Before making the move to the University of Oklahoma, cadet Kameron S. Brede lived and went to school in Edmond, Oklahoma. While in high school, Brede was a member of the Air Force JROTC program, which paved the way for him to get involved in the ROTC program at the University of Oklahoma. Now a senior at OU, Brede said the appeal of the ROTC program was fulfilling goals he had set for himself. 

“ROTC was so appealing to me because it allowed me to fulfill two life goals, to

further myself through higher education, and to earn the privilege of being an

United States Army leader,” said Brede. 

Entering his fourth year of college, Brede said there are many memories he can share and many more to make this year. 

“There’s’ three things I can pick out as major highlights of my time here in the

Sooner Battalion. The first is participating in Color Guard and getting the

opportunity to present the Nation’s Colors at various events around the state. The

second is being on our Bataan Memorial Death March team, which I find fosters

a great sense of camaraderie with your fellow cadets and really challenges you

physically and mentally. Finally, doing our home game hot dog sales. These are

much more casual and really give the cadets, cadre, and alumni a great

opportunity to get to know one another,” said Brede. 

The history major said he plans to make military service a career and said the ROTC program at OU is a great place for future officers to start. 

“I think the best thing about being an OU cadet is our fantastic alumni network.

Our program is one of the oldest continuously running ROTCs in the nation and

we are blessed with incredible alumni that take time out of their lives to continue

to mentor cadets as they develop into Army leaders,” said Brede. “Coming here, I never would have thought I would be sitting right next to a former General Officer as a

freshman at our banquet, but those experiences are what make being a part of

the Sooner Battalion so special.”

Cadet Brede offers this advice to anyone considering the ROTC program.

“The best piece of advice I can give to someone thinking of joining ROTC is to do

it. Even if you decide that the military is not for you, the experience is something

that I believe everyone can take important lifelong lessons from.”