Army ROTC instructor, Katherine Cooprider promoted to captain
One of Alcorn State University’s Army ROTC teachers was acknowledged for her hard work in the Department of Military Sciences.
Former 1st Lt. Katherine Cooprider was promoted to captain during a promotion ceremony Thursday, Nov. 8 in the Army ROTC Building. Cooprider’s colleagues, cadets, and family came out to support her on her rise in her career.
For some time now, Cooprider has prepared for her rise in rank by carrying out the duties of a captain. Her promotion is a testament to her hard work and leadership.
“Promotions are tied to knowledge and experience,” said Cooprider. “I have been doing jobs that captains usually do for over a year now, so getting promoted is great because it’s an acknowledgment that I’ve done all the jobs lieutenants are expected to do, and now more is expected of me. I’m ready for the challenge.”
Working with Alcorn’s cadets has been an excellent experience for Cooprider. She enjoys giving them advice about the field and sharing her experiences.
“I love working with Alcorn’s Army ROTC. I love teaching, and I love the cadets. I went through ROTC myself, so I think of all the things I wish I had known when I was a cadet and try to pass them along. When you get an opportunity to use one of your experiences as a teachable moment, it makes everything you’ve done worth it.”
Cooprider’s goal is to instill solid leadership qualities into her cadets so that they can become future captains.
“I’m all about challenging the cadets to consider what kind of people they want to be because you can’t be a good leader and make good decisions unless you’ve built a solid character foundation first.”
