Testimonial: Army Lieutenant Josh Arthur, Columbia College 04

CONTEMPORARY – Army Lieutenant Josh Arthur, Columbia College 04


December 2006: LT Josh Arthur CC 04 with his Columbia 'good luck' banner in Baghdad, Iraq.

Part of me, I suppose, has always enjoyed being a maverick. Superficially, joining and participating in ROTC while at Columbia was no different: I was, as far as I know, the only Army cadet in my graduating class (CC 2004). To say that I was alone, though, would be misleading. To be sure, Columbia is a Liberal institution. I won’t soon forget the presence – or the sudden, hushed reticence and disbelieving looks – of the Socialist/Marxist groups on College Walk as I would walk to the subway in uniform. The majority of my classmates and schoolmates, though, were curious about my participation, not disapproving of it. My friends were unquestionably supportive (one, in fact, has since joined the Army and received a commission himself after graduating). And while I was alone for most of the time I pursued my commission, I joined the ranks of the largest brotherhood I could possibly imagine. I have since had the opportunity to experience things my classmates couldn’t imagine: the ordeal of U.S. Army Ranger School; commanding a tank during maneuver training and firing tank rounds during gunnery; commanding a Bradley Fighting Vehicle and leading a mechanized infantry platoon during maneuver and live-fire training, including one rotation to the National Training Center; spending two weeks in New Orleans helping recovery efforts for Hurricane Katrina 24 hours a day; firing mortar rounds and preparing to lead a battalion’s mortar platoon during a year-long deployment to Iraq. I’ve had duty assignments taking me to parts of six different states and two foreign countries in the two years since my commissioning, not including my deployment to Iraq. Above all other opportunities and experiences, though, has been the honor to lead American soldiers. I respect my classmates and friends for all they do, and by no means do I think their jobs easy. I have friends pursuing law degrees, Ph.D’s, friends working in finance, friends scattered through the country and the world, all of whom continue to challenge themselves. I cannot think of anything I would rather do, however, than lead soldiers. To earn and keep the respect of fighting men is a special charge, and the very real, life-and-death decisions of combat leaders present challenges that no other line of work can provide. I wish I could speak more favorably of Columbia’s view toward the military as an institution, particularly given its fine heritage. I speak from experience that students’ opinions are another matter, though. And even if you’re concerned they may not be – that you’ll be unsupported, disrespected, looked upon strangely – don’t be afraid to be a maverick. The rewards are beyond compare.

Joshua B. Arthur, 1LT, INF, USA

Columbia College 2004

* Josh's letters home from Iraq are linked here.