Anyone who has attended a Fresno State football game has likely noticed the pushup crew, clad in camouflage-printed pants with green T-shirts and boots, running out into the end zone and dropping down to do pushups whenever the Bulldogs score.

Sometimes the school mascot, Timeout, joins them.

Danny Lee, a senior cadet who is also part of the Public Affairs Shop for Fresno State’s Army ROTC, said the pushup crew is a vital part of school spirit and an aspect of representation for Fresno State.

“We enjoy watching our ‘Dogs succeed on the field, and we enjoy every aspect of our home games,” Lee said.

The crew is made up of cadet volunteers as part of the Ranger Challenge, an extracurricular part of the ROTC program dedicated to providing an energy boost to the school during the football games.

Lee, a 21-year-old nursing major, said the cadets do not get paid to do the pushups, but that does not mean they enjoy it any less.

“Cadets have duties they are expected to perform seven days a week, so the pushup crew only makes appearances at the home games,” he explained.

The most pushups the crew has done at one time was just above 40 last season, Lee said. The cadets would have done more, but a referee told them to leave the field and warned that a “delay of the game” penalty would be called against the Bulldogs.

Lee recounted last month’s game against Boise, one of the biggest home games of the season for multiple reasons. Every home game is exciting, but Boise was special, he said.

With big games such as this one, the atmospshere of Bulldog Stadium is just thrilling to be in, Lee said.
“We are honored to be a part of it,” he said.

For freshman Nicholas Rouse, being a part of ROTC is the first step toward his future.

“I always knew I wanted to join the military, and my parents kept saying, ‘Go to college,’ so I agreed to go and become an officer here,” the 17-year-old political science major said. His rank title in ROTC is cadet private first class, which is given to all freshmen cadets.

Rouse said he learns something new every day, especially in regards to leadership and how to be a better person. He said he has not seen anything negative come of his involvement with the program because he believes that everything done is purposely designed to make him a better soldier and a better leader.

Though he is still in the early stages of his time with the program, Rouse has already had memorable experiences that have only made his passion stronger.

“The day my uniform was issued out to me, knowing I have the privilege to wear this every Wednesday is incredible,” Rouse beamed.

“When they finally put it in my hands, I knew this was real and something I would always want to do.”

The program is also dedicated to giving back to those who have served the country.

Lee explained that the importance of community is instilled in the cadets on a regular basis because the community is the main source of support.

“We know that our strength comes from the community that supports us,” Lee said. “As an organization, we are passionate about serving our community and making a difference by doing great deeds for our community.”

An opportunity to do so came about this year when cadets were approached about becoming a part of the Honor Flight Program.

The program, not directly affiliated with ROTC, is a nonprofit organization based on a network of private pilots, airlines, airports, donors and volunteers to provide free flights and transportation for World War II veterans to visit the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C.

This year’s goal is to fly at least 20,000 veterans to the memorial.

“More people should get involved because this is a great way to give back to the veterans that give so much for us each day,” said Rouse, who is also one of the cadets involved with promoting the program.

“It is amazing knowing that we provide those veterans the means to reflect on their great deeds, and to remember and honor their friends who have fallen,” Lee explained.

More information regarding the Central Valley Honor Flight Program can be found by visiting www.cvhonorflight.org. Those who are interested in volunteering or know a WWII veteran or a veteran with a terminal illness can also find applications on the website.