Like many University of Delaware students, senior Lindsey Baryluk attends classes, holds part-time jobs, and uses her time outside of the classroom to engage in activities that enrich her experience. As part of UD’s elite Army ROTC program, however, her Blue Hen passion extends far beyond UD’s brick walls — 1,400 miles, to be exact, and that’s only counting last year’s run to Miami.

Baryluk’s service to communities has thus far included an academic focus on International Relations and Arabic, volunteering with nonprofits, coaching youth lacrosse, and teaching English. Since arriving on campus, she has continued juggling multiple commitments while working toward a future career in the United States Army.

Asked to reflect on experiences that have helped define her life at UD in an interview with the Division of Student Life, Baryluk credited the ROTC program and her registered student organization involvement with showing her what leadership should look like and paving the way for future success. Baryluk founded an RSO chapter of Reviresco in her junior year “to help bridge the civilian-military divide”, and currently serves as president for both Reviresco and Blue Hen Veterans.

Question: What memorable experiences have helped define your life at UD?

Answer: ROTC has definitely been a big part of my life at school. It has largely determined how I spent most of my time, and that is how I have made pretty much all of my friends. While it is stressful at times, I still enjoy what I am doing and I look forward to my future career in the Army. Another big part of my college experience has been my involvement with Blue Hen Veterans. I have met amazing people that have served as mentors and provided an example of what leadership should look like. BHV has also given me the opportunity to help serve those on this campus who have already put a lot of time and effort into serving this country.

Q: How did UD support you in becoming a thriving Blue Hen?

A: ROTC has taught me a lot about being a leader, and through my involvement with Blue Hen Veterans and Reviresco, another group I am president of, I have been able to put into practice and further develop what I have learned through ROTC. I really enjoy spending time with the underclassmen in ROTC and having the opportunity to mentor them, and then meeting up with my Blue Hen Veterans friends and being mentored myself. I have yet to start my career in the Army, but I have already learned so much from my friends who have already served.

Q: What advice do you have for students who may be interested in following a similar path?

A: I would tell them it is completely worth it, but they need to be prepared to work hard and learn a lot about time management. Being a student on top of ROTC, in addition to RSOs and part-time jobs, is a lot of work but it is worth it. I have learned so much about how to manage my time, how to tackle a lot of responsibility, and what it means to be a leader in the time that I have spent at UD. I would not trade my experience for anyone else’s.

About Army ROTC

The Army ROTC program at the University of Delaware is responsible for commissioning 16 cadets as 2nd Lieutenants into the Army, annually. Graduates have gone on to serve in the Army in every field including infantry, engineering, nursing, judge advocate general, and special operations to name a few. They have served more recently in Operation Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom, in addition to successful careers in public service and private business.

The Military Science Department at the University of Delaware is a department within the College of Arts and Science and is responsible for conducting the Army ROTC Program. It is located at 314 Wyoming Road, part of the East Campus of the University. The Chairman of the Department, the Professor of Military Science (PMS), is a U.S. Army officer on active duty assigned to this position by the Department of the Army with concurrence of the President of the University. He is therefore responsible both to the President of the University and to the Department of the Army for the conduct of the ROTC program.

About Blue Hen Veterans

Blue Hen Veterans, a registered student organization recognized through the University Student Centers, serves to provide campus veteran and service-member students with the support and advocacy needed to successfully transition to UD, excel academically, and gain post-graduation employment. In collaboration with the Division of Student Life and the Campus Veterans Working Group, BHV is preparing for UD’s largest Veterans Day observance to date.

All members of the UD and local communities are invited to attend veteran and service member recognition events throughout the first full week of November (link to Veterans Week story), including the fourth annual Veterans Day flag ceremony on Friday, Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. on the Green north of Memorial Hall.