![\"Mason_leading\"](\"https://www.gloucestercitynews.net/.a/6a00d8341bf7d953ef0133f346afd1970b-500wi\" "\\"Mason_leading\\"/")
Ewing, NJ… Most collegiate athletes spend their summers combing the beaches, earning some semester spending money, and training for their upcoming season. Who could blame them? They have the rest of their lives to work and establish career paths.
![\"Mason\"](\"https://www.gloucestercitynews.net/.a/6a00d8341bf7d953ef0134866ae291970c-200wi\" "\\"Mason\\"/")
Andrew Mason (Freehold, NJ/Red Bank Catholic), an offensive lineman on The College of New Jersey football team, had a different set of objectives during the months of June and July. He was focused on \”the rest of their lives,\” engaging in military training at Fort Lewis, Washington that will prepare him to protect and care for his fellow countrymen. Mason took part in the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) which is the centerpiece of the U.S. Army’s ROTC program. The course totals 29 consecutive days of both training and testing in common soldier skills like physical fitness, land navigation, rifle marksmanship, grenades, first aid, radio procedures, field craft, and tactics. It is a mentally and physically grueling experience that typically serves as the final leg of the ROTC program before being commissioned.
\”I was very happy to get out of there,\” joked Mason when asked what his thoughts were once he
