You see them all over campus in their boots and camouflage, but this cadet stands out from the crowd.
Laura Altman, 24, is a psychology major with a criminal justice minor, and she is a passionate member of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at Shippensburg University.
Altman’s affinity for the stars and stripes goes back generations through her family tree. She comes from a “military family.” Her cousin is a retired two-star general, her uncle is in the Navy, and both of her grandfathers served in the Air Force, as well as her father. “They’re large shoes to fill,” Altman said. But she is filling them all the same.
Altman is in ROTC on a scholarship and is under contract by the United States Army. She is one of two team leaders for her squad of five students, and she is responsible for organizing their physical training regimens periodically throughout the semester.
When her school schedule allows, Altman gets involved in her local community with her cadets, occasionally assisting in Junior ROTC programs in the area.
Not long ago, Altman was in their shoes, but now her sights are set on grander horizons.
Altman is currently pursuing a career with the United States Army in counterintelligence, but that was not always her destination. (Originally, the medical field fascinated Laura, and she reflected on a time when she wanted to work in a plastic surgeon’s office.) The environment would have been very different from a regular hospital, she explained. “The people in there want to be there,” she joked. Ultimately, Altman decided a career in counterintelligence was the path for her.
Altman’s motivations are those of a textbook patriot; noble and true. Altman said that at the end of the day having an impact on peoples’ lives is all that matters. “I want to do something that makes a difference in someone’s life,” Altman said, “whether it is direct or not.”
The heart of it all is family.
Altman cites her family as her biggest inspiration, especially her brother. Jason, 20, has been one of her biggest supporters. She recounts the first few years after her high school graduation. “I got comfortable,” she said. “I gained a little weight,” but when she made the decision to join ROTC, Jason encouraged Altman to hit the gym and get fit. Now she cranks out sit-ups like its nobody’s business.
Camouflage by day, sweatpants by night — Laura embodies the best characteristics of an SU student.
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