Rebecca Lee ’24, L’27 and Mackenzie Kirsch ’26 found a shared sense of purpose in the Army ROTC—one that has shaped their academic journeys and guided them toward future careers in military law.
Lee—a second-year student at the College of Law and magna cum laude graduate in political science and international relations from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences—earned a legal education delay from the Army’s JAG Corps to attend law school. Kirsch transferred to Syracuse University after earning an associate degree in criminal justice from New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI). Through the Army’s Early Commissioning Program, she is pursuing a political science degree while serving in the Vermont Army National Guard.
Both commissioned as second lieutenants, Lee and Kirsch were introduced by Lt. Col. Matthew Coyne, who leads the University’s Army ROTC program and recognized their common goal of becoming judge advocates. “Rebecca has helped me with everything from LSAT prep to navigating law school opportunities,” Kirsch says.
This summer, Lee will intern with the Transportation Security Administration’s Office of the Chief Counsel, while Kirsch heads to annual training with her National Guard unit—and a grueling 18.6-mile ruck march.
They recently sat down to reflect on their ROTC journeys and what comes next.