Lt. Col. Lisa Undem, Air Force ROTC (photo: Theresa Hogue)

For most of her adult life, Lisa Undem has been passionate about mentoring and teaching. But during her third year of college in North Dakota, she realized her pursuit of a degree in math education wasn’t quite the right fit, and she began to consider a career in the military. Valley City State University didn’t offer an ROTC program, so she traveled to North Dakota State University to ask questions of their ROTC recruiters. The Air Force ROTC program felt like a good match, so Undem transferred and joined the program.

After training, her first assignment was at Hurlburt Field, Fla., where she tested new command and control equipment. “It was an interesting place for a brand new lieutenant,” she said.

Undem is now a lieutenant colonel serving as commander of the OSU Air Force ROTC detachment, as well as a professor of Aerospace Studies, teaching 400 level courses to ROTC seniors.

“It’s a lot of hats,” she said. “Part of it is instructing and mentoring and part of it is the normal command duties.”

It’s a position that’s well suited to Undem’s interests.

“Initially when I went to college I wanted to teach and coach, and now I’m teaching. I want to keep teaching and mentoring,” she said. “I really enjoy doing that for people, giving them the tools they need, not just for the Air Force, but in life, and then watching them go and do great things.”

Since her students are preparing for careers as officers in the military, Undem emphasizes not only the curriculum the Air Force provides, but also a glimpse into the world of military service.

“I try to add as much as I can from personal experience. Not only does it make a lesson more interesting but it provides real world examples,” she said. “I also have extra sessions in the spring for those getting ready to commission. They focus a lot more on ‘This is what to expect on active duty, especially your first assignment.’”

She also wants to make sure her students understand the depth of what they’re committing to, and that their military career may take them to places that are far out of their comfort zone.

“Being in the military is not a nine-to-five job, it’s a commitment,” she said, “and Corvallis is not like everywhere else. (In other places) you have to be alert as far as safety and security. Whenever I can I try to throw in something that I’ve experienced, just so they’re ready.”

When recruiting students for Air Force ROTC, Undem is looking for students with leadership skills, the ability to follow, a strong sense of discipline and a hard work ethic. While all those things are reinforced within the program, they’re looking for students who at their core are already officer material. The Air Force in particular also looks for students with technical majors, especially in the field of engineering.

The traits nurtured in ROTC students translate to their other academic work. In every class, students must give some kind of briefing in front of the class, even those in their first year. They also learn to work with others, and the skill of time management.”

Even the military’s emphasis on physical fitness can lead to better academic success, Undem said.  “You get that stress reliever and clear mind and then you can study and pay attention better.”

Undem believes that having ROTC programs at land grant universities supports the military’s goal of representing the nation’s demographics as a whole.

“What’s important for the Air Force and every branch of the service is to have a good cross section of the nation as part of its service,” she said. “My understanding is that the land grant is that state’s university. They get a big piece of the cross-section, and that’s a good way to meet the Air Force’s needs.”

Undem knows that the military is not for everyone, but she encourages students who have a strong passion for leadership and a dedication to hard work and integrity, to consider ROTC.

“I tell new students that they’re not all going to finish, but no matter what the reason is that they don’t, I want them to get something out of it, whether they learn something about themselves, or leadership skills, time management, fitness, discipline, or just an appreciation for the military, I just want it to be a positive experience,” she said. “It’s not for everybody, but as long as they learn something from it that’s what matters to me.

Capt. Michael Batchelor

Oregon State University Air Force ROTC Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, Capt., Mike Batchelor, has been named the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) Educator of the Year for 2008-2009.

The AETC Educator of the Year award recognizes individual faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to AETC’s education mission during the academic year of July 1 through June 30.  An educator or faculty member is generally recognized as the subject matter expert who develops or teaches formal educational courses or composes research and educational publications.

Batchelor helped to transform Reserve Officer Training Corps leadership laboratory, practical military training and field training programs to improve preparation of more than 1800 officers entering active duty annually.  Specifically, he enhanced problem solving and functions of management education, by adding defined leadership competency evaluation criteria, project management conceptual tools and requirements based budgeting process in Leadership Laboratory and practical military training at the Detachment level.

Additionally, Batchelor was instrumental in transforming over 400 hours of summer field training from a garrison to expeditionary and airman’s manual based training experience, recognized as the most significant change to officer accession education in 60 years.

His student experiential education programs incorporated at Oregon State University that supported this award include two regional Air Force base visits, 10 guest speakers, over 50 students experiencing real and simulated military aircraft flights, embedding 80 students in real Air Force training exercises, establishing a model student leadership laboratory competency feedback process, and mentoring over 1500 volunteer hours of community relations and service projects.

Batchelor was selected among officer faculty members from 30 Air Force Educational Institutions.  Commander of Air University, Lieutenant General Allen Peck, will present this award at a ceremony on Nov. 16 at Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, in Montgomery Alabama.

Batchelor isn’t the only Oregon State person to be recognized by the Air Force ROTC this year. Earlier this year, Dennis Bennett of the OSU Center for Writing and Learning was selected and participated in the Air Force ROTC Distinguished Educator program which consists of approx 40 educators nationwide selected to participate in a four-day visit to learn more about the U.S. Air Force and the Air Force ROTC. He met with educators, received tours of the base and education facilities and interacted with cadets.