3 Tar Heel Army ROTC cadets earn RECONDO badge

Carolina’s Army ROTC cadets prioritize three C’s in their work: commitment, character and competence.

At the national Cadet Advanced Camp training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, three Tar Heels – seniors Naomi Clatworthy, Jackson Carmichael and Carson Vitt – were recognized for these core values as they earned the Reconnaissance Commando badge.

The RECONDO badge goes to cadets who demonstrate superior individual performance and military skills during the training. It’s not only a representation of each cadet’s hard work but also a reflection of Carolina’s Army ROTC program, which earned the No. 2 ranking in cadet summer training among 275 programs nationwide.

“I am incredibly proud of the cadets in this program. It isn’t just about points or metrics either,” said Lt. Col. Lisa Klekowski, department chair for the Army ROTC program and professor of military science. “It’s the hard work, discipline and shared culture steeped in teamwork.”

The honored cadets also stressed the theme of teamwork.

“This was something my teammates and the program helped me earn,” said Clatworthy, a business administration major at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. “Everyone wants to get the honor during the summer training, but everyone was working every day to their fullest extent, helping one another to achieve a common goal.”

The training lasted 31 days, evaluating ROTC cadets from across the nation. The challenging environment gave the cadets, most of whom are juniors and seniors, the opportunity to use skills learned through ROTC. This includes everything from physical fitness and marksmanship to tactical knowledge and leadership skills.

“The training really challenged me physically and mentally,” said Carmichael, a human and organizational leadership development major at the UNC School of Education. “Meeting the RECONDO standard showed me that I was able to perform at a high level when the expectations were demanding.”

RECONDO recipients rank higher on the Order of Merit list, giving them a greater say in which military branch they serve in and the specific role they can pursue after graduation.

Clatworthy at graduation from Cadet Advanced Camp training. (Demar Robinson/CST Public Affairs Office)

Clatworthy plans to serve in military intelligence for the Army. Carmichael wants to pursue a career that combines leadership with the technical and operational challenges of Army aviation. Vitt intends to commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Vitt’s ROTC experience at Carolina is a family tradition.

“After graduation, I’ll attend the Engineer Basic Officer Leader Course in Missouri before reporting to my first unit,” said Vitt, a mathematics major in the UNC College of Arts and Sciences. “My father, uncles and brother all received Army ROTC scholarships to attend college. They provided a blueprint of how to push yourself, how to develop as a person and leader, and how to set your life up for success based on the experiences they went through.”

Clatworthy isn’t just satisfied with her own RECONDO badge — she wants to help other Carolina cadets earn the honor.

“Last year there were two RECONDO recipients from Carolina. This year there are three,” Clatworthy said. “Hopefully next year we have four. The goal for me is to develop my junior counterparts, even as I prepare for my next steps.”

That’s one reason why Klekowski said these three Tar Heel cadets “truly care about the success of the team,” which is reflected in their honor.

“I think that says a lot about who they are as people and about what type of person achieves this type of honor,” Klekowski said. “It isn’t the person in the spotlight; it’s the person doing behind-the-scenes work and the person who is selflessly serving others.”