Active duty
Emma Elmen ’25 reflects on her time as a student-athlete and ROTC cadet at Lafayette.
Photograph by Adam Atkinson
Emma Elmen ’25 came to Lafayette facing a unique challenge: In addition to her studies, the St. James, N.Y., native enrolled as both a Division I lacrosse player and an ROTC cadet. She spent four years balancing the demands of challenging coursework, physically training in weather of all conditions with Steel Battalion ROTC, as well as competing as an attacker on the women’s lacrosse team.
Elmen spent her senior year paying it forward—mentoring and supporting rising student-athletes interested in pursuing a similar ROTC path, and demonstrating that hard work and dedication are key to achieving their goals.
At the 2025 Honors Convocation, she received the “Reserve Organization of America Award” from Lt. Col. Preston Jackson, professor of military science. The award honors academic excellence, outstanding qualities of leadership, high moral character, and high aptitude for military service. Elmen graduated from Lafayette in May with a degree in government and law, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
While balancing these demanding schedules sounds daunting, Elmen says she’s grateful she got the chance to carve her own path. “When I first came to Lafayette it was a big unknown for me and my coaches on being an athlete and a cadet,” Elmen says. “Without their support, or if I were at any other school, I don’t think I would have been able to complete my goals.”
In the following interview, she reflects on finding a place that supported the pursuit of her passions.
You spent four years balancing challenging coursework, early morning physical trainings, and weekends with Steel Battalion—an ROTC program made up of 11 institutions around the Lehigh Valley—all while competing as a Division I lacrosse player.
It was a balancing act, but my cadre, my coaches, and my professors were very understanding and helped me to find a way to balance all the things I wanted to do in my college career. Going from practice, to lacrosse, to class taught me to be hardworking and strong.
There were also early morning trainings where you had to carry rucks, or 35-pound weights, and walk for several miles. What was that experience like?
Our morning training sessions were held at Lehigh University before classes, so I and other Lafayette cadets had to drive there extra early. For my first 12-mile ruck, I had to arrive at Lehigh by 4 a.m. This hike is all by yourself, as well, so it is a lot of alone time and required me to learn to push myself.
How did the lacrosse squad support you?
My lacrosse teammates and coaches were a major reason for why I was able to accomplish my goals. At first, neither my coaches nor I knew much about balancing both. We learned and grew together, by having open conversations between my coaches and cadre at the Steel Battalion.
I missed lacrosse practice once a week to complete my military science class and lab, and trainings at Lehigh. Morning practices often interfered with ROTC physical training, so I would attend practice and make up the training activities later.
My teammates were always understanding of my busy schedule and constantly showed interest in my Army responsibilities. My coaches and teammates all attended my commissioning ceremony, which included my oath of office. I truly could not have asked for a better support system, and I know they will always have my back.
When you arrived at Lafayette in 2021 you said, “It has always been my dream to serve and give back to my country.” This summer, after you go to Fort Knox in Kentucky to help with cadet summer training, you’ll head to Fort Sill in Oklahoma for the U.S. Army Basic Officer Leader course. Can you tell us more about your branch?
Field artillery deals with the coordination of fire support for operations using cannon, rocket, and missile fire. I will be trained on all of these weapon systems and then will be assigned to one type once I get to my first unit. Afterward, I will become a platoon leader stationed at Fort Sill with the 75th Field Artillery Brigade.
You followed in the footsteps of your father, who participated in the ROTC program at University of Tampa and was an officer in the Army.
My father was a main point of inspiration and reference through the program. I heavily leaned on him for advice and guidance, which shapes my values as I develop as an officer. He taught me to connect with others around you—whether it’s your soldiers, other commissioned officers, or noncommissioned officers—to build trust and comradery, which then creates a strong foundation for success.
What parting advice do you have for Lafayette students?
If you have a dream—something you really want to do—stick with it. It definitely got hard at times. But by leaning on the support of those around me and working hard, I was able to get to my goal of being a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army.
