Torchbearer: Winter 1996

Tops in Rocky Top

Gwyn Ayer, UTK's first female ROTC commander

The first female battalion commander of UTK's ROTC unit has an excellent background for the job.

"I'm an army brat," says Cadet Lt. Col. Gwyn Ayer, a senior from Springfield, Va. "My father is still in the military."

Ayer, a French major, leads 250 cadets in the Army ROTC's Rocky Top Battalion. She was selected based on her academic accomplishments, performance at summer camp, and leadership skills.

She admits that she didn't know much about ROTC until the end of her sophomore year.

"I got a letter that described going to Fort Knox , Ky., for boot camp lasting six weeks."

She accepted and learned skills like rock climbing, rappelling, and teamwork. She earned academic credit as well as a paycheck from the army.

"I was paid to do something I thoroughly enjoyed doing, which is why I accepted a scholarship and joined ROTC."

Last summer, she was off on two more training experiences, first a six-week advanced camp at Fort Bragg, N.C., followed by three weeks of airborne school at Fort Benning, Ga., where she learned to "jump."

She says she did well at the advanced camp thanks to the UT cadre and professors who helped her prepare.

"They had fully prepared me for camp. I went in with no surprises. I knew exactly what to expect and I was trained to handle any situations I might encounter while I was there."

ROTC first accepted women in 1973, says Lt. Col. David A. Jones, UTK professor of military science and tactics. Though Ayer is the first female commander in the Rocky Top Battalion's 151-year history, Jones says she was picked by a gender neutral "analytical process."

"We look at the whole person concept--academics, performance at annual advanced camps, leadership potential, and documented performance on campus."

Life after UT will find Ayer pursuing a military career.

"My choice for a specialty is military intelligence. I hope I can incorporate my language skills using my major in French.

"I've contracted for eight years in the military, at least four of active duty. I can decide later about the other four, but right now I think I'd like to spend all eight on active duty."