BY PATRICIA POTHIER, Lions’ Pride Staff Writer
This spring, Saint Leo University’s Army ROTC program will be undergoing a change of command that will continue the tradition of growth and excellence that is characteristic of the Army core values. Captain Bryan Dunker will be relieving Major Stephen Wills as the head of the ROTC program. “I hope to take the outstanding ROTC program that Major Wills created in only three years and build from that strong foundation,” Dunker said.
Dunker, originally from Milwaukee, WI, attended Lehigh University to earn a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He was commissioned in the US Army as an Engineer Officer and served ten years prior to arriving at Saint Leo. His duty assignments have included Germany, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee with deployments to Kosovo and Iraq. “I bring combat arms and intense operational background to the table which will help add to the field training events,” Dunker said.
The ROTC program began three years ago in the spring. It started with three cadets, all freshmen, no full-time Cadre, and facilities that were in need of some major attention. The man charged with reviving the program was then Captain Wills. “I initially assessed the state of the program and began focusing on the training of the current cadets and growth of the program and both have paid dividends,” Wills said.
In the course of his three years, Wills, now a Major, expanded the program to over 40 cadets, 19 of which are on a full scholarship, while nine others are also receiving benefits from the US Army as they pursue their education. With the help of Dr. David Persky, Associate Dean for the School of Continuing Education, Wills revitalized the program, which this spring will commission seven Second Lieutenants at commencement on Apr. 30, the first true class of ROTC Cadets from Saint Leo.
Wills feels that there is a substantial amount of interest due to the success of the ROTC program, and the wonderful academic setting and support of the university. “The foundation has been built and I’m confident that the ROTC program will continue to flourish with the support of the university and the leadership of my replacement, Captain Bryan Dunker,” Wills said.
Wills isn’t sure where his next stop will be but he is certain that it will not be as fun as his time here was. The feeling is mutual for his cadets who will surely never forget the amount of time and effort he put into the program. “Major Wills basically built our program. We will miss him because he was a great influence and role model for us. It will be very strange without him here but no matter where he goes, he will always be a Lion,” Junior Jeremiah LaPointe said.
Wills had some parting advice for his cadets, “I hope that I have provided you with the leadership and mentorship that you deserve and have served as a positive role model. I have enjoyed my position here more than you will ever know and I look forward to seeing you continue to grow into the type of leaders that our Army needs.”
The profession his cadets are about to enter is very demanding and he hopes that he has instilled in them the understanding that they are expected to lead by example and that there are no excuses for substandard performance. “Only a select few will have the luxury of leading the Army’s most precious assets, our soldiers. The things you will encounter will be difficult and challenging, but also rewarding. You know what to do, trust yourself and make the right decision, regardless if it’s popular, you will be required to make difficult decisions, that’s what leaders do,” Wills said.
Wills’ parting words reflect Dunker’s vision for the future of the program. In this time of transition, he expects this to go rather smoothly. “In the Army, we are accustomed to rotating duty assignments and positions every three years. The fact that Major Wills and I have some overlap here at Saint Leo will make for an almost seamless transition,” he said.
“We are all looking forward to the years ahead with Captain Dunker. I think he will do a great job carrying on and expanding the program just like Major Wills has done. He is a great runner and he sets the standard at P.T.” said freshman Chris Swonger.
Dunker doesn’t anticipate any major changes but to expand the program he does hope to bring in a Non-Commissioned Officer as an additional Cadre member to help effectively lead and manage.
In terms of recruitment, Dunker feels that the most effective recruiters are the cadets themselves. “Their campus interaction helps create awareness and communicates a very accurate picture of the program.” He plans to continue their development and add campus events to educate interested prospective recruits.
If anyone is interested in the program and would like to speak to either Major Wills or Captain Dunker, the ROTC department is located next to Saint Edward Hall and Major Wills can be reached at Stephen.Wills@saintleo.edu.
