̨Íåswag

The University of North Georgia (̨Íåswag) Corps of Cadets welcomed over 220 new cadets during Freshman Recruit Orientation Group (FROG) Week. A group of 115 upperclassmen, including sophomores Andrea Montejano and Ben Stuart, led the new recruits. 

Montejano, who serves as a squad leader within the corps, said the role provided her with an opportunity to see the growth FROGs experienced over the week's time.

"It was truly an experience watching and forming these FROGS into becoming cadets. I got to build trustful relationships," the Marietta, Georgia, resident said. "As a squad leader, I helped them understand the rights and wrongs. It was truly a pleasure seeing the growth of these new cadets."

Montejano is pursuing a degree in criminal justice with a concentration in forensics and a minor in Chinese.

Stuart, a Statham, Georgia resident, is also a squad leader, a position he takes to heart. He described the role as having three significant responsibilities.

"The three most important roles of a squad leader include accountability for their presence and to hold your squad accountable and to a high standard," he said. "The second is to mentor and develop your squad so that they can be best set up for success. And the third most important role is to lead them by being a good example yourself by providing purpose direction and motivation. "Stuart said his experience as a recruit helped prepare him for his leadership role of squad leader, adding that "there's a lot of planning and a lot of meticulous detail that goes into what we're running here." Cadets plan and execute all of their events, including FROG Week, with oversight from the commandant staff.

"This year, from a leadership perspective, it's all about leading in a way that they can perfectly fit in with the corps and be productive and contribute and make it better," he said. "FROG Week is getting them to take that first step forward to follow and learn the ways of how things run here."

Stuart transferred from Georgia Southern University specifically to pursue a commission into the U.S. Army.

"I had family graduate from ̨Íåswag and commission into the Army, and I heard that coming here would best prepare me for a career in the Army. This place produces leaders," he said. "I came in with no military background, and everything was new to me. It was a big, big change. I was just following, learning the ropes and getting used to the military lifestyle."

Stuart continues to hone his leadership skills in the classroom and within the corps.

"First, I learned how to be a follower. Before you can effectively lead, I think the basis of learning to lead is learning how to follow," he said.

Stuart is pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies with concentrations in business and military leadership.