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Major Brandon L. Russell, who has served two combat tours as an Army helicopter pilot and tactical air traffic control director in Iraq, has been assigned as assistant professor of military science for the Boston College Army ROTC unit.
A native of Deckerville, Mich., and a 1997 graduate of the US Military Academy, Russell began his BC duties at the start of the academic year, succeeding Army Capt. Melissa Parish, who was reassigned to an Army combat unit after two years at BC.
Russell, who also taught in the Boston University ROTC program from 2006-09, says the changing face of modern warfare has placed an added burden on young soldiers.
“Because of asymmetric warfare, our young lieutenants are now making decisions that before were made by colonels and generals,” he explains. “It’s not only a testament to their sacrifice, but these cadets – soon to be lieutenants – are probably going to get to make some life-altering decisions. By and large, the young lieutenants that come out of our ROTC programs, as well as West Point and Officer Candidate School, are making good and right decisions.
“What we are doing now in ROTC is a lot different than what we did 10 years ago,” he adds. “We can’t wait for mentorship to happen when they go on active duty. They are likely to be thrown right into a combat situation, so that mentorship has to happen now. The leadership training that we are doing here is much more intense – and intentional – than it used to be. They are hitting the ground running.”