A major dilemma faced by undergraduates is the enormous intellectual distance between standard short exercises (essays or exams) in traditional class work and more thorough, literature rich, meticulously analyzed, often empirically tested, issue-oriented work of scholars. Over the past 15 years, the author designed a "communication commando model" of teaching to foster scholarly enthusiasm and public issue connection among students. This article illustrates how "commando model" helps promote a level of undergraduate research engagement that approaches the intensity of winning sports and military teams. The model describes the expertise, commitment, and team solidarity. Reaching beyond traditional motivational metaphors such as "puzzle solving," "detective work," or "artistic creation," all achievable by individuals, the "commando" challenge asks students to help one another succeed collectively, to work in teams, to sacrifice for one another for overall project quality, and to hold one another to the exalted purposes expected of military commandos trained to complete missions in short time frames.