Pitt-Johnstown’s Reserve Officer Training Corps program is now easier to sign-up for with the introduction of CourseWeb registration.

Junior Platoon Sgt. Andrew Scott is a student as well as a Platoon leader, who conducts physical-training exercises in the morning.

He said this is the first year that UPJ has ROTC on CourseWeb for students to register. In the past, students had to go through Pitt-Greensburg.

ROTC classes are offered in the fall and spring semesters.

Scott said the class consists of military science classes three hours a week in academic buildings, physical training four days a week for one hour and leadership lab one day a week. Also, the class includes a weekend field-training exercise.

“There are many benefits to joining ROTC,” Scott said. “You will build the discipline, motivation, confidence and sound judgment that will refine your problem-solving skills to assist you in all aspects of life.”

He said that the program’s goal is to provide students with a professional education, management and team-building skills. It also looks good on a resume when applying for a job, he added.

Junior Joe Spatafore is in ROTC and wants to join the Army, but would like to be graduated from college first.

“(Scott) came back from basic training and told me all about it and it persuaded me to join,” Spatafore said.

Spatafore said that, once he graduates, he will be a second lieutenant, but, to enter the Army as an officer, he will have to go through officer training.

He said at first he wasn’t sure whether the Army was right for him. With ROTC, he was able to get a taste of it without having an obligation to join the Army.

Sophomore Ashley Jackson was in the ROTC program her second semester at UPJ. She said she never had intentions of joining the Army, but it was really interesting to learn about.

“I liked it because I got to get my exercise done early in the morning and did not have to worry about it for the rest of the day,” Jackson said.

She said it’s a great grade-booster and a good way to meet people who are living a healthy life style.