In addition to school and family life, Ciarcia also holds a
job on the side, working 1930-0330 Thursday, Friday and
Saturday, making for very short nights and minimal sleep.
And Ciarcia is not the exception among MECEP
students. In fact, he is the norm. Many MECEP students
are married, have children and work a second job while
pursuing an education and an officer commission.
Despite these additional pressures and obligations,
the seven members of the MECEP class of 2006 had an
outstanding cumulative grade point average of 3.88. Their
majors included civil engineering, business administration
and Spanish.
With such demanding
personal and professional
obligations and an already
stable position in the
U.S. Marine Corps, why
would a MECEP pile on
the additional pressures of
becoming a student? Even
with the extra financial
expense of funding one’s
own tuition, and extending
one’s contract at least four
years, the final result is well
worth it with a commission
as a Marine Corps second
lieutenant.
Like so many other facets
of The Citadel, the MECEP
program has become a
tradition worthy of praise and respect. In 1973 the
MECEP program was created and in that same year, the
first program at The Citadel was established. Only 34
Marines from the entire U.S. Marine Corps were accepted.
At a time when the number of ROTC programs on U.S.
campuses seemed to be dwindling more and more, there
could have hardly been a better place than the Military
College of South Carolina to initiate the MECEP program.
With approximately 153 college ROTC units across the
country, the MECEP program has become a success.
Not all campuses, though, are alike. One feature that
distinguishes the college’s unit from that of civilian
colleges is that at any other institution, a MECEP would
only be required to wear the C uniform one day out of the
week. All other days could be spent in civilian clothes.
At The Citadel, however, every day warrants an occasion
to proudly don the traditional uniform. As for Ciarcia,
reputation said it all in his decision to come to The Citadel.
“My former platoon commander highly recommended it
because of the great reputation of the alumni,” he said.
Indeed, The Citadel is a very special place to be, even
more so because of the men and women of the MECEP
program. Not only do they proudly represent The
Citadel and the U.S. Marine Corps, but also the American
ideals of self-improvement through their commitment to
continuing education and freedom and loyalty by their
exemplary service to their country.
Cadet Tara Woodside is a junior and a German major from
Salem, N.J. She serves as a cadet human affairs sergeant,
and she is a member of the Honors Program.
The Citadel 2006
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