Morning physical training, shooting weapons and jumping out of planes isn’t generally what comes to mind when you think of a University Scholar student.

But, for Patti Hendry, a senior English major from Somerville, Tenn., these activities are as common as studying for a test or going to the library.

Hendry has been serving as the Battalion Commander of UTM’s ROTC Department since the beginning of the fall semester. She is the first woman at UTM to be in this top-post position.

“For me, it’s a real honor to serve in this position,” Hendry says. “It’s also a big responsibility as well because people look up to you both inside the classroom and outside.”

When asked about the battalion that she works with, Hendry said that everyone is really close and works well together. “We’re all college students and we’re all juggling our classes. I have a great Executive Officer (Robert Ridley) who helps out with everything and everyone in the battalion works together as a team in anything that we do.”

Most would not think someone of Hendry’s size would be up to the task of outstanding physical performance. But, don’t let her petite stature of only five foot and one half inches fool you. This summer Hendry came in second place in the nation in a physical fitness competition for females her age.

Hendry says that she has always thought about the military. Her father served in the United States Marine Corps and her mother was a nurse in the Army.

“I had a personal interest in the military and it was heightened as I began to think ahead after college,” Hendry says.

This week Hendry was told that she will be assigned to her top choice of occupations in the military, military intelligence. This will land her in Fort Huachuca, Ariz., after her graduation date in May 2005.

Although her specific assignment within the intelligence field has not been given to her, Hendry hopes that she gets to work with human intelligence.