ROTC Welcomes New Staff Member

The Carson-Newman ROTC program is welcoming a new staff member into the Eagle Battalion this semester to lead the junior class as a Senior Military Instructor.MSgt. Gregory Philpot is a highly decorated soldier who has been serving in the Army for over 16 years. He was raised in Pineville, Ky., which is a small town in the southeastern corner of the state about 60 miles from campus. MSgt Philpot joined the Army in 1990 and has served in several military campaigns such as Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield and most recently Operation Iraqi Freedom where he served in Kirkuk for a year.

Throughout his career in the Army, MSgt. Philpot has also had the opportunity to experience several different cultures in places such as England, France and various other locations throughout the world. Philpot said, "I've definitely had the opportunity to travel."

He served as a Drill Sgt. for two years at Ft. Jackson where he trained new recruits.

After Basic Military Training, he was sent to Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Ga., where he was trained to parachute out of military aircraft and became an expert infantryman. Philpot said, "The first time that I ever got on an airplane was to go to basic training, and the next time I got on I was jumping out of it. It was very interesting."

While serving in England he was a member of the first team from the United States to participate in a Combat Patrol competition with several other nations and they won.

Along with teaching classes, MSgt. Philpot will lead cadets in many other activities such as physical conditioning and drill exercises. Throughout the semester he will continue to help prepare the Carson-Newman ROTC cadets for their future careers as officers in the United States Army