FORT KNOX, Ky. — For Army ROTC Cadet Gabriel Geha, the path toward becoming a commissioned officer has allowed him to experience the Army from two perspectives: as a National Guard Soldier and as a future officer.
Geha enlisted in the Army National Guard to help pay for college and give back to his community. Joining ROTC expanded his military experience and provided a path toward earning his commission.
“I knew I wanted to continue my military career after high school,” Geha said. “Joining ROTC gave me the opportunity to pursue my college degree and become an officer.”
Geha, a student at Eastern Michigan University, joined the Michigan Army National Guard’s 1433rd Combat Engineer Company in Augusta, Michigan. He also joined Eastern Michigan University’s Army ROTC program through the Army’s Simultaneous Membership Program, allowing him to participate in ROTC while serving in the Guard.
“I learned about SMP from my ROTC cadre at EMU,” Geha said. “Since I was already serving as an enlisted Soldier, it made sense to join.”
The Simultaneous Membership Program, or SMP, allows eligible Army National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers to drill with their units and participate in ROTC while preparing to become commissioned officers. Geha said his experience in the Guard and ROTC has exposed him to different leadership styles and taught him how to apply those lessons in each setting.
“I like to think of SMP as college life and ROTC combined,” Geha said. “In the Guard, I am able to see how a real Army unit runs. I take the skills and lessons I learn in ROTC and apply them to my National Guard unit and vice versa.”
Through his Guard service, Geha has worked alongside experienced NCOs and officers. He said working with them has helped him when taking on leadership roles in ROTC.
“Being in a unit has allowed me to really see how the Army works outside of ROTC,” Geha said. “I work with NCOs and officers in the Guard who have different leadership styles. When I’m given a leadership role in ROTC, I try to apply what I’ve learned from them.”
Geha said one of the greatest benefits of SMP is working with Soldiers who have real-world military experience.
“While in ROTC, you learn how to be an officer, but at my unit, I am able to see what that leadership is like,” Geha said. “Working with Soldiers who have been doing this for years really helped shape that view.”
SMP has also helped Geha better understand the importance of the relationship between officers and NCOs.
“Serving with NCOs and officers has taught me how important the officer and NCO relationship is,” Geha said. “As an officer, I want to listen to my NCOs and value the experience they have. I also want to be able to make my own decisions when I need to.”
Through ROTC and SMP, Geha has learned to trust the people around him and recognize that a leader does not need to have every answer.
“Good leaders aren’t always the ones who have all the answers,” Geha said. “You have to know how to listen, learn from others and trust the people you are working with.”
Geha has also learned how to work with Soldiers from different backgrounds. As an ROTC Cadet and developing leader, he tries to carry those lessons with him.
“When I first joined the Guard, I thought leadership was about being in charge,” Geha said. “SMP has taught me that leadership is about taking care of your people. You have to accomplish the mission, but you also need to care about your Soldiers and gain their trust.”
Balancing school, ROTC, employment, and National Guard service can be difficult. Geha said his biggest challenge has been making time for himself.
“Time management is definitely the biggest challenge,” Geha said. “There are times when it feels like school, ROTC, work, and National Guard drill are all happening at the same time. You learn how to prioritize tasks, but you also need to take care of yourself.”
Geha attended Cadet Summer Training’s Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky. His prior experience through SMP helped him transition quickly to camp life.
“SMP allowed me to feel comfortable with the Army lifestyle before I arrived at Fort Knox,” Geha said. “I already knew how to work with NCOs, deal with different personalities, and adapt when plans didn’t go as intended.”
One of the biggest challenges Geha faced at Advanced Camp was remaining an effective leader and teammate while tired.
“Once you get comfortable at Advanced Camp, everyone can execute,” Geha said. “But during CST, I learned that you still have to be a leader and a good teammate when you’re tired and uncomfortable.”
Geha encountered another challenge when training shifted to the field.
“My previous field experience helped me remain comfortable as my fellow Cadets adjusted to the environment,” Geha said. “I already knew what it was like to be in the Army and spend time away from home. That allowed me to focus on helping my teammates.”
Advanced Camp also allowed Geha to train with and learn from Cadets representing ROTC programs across the country.
“At CST, I was able to work with Cadets who learned leadership at different schools,” Geha said. “We all had different experiences and leadership styles. I was able to learn a lot from my peers.”
Geha said one of his biggest takeaways from Advanced Camp was developing confidence in his ability to make decisions.
“CST really pushes you to make decisions when you don’t have all the answers,” Geha said. “I learned to trust myself, make a decision, and adjust it later if necessary.”
As Geha prepares to become an officer and lead Soldiers of his own, he plans to remember the lessons he learned as an enlisted Soldier.
“When I become a second lieutenant, I don’t want to forget what it’s like to be an enlisted Soldier,” Geha said. “I think that will allow me to better understand my Soldiers and be a better leader.”
Geha said earning his commission will bring a sense of relief and demonstrate that his hard work in college and the Army has paid off.
“It means I won’t have to worry about college anymore, and I won’t have to take classes,” Geha said with a laugh. “But on a serious note, it means I will be able to lead Soldiers. That’s something I take very seriously.”
Geha encourages Soldiers and college students to consider SMP if earning an education and receiving a commission are among their goals.
“The best advice I can give is to do it,” Geha said. “You learn real Army skills in the Guard that you can apply to ROTC. Plus, you get the benefits of being in the Army and assistance with college.”
Geha plans to carry the skills and lessons he learned as an enlisted Soldier and SMP Cadet into his officer training and beyond.
“I want my Soldiers to know that I will do everything I can to take care of them,” Geha said. “I also want to lead by example and show them that I will work just as hard as they do.”
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