After four years as a central Indiana high school basketball standout and one year playing college basketball in Arizona, Indy Perry decided it was time for a change. Trading her court shoes for combat boots, Perry set her sights on a career in the U.S. Army.
“I went to basic training and really liked it and wasn’t sure I wanted to go back to school,” said Perry, a May 2025 graduate of the IU School of Health & Human Sciences. “But then I met Mr. Barker [Jerry Barker, recruiting operations officer], and he told me about Army ROTC at IU Indianapolis and encouraged me to do it while earning my degree.”
Since joining ROTC, Perry has combined her commitment to the military and her passion for sports as a sport management major. Benefiting from opportunities to gain experience outside the classroom, Perry has volunteered at some of Indianapolis’ biggest sporting events, including the Indy 500, the Final Four, the Big Ten women’s basketball championship and the 2024 NBA All-Star game. She also traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, last summer as a volunteer for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup.
“Dr. Sherman, Dr. Pierce and Amy Vaughan [TESM faculty members] helped me balance being a full-time student and being in ROTC,” Perry said. “I’ve taken full advantage of the opportunities they’ve offered to be involved, gain experience and build my resume.”
Perry has learned a lot about leadership both as a student and a member of ROTC. She found value in author Simon Sinek’s book, “Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t,” which is required reading for IU Indianapolis ROTC cadets.
“The message was to always put the other people around you first,” said Perry, who will start her commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army at Fort Cavazos, Texas, this summer. “If you’re a leader and you want to see everyone grow, make sure they have what they need to be successful, and you’ll be successful too.”
Based on her own success as a college student and ROTC cadet, Perry offers advice for students considering a similar path.
“It’s all about balance and taking advantage of opportunities to show up and show your face,” Perry said. “No one can ever knock you because you came.”