Officer Candidate Brittany Cecil speaks about military life

Every day she will be going onto Southeast Missouri State University's campus, she puts on her uniform, says goodbye to her 2-month-old son and her fiance knowing that they are one day closer to their wedding. Also one day closer to him being deployed. She’s a full-time student just like many others at Southeast, but is already working on her career in the National Guard.

Who is this person? She is officer candidate Brittany Cecil. Cecil is a member of Southeast’s Show-Me Guard Officer Leadership Development Program or Show-Me (GOLD) program.

The Show-Me GOLD program began at Southeast in fall 2013. This program allows students to earn a degree while serving as future officers in the Missouri National Guard. Participation in the Show-Me GOLD program provides students with professional development and leadership training that will helps students throughout their college career, in their civilian careers and in their future careers as officers.

In order to be in the program, one must be a soldier in the National Guard, have completed both basic combat training and advanced individual training and remain in good standing with both the program and the university. Students can enroll in any major Southeast has to offer but must minor in military science which consists of officer training that includes classroom instruction. Outside of the classroom, officer candidates also must participate in field training exercises, physical fitness training and leadership laboratories.

“Leadership laboratories teach candidates how to conduct themselves as officers outside of the classroom,” Cecil said.

Some of these laboratories include topics such as social media content.

This is Cecil’s second year in the program. After the third year most officer candidates would apply and go to Officer Candidate school, a 12-week program during the summer in between a student's junior and senior year. When students return from training they finish their degree and receive additional mentoring and training inside the Show-Me GOLD program. After graduation, the students now second Lieutenants attend Basic Officer Leadership Course that is specific to what career they would like to focus on inside the military.

Along with her studies, Cecil works in the Show-Me GOLD office located in Brandt Hall. She is often the first face one sees when walking into the office.

“As the first face they see, I try to answer questions to the best of my ability and knowledge, whether it is via email, phone or face to face,” Cecil said. “As a soldier, I try to recruit people not only into the program, but the National Guard as well.”

Cecil also works at career fairs and other events held by the university to educate and recruit into the National Guard and the Show-Me GOLD program.

After a long day on campus, Cecil returns home to her son and fiance. Both her fiance and Cecil's mother are getting ready to be deployed this summer.

“We have a complicated situation,” Cecil said. “They are both in the same unit, and she is the platoon leader and he is the platoon medic. We are trying to figure out how it works.”

After both her mother and fiance are deployed, Cecil will remain in school while taking care of her son.

Despite some challenges Cecil has faced, she still remains strong in the program and wants to become a leader for the country.

“I chose the program because I want to make a career out of the National Guard and to be a great leader,” she said. “The education benefits that I receive from the National Guard are providing me with a free education by paying my college tuition.

For students who want to explore the program but not become members of the National Guard, Southeast will begin an exploratory program beginning in the fall 2017 semester.

Students who participate in the program are required to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) and a military physical but will not be required to join the Missouri National Guard. Students who pass the ASVAB and the military physical will then be eligible to train with the Show-Me GOLD Program and receive a $1,500 room and board scholarship. Participating in the program allows students to participate in physical readiness training, learn about leadership in the military and participate in field training exercises with National Guard soldiers without a contract to serve in the military. The program is designed to offer students the ability to learn about the military and participate in military training before making a commitment to serve.