UToledo ROTC Cadet Selected for Highly Competitive Army Physical Therapy Program

UToledo ROTC Cadet Selected for Highly Competitive Army Physical Therapy Program

After Ingrid Harmon and her family moved from Stuttgart, Germany, Toledo quickly became the perfect home.

"My dad was very specific and forward-thinking when he chose Toledo as the location to raise his kids," Harmon said. "He found that Toledo had good high schools, that the University was affordable and has a historically well-established Army ROTC program. All of these characteristics made Toledo the perfect pick for our family to move as we were leaving Germany in 2011, when I was 6."

Living only a 10-minute walk from campus and having three sisters attend UToledo before her, Harmon knew during her last two years of high school that The University of Toledo was her only choice.

"I wasn't interested in any other schools to go for undergrad," she said. "I wanted to be with my sisters and get involved with what they were involved in."

In her first year on campus, Harmon joined the ROTC program to follow in the footsteps of her parents, who are both officers in the Army. Being a part of UToledo ROTC has allowed Harmon to develop her passion for her major, running and leadership.

"I chose my degree as exercise science because I love running and am fascinated with anatomy," Harmon said, "and I got involved in the long-distance ROTC running club, running my first 10-miler then my first half-marathon the next month. I also got involved in the Ranger Challenge team and the drill and ceremonies team."

Since that first year, she has joined more clubs outside of ROTC, becoming president of the pre-physical therapy fraternity Delta Rho Tau, president of the Student Veterans of America and vice president of the American Marketing Association.

"The University's extensive network of student organizations allowed me to find ones that catered exactly to my interests and career goals," she said, "and to lead in those environments.

This year, I achieved my biggest goal and became the battalion commander of ROTC in my final semester. These experiences have set me up for success in my future - teaching me critical thinking, self-accountability and allowing me to develop my personal leadership style."

Maj. Robert Bradford of the UToledo ROTC said Harmon has been an exemplary student, cadet and example to her peers.

"She is dedicated to her commitments and overcomes adversity to achieve her goals," Bradford said. "She might not be the most coordinated cadet, but her effort is tremendous and I expect her to go far."

Harmon heard about the Army-Baylor program while she was already on track to become an officer and saw Baylor as the perfect opportunity. To prepare for this program, she shadowed at Holistic Health and Fitness at Fort Campbell and a Preservation of the Family and Forces for AFRICOM's Special Operations Command.

The Army PT-Baylor program is highly competitive with an acceptance rate of around 7% for Army applicants. It is a tuition-free program, with the condition that all students serve as physical therapists for the U.S. military.

Harmon said it was the only school other than UToledo that she had an interest in for grad school.

"So, I put all my effort into fulfilling the prerequisites," she said.

At the beginning of the fall semester, she sent in her application to Baylor, a two-phase process that took nine months, from August to April.

"It was nerve-wracking to wait every day for an update from the program," she said, "and when I finally received the conditional acceptance, I couldn't believe it. Still now it hasn't fully sunk in that I was accepted. I can't imagine how my life will change when I get there."

After graduating from UToledo, Harmon will be commissioned as a second lieutenant and report to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, to attend the Basic Officer Leadership Course. She will start classes at Army PT-Baylor with plans to graduate in 2029 as a captain. Harmon said she plans on serving 20 years in the Army and working as a physical therapist with Special Forces and infantry units.

"Ingrid has been an exemplary VA work-study student in the Military Service Center," said Eric Buetikofer, director of military and veteran affairs. "Her commitment to assisting students by answering their questions and referring them to on- and off-campus services is second to none. I know she will take this same sense of commitment with her to Baylor next year."