Only three Nebraska colleges and universities have an ROTC program on campus, but another one was added to the list Wednesday.

The University of Nebraska at Kearney is bringing the program back after more than a decade without.

Bringing ROTC, or Reserve Officers Training Corps, back to UNK has been in the works for about two years now. A similar military leadership program was offered through the Army National Guard on campus this year, and school officials say that program will make ROTC's return a fairly smooth process.

ROTC has landed back on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus, and no one is happier to see it plant its roots at the college than Jamie Jacobitz, who thought going to UNK meant giving up some military experience.

"I wanted to be an officer and make Army my career, but I also wanted to do nursing school and this was the best option for me," said PFC Jamie Jacobitz, 2nd year UNK Student.

ROTC left the campus in 1996 -- 12 years ago.

"Obviously we were disappointed in the '90s to lose ROTC, through it's really nobody's fault. It was just a matter of circumstances and budget," said Doug Kristensen, UNK Chancellor.

But before it left, the program and school graduated Major Will Prusia, who will now serve in the military science department.

"This is just truly amazing that i would have the opportunity to e the first assistant professor of military science with the ROTC program," said Major Will Prusia, Assistant Professor of Military Science.

UNK officials are excited to welcome the program back as well.

"This was something that was missing in our educational offerings. They provide scholarship opportunities. They provide leadership training. They provide career opportunities that are of interest to us," Kristensen said.

"That's what we're here for is to train and evaluate leadership and develop future leaders," Prusia said.

That's experience Jacobitz is interested in, even if it means extra training. "I'm going to wake up a little earlier in the morning," Jacobitz said. But in the end, she'll be an officer in the United States Army.

The program will kick off this fall at UNK. ROTC training takes four years, like many college degrees, so freshman will likely be the first cadets. But the program will also take "lateral transfers," which are people like Jacobitz, who already has military experience in the Army Reserves.