GEN (Ret) Colin Powell

Former Chairman, The Joint Chiefs of Staff

Taken from ROTC webpage

The idea of a "citizen soldier" has been prevalent in American society since the American Revolution (Crossland & Currie 1). This was evident in the formation and the popularity of the local militias that were in the communities of New England during America’s fight for freedom from England. The official birth of a section of Army Reserves came in 1908; this was when the Army officially formed the United States Army Reserve (USAR) division. The idea of training people to be officers on reserve came from Lt. Henry T. Bull. He thought that there should be camps of "military instruction" for young civilians (Crossland & Currie 24). He commissioned two experimental camps for the year of 1913; they were held in Pine Grove, California and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The civilians had to pay the $27.50 fee for their uniform and food (Crossland & Currie 25). The program impressed and drew the attention of several college presidents, including Henry Drinker, the president of Lehigh University of PA. (Crossland & Currie 25). This impression that the experimental camps had on Drinker caused him to be an influential lobbyist for the National Defense Act of 1916 (Crossland & Currie 28). The National Defense Act of 1916 was approved by President Woodrow Wilson, and this piece of legislation officially established the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps, R.O.T.C. (Headquarters, Department of the Army 170).

MILITARY INVOLVEMENT

The Army Reserves Officer Training Corps was incredibly popular at the onset of its formation. Hundreds of people were eager to be involved in this training which would allow them to be a lieutenant upon arrival in the Army (Crossland & Currie 28,74). The first time that R.O.T.C. cadets were used in a war was in World War I, when the situation called for more soldiers. There were 3,364 officers in W.W.I that were "products" of the R.O.T.C. program (Crossland & Currie 31). The number of officers from the R.O.T.C. programs increased in World War II, and by the Korean War one half of all personnel were Reservists (Headquarters, Department of the Army 233).

R.O.T.C. and VIETNAM

The United States Army, along with the other major branches of the U.S. military entered Vietnam with a four-point plan (Headquarters, Department of the Army 172). In the early years of Vietnam, from 1965-1968, there were four parts to the plan. First, to increase the effectiveness of the ground forces in Vietnam; second, to create a powerful and effective air campaign; third, to "win the hearts and minds" of the Southern Vietnamese by assisting the small villages in defeating the forces of the Vietcong (VC). The follow-up to this was to help the villages medically, and to aid in the clean up of the area after defeating the VC; and fourth, there was to be a continuing effort to initiate peace negotiations with the communists (Headquarters, Department of the Army 172). To successfully complete the plan, the military had to continue to add to the number of forces in Vietnam. This included bringing in the officers on reserve from the R.O.T.C. programs on colleges and universities throughout the United States. There were thousands of officers in Vietnam that had been cadets in the R.O.T.C. programs on these colleges (Crossland & Currie 40).

WOMEN and R.O.T.C.

Women have legally been able to be in the military since 1948. The Integration Act of 1948 made women a permanent part of the United States military

(Crossland & Currie 242). At the time of the implementation of the Act, women were restricted to only make up 2% of the enlisted military force (Crossland & Currie 242). Only 10% of this small percentage of women enlisted in the military force could hold a position of "power", or be in a position of rank. There was a small amount of women who were interested in being in the military at this time, and one reason was because they were discouraged by this limitation (Crossland & Currie 242). These limitations were placed on the role of women in the military until 1967, when the restrictions on strength were lifted. Even after the restrictions were lifted, the number of women in positions of rank remained extremely low through the 1970’s (Crossland & Currie 242). In order to increase the number of female reserve officers, the government removed restrictions on other parts of the Army. The Reserve Officers Training Corps was legally opened to women in 1972 (Crossland & Currie 243). The R.O.T.C. is now open to young women in high school (JROTC) and women in universities and colleges around the country.

PURPOSE of R.O.T.C.

The R.O.T.C. turns young men and women into officers. There is more than just making them better military leaders, the R.O.T.C. aims to make them better citizens as well (Headquarters, Department of the Army 1). The R.O.T.C. teaches people to be leaders, communicators, and responsible. The R.O.T.C. teaches people that they have four responsibilities, to their leader; to their followers; to other key people; and to themselves (Headquarters, Department of the Army 22). In the R.O.T.C. courses, people learn everything from the history of the United States military, to first aid skills, to the Constitution. It is important to remember that this is officer training, so there is training in saluting, drills, marching, and how to handle a rifle (Headquarters, Department of the Army 56). The R.O.T.C. graduates also have had other purposes then being on reserve in case of a war. In 1970, during the United States Postal Service strike, 8,000 members of the R.O.T.C. were called upon to work for the U.S. Post Office as mailmen and mailwomen (Headquarters, Department of the Army 233).

The United States Army "exists solely to serve and defend America and it’s ideals" (Headquarters, Department of the Army 212). As members of R.O.T.C. or J.R.O.T.C. it is important that young people know this. Among these ideals are freedom, justice, and equality (Headquarters, Department of the Army 212). The United States needs people to be on reserve in order to uphold this purpose. Remember the words of Winston Churchill, "the Reservist is twice the citizen" (Crossland & Currie 1).

For more information on the United States Army R.O.T.C., go to the webpage at http://www.rotc.org.

R.O.T.C. NOW

The R.O.T.C. is now a way for young people who want to better themselves. It is a college course that is taken in addition to other classes. Members of the R.O.T.C. still work for a degree in the major of their choice. Joining R.O.T.C. is not joining the Army. The program only gives the skills that allow people to enter the Army, if they choose to, as an officer. The R.O.T.C. has changed from the original versions of reserve training. All supplies, like R.O.T.C. books and equipment, are provided at no cost to members. In addition, the R.O.T.C. program offers hundreds of merit scholarships each year to members of the program (ROTC homepage).

CITED SOURCES

Crossland, Richard B. & Currie, James T. Twice the Citizen: A History of the U.S. Army

Reserve. Washington, D.C: Office of the Chief, Army Reserve, 1984

 Headquarters, Department of the Army. ROTC Manual: Leadership, Education, and

Training U.S. Army ROTC Let. 2. Washington, D.C: Lyle Publications, 1993

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