful individuals and organizations as they continue to help our community build its recognized reputation of national patriotism, volunteer service and spiritual wellness."
Army Maj. Ben Smith faced a daunting task when he arrived at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga two years ago: Revive interest in a program that hadn't been part of campus culture for a decade.
But it hasn't taken long for Maj. Smith to double enrollment of the school's reborn Reserve Officer Training Corps since 2007, and he's planning for even more growth in the upcoming academic year.
"We've worked hard, so if I think about the time and effort we put into it, I'm really not surprised," said the 45-year-old active Army reservist, who is fulfilling a three-year duty assignment to relaunch both UTC's military science department and ROTC program.
"But I am surprised it grew so quickly," he added.
UTC's ROTC had fallen victim to military downsizing after the Gulf War and was completely phased out by 1997. But sensing continued interest, the University of Tennessee system and the Tennessee National Guard petitioned to have it reinstated.
UTC ROTC had 27 students in fall 2007, and by spring 2009 that number had grown to 51. Maj. Smith says he wants to expand further, to between 60 and 70 students, before he'll feel the program has reached its potential.
He says he'll do that by continuing to improve training programs for students and raising awareness in the community. One of his favorite techniques: periodically landing a helicopter right in the middle of campus for unavoidable attention.
School officials have noticed, for sure, said UTC spokesman Chuck Cantrell.
Maj. Smith "has really worked hard to integrate ROTC into the campus. It's not just sort of stuck on there," Mr. Cantrell said. "It's become a recruitment tool for us, in that some students want ROTC, and it's also a chance for students to have opportunities that they otherwise wouldn't have."
Scott Finks, who graduated as the program's first commissioned officer this past spring, is now a second lieutenant in the Army. He says the benefits of having ROTC at UTC are endless.
"This program is designed to make lieutenants," 2nd Lt. Finks said. "But it takes college kids from all backgrounds, challenges them mentally and physically and through this turns them into adults. Joining the Army is not for everyone, but everyone has something to gain from ROTC."
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