Firing the cannon by Utah State University’s Army ROTC Jim Bridger Battalion is a beloved, time-honored tradition at Aggie home football games. In exciting pageantry and delight to Aggie fans, cadets shoot off a round from a 75-mm howitzer at game kick-off and after each USU touchdown and field goal.
“It’s an important community-building ritual Aggie fans look forward to,” says Army ROTC cadet Alexa Dean, a cannon crew commander and senior psychology and sociology major. “On a rare occasion when the cannon was out of commission, we received concerned calls. People really missed it.”
For Dean and fellow cadet Collin Crowson, serving on the cannon crew is a privilege as well as “a fun and exciting activity.”
“With a demanding academic schedule and ROTC responsibilities, serving on the crew is a way I can show my school spirit,” says Crowson, a sophomore international studies major. “I really enjoy the camaraderie with my fellow cadets and the energy from the home team crowd.”
At the Nov. 11, 2023 Veterans Day game versus Nevada, the Aggie Football Team gave the cannon crew multiple opportunities for artillery fire as the Aggies surged ahead of their Mountain West rivals in the second quarter and kept the momentum going to a thrilling 41-24 victory.
The crisp fall day also provided an ideal opportunity for the cadets to collaborate with USU industrial hygiene students, invited by the battalion, to conduct a noise assessment of the exuberant cannonade.
“We’re training to be leaders, and a responsibility of leaders is to look out for the physical and mental wellbeing of those under our command,” Crowson says.
Dean says cannon crew members follow strict safety protocols, including use of hearing protection, during cannon firings. Still, enlisting expertise from fellow USU students seemed a proactive step and an opportunity to participate in the kind of safety and occupational health management tasks cadets will repeatedly encounter in their future careers as army officers.
“We lead by example, and seeking the best advice and tools, along with collaborating with experts, is a way to demonstrate forward-thinking management,” she says.
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