What does it mean to be in the Steel Battalion?
Our Culture
Join the Steel Battalion Family
When you join the Steel Battalion, you’re not just joining a developmental organization but a tight knit community of diverse individuals. The Steel Battalion works hard to create a supportive culture where cadets are not just coworkers but friends, allies and teammates. Cadets come from across the country, attend different universities and have different interests but all are united by the values of the Steel Battalion. Cadets not only learn and train together but relax and bond together during our military ball, Halloween dodgeball tournament, flag football games, family barbecues and Veterans Day events. Cadets are often each other’s best friends, roommates, workout buddies, frat brothers/sorority sisters and much more.
Cadre also play a crucial role in the Steel Battalion’s culture and can often be found mentoring cadets on topics not just related to the Army but also life in general. Instructors spend hours providing one-on-one feedback and advice as they support cadets through their ROTC journeys and the challenges of being a college student. With decades of experience leading soldiers and developing young leaders, our cadre are uniquely suited to serve as coaches, trainers and advisers to Steel Battalion cadets.
Work Hard, Play Hard
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Military Ball
Our annual Military Ball or “MILBALL” provides an opportunity for cadets and cadre to gather in the spring and celebrate the hard work and achievements of the battalion throughout the year. Hosted at a nearby hotel, MILBALL features good food and conversation, a color guard ceremony, a guest speaker, a traditional Army grog ceremony where each class contributes a special ingredient for a shared drink and famously popular skits that gently poke fun at the year group above yours, cadre or for instructors, cadets themselves. Filled with laughter and good memories, MILBALL is an annual tradition like no other.
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Tailgates/BBQs
The Steel Battalion doesn’t just celebrate at the end of the year. Throughout the academic year, Steel Battalion cadets enjoy spending time together during Battalion barbecues and tailgates. Internal battalion celebrations are held at least once a semester during Thursday leadership labs where cadets fire up grills, play cornhole and ultimate frisbee and enjoy spending time with each other and cadre in a relaxed environment. It’s not uncommon to see cadre playing cadets in ping pong or offering grilling tips. External battalion tailgates during Lehigh University’s family weekend and springtime events allow the families of cadets to join in the fun and meet their cadet’s friends, mentors and instructors.
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Sports Physical Training
Sports P.T. is a well loved Steel Battalion tradition. Multiple times per semester, cadets swap rucks and weights for frisbees, soccer balls, footballs and dodgeballs as they compete in tournaments organized by class group or academic institution. Cadre often join in the fun and can be found both playing on the field and motivating and coaching cadets from the sidelines. A particular favorite is the Halloween dodgeball tournaments where cadets dress up for the holiday and compete not just in dodgeball but in various costume contests. Previous years have seen MRE bags, dinosaurs and Among Us crewmates and impostors dominate the competition.
