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From Auburn to the Army: ROTC cadet pursues lifelong dream

Tanner James, an ROTC scholar and sociology major from Birmingham, Alabama, has dreamed of being in the military since he was a kid. Growing up an Auburn fan, James was able to combine his dreams of becoming a cadet and an Auburn Tiger in one place.

“I've wanted to join the military ever since I could hold a stick and pretend it was a gun. I had a ghillie suit when I was seven and I wore it until I outgrew it,” James said. “If we had to do school projects about a future career and the Army wasn't an option, I'd make it an option.”

In his first year of high school, James read "No Easy Day” by Robert O'Neill, which convinced him to enlist in the Army. His parents were proud of his decision, but insisted he attend a university.

James did anything and everything he could to compete for a National Army ROTC scholarship. His hard work paid off his senior year when he received its most prestigious award: a four-year, full-ride scholarship with a stipend and book allowance.

“I really just put my heart and soul into it. I was just so set on this, nobody was ever going to tell me anything different,” James said. “There was no thought of if this doesn't work, it was always, ‘I am going to go do this job.’”

When deciding where to attend college, James considered the prestige of the ROTC program. He found exactly what he was looking for at Auburn. Within its brigade of nearly 40 universities, Auburn consistently ranks at the top in summer training performance.

“Auburn really sold itself to me because there was no selling it had to do. I had to sell myself to Auburn because I wanted to be with the best,” James said. “I loved the community and I love the reputation. I knew that people never leave and that says something.”

James is pursuing a degree in sociology with a concentration in criminology. This path allows him to balance coursework with the demands of ROTC while still preparing him for a future in law enforcement if his career path ever shifts.

“If you want to put in the work, Auburn will prepare you for it, but they're not going to beat your door down and make you do these things,” James said. “But if you want to jump on Auburn's coattail, Auburn will teach you how to really set yourself up for a good career.”

During his time at Auburn, James has made faculty connections across campus. Professor Matthew Kearley stood out to James for taking the time to learn his students' names in a large lecture hall. James still pays visits to the office of one of his first Auburn professors, Ari Gutman, who prioritized his students' understanding of the material rather than assigning busywork.

“Professor Robert McConnell really changed my understanding of the classroom. On the first day of classes, we stepped into this lecture hall, and instead of reading us the syllabus, he just started playing ’Money, Money, Money’ by Abba,” James said. “I made a playlist for every song that he played every day in class, which I still have. Whether he meant to or not, he made me feel seen as a freshman in a very fresh world.”

James took advantage of many resources offered by the College of Liberal Arts, including his LBAR Liberal Arts career preparation class. His professor, KJ Durkin, formerly with Coca-Cola, shared her experience and offered tips on how to stand out and get a foot in the door.

James also plays on the ROTC intramural sports teams and works weekends at Buc-ee's. Since the start of training, James' passion for ROTC has only grown, but his true motivation lies in giving back to his parents.

“I have two very terrific parents. The way they raised me and the way they provided, I just couldn't ask for anything better. We didn't get along in high school, but that's because they pushed me so hard to be so good and now it's paying off," said James. “When I graduated, I turned my attention back to them and asked myself: what can I do to give back besides wearing my dad's last name on my uniform? Every scholarship that I receive is something that they don't have to pay for, it allows them more time in their lives and allows me to bring honor to their name.”

“That’s the goal,” James said. “Do something, build the lore, be a better man, be a better father, be a better husband—all things good.”

This summer, James will attend Cadet Summer Training, a 28-day long performance evaluation that is the "Super Bowl” of ROTC. Cadets demonstrate their accumulated skills and are ranked nationally against every cadet in the U.S. Their ranking, along with their “dream sheet,” helps determine their role in the Army and where they will be assigned.

James hopes to be placed in the infantry. If selected, he will attend officer training at Fort Benning after graduation, followed by Ranger School.

“After that, I'll be assigned to my first unit. It could be anywhere. It could be in Kentucky, it could be in Japan, it could be in Hawaii,” James said. “My mind is open. I'm willing to go wherever the Army wants to send me.”

Tags: Students Sociology