CSC ROTC
Since 1819 many colleges and universities around the nation have been training civilians for military combat.
When President Wilson signed the National Defense Act of 1916, the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps was formed, bringing all individual training under a single, federally-funded organization. After the enactment of the National Defense Act, the organization began to flourish under one centralized command.
Since the foundation started, over half a million second lieutenants have been commissioned, earning the ROTC the title of largest officer producing organization in American military history.
Women have been an integral part of the organization since the early seventies. The first group of females were commissioned by the ROTC program in 1976. Currently, over 20 percent of the organization’s ranks are female cadets.
Broken down into four regions, the United States’ Army has 273 senior ROTC programs with approximately 20,000 student cadets enrolled. Once commissioned, 60 percent of graduates join the active army creating 40 percent of active duty second lieutenants.
ROTC sends more diverse second lieutenants to the Army because the program permits recruits to major in any academic disipline offering a four-year degree.
For the past six years the ROTC program has been a part of Chadron State. While being a small program of twenty, it has come a long way from only being available to students that had already completed basic training. Now, Military Science classes are open to the campus and entering the program is available to any high school graduate.
The War Eagles Club is still active on campus, educating students about the military to debunk misconceptions. On campus you can expect to see ROTC cadets in uniform every Wednesday and during the evening participating in lab (like the cadet pictured at right).
Cadets will take a Military Science classes accompanied by lab throughout their duration at Chadron State College.
As a freshman cadets learn basic military tasks such as drill procedures, military customs, and organizational skills based on military ratings. Sophmore year cadets can expect to learn skills geared towards team building and leadership basics covering time management, basic battle drills, and communication skills. As a third year, cadets will cover operational orders, writing and delivering. As a senior, cadets will review major concepts of being a platoon leader.
The officers in charge of the ROTC program on campus inlcude U.S. Army Lt. Col. Cindy Tussler, a legistics officer; Maj. Logan Veath, infantryman; and Capt. Raymond Phillips, legistics officer.
The ROTC will be participating in the twenty-second annual Bataan Death March, presented by Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Friday through Monday at White Sands Missel Range, N.M. Students will leave Chadron State tonight and drive to the march. Thad Nelson, senior of Oakland; Steven Martin, senior of Seattle; Trevor Jackobson, freshman of Gunnison, Colo.; and Maj. Logan Veath; each will compete in the indivual portion of the march. Maj. Veath said, “Even though we are competing alone we will all finish the march together.” The march has two different routes, one is a full marathon and the second is 15 miles. An individual can enter the march or form a team of five where they must pass the finish line together. The march honors the WWII veterans that were surrendered to Japanese forces on April 9, 1942. The soldiers were forced to march through Philippine jungles that killed thousands of soldiers. The survivors of the death march endured the hardships of prisoner war camp.
Along with participating in the march, the War Eagles Club will be giving tours of the Armory and humvees on Scholastic Day.
An AMEDD Recruiter will be on campus April 4-7, talking about the possibilities within the Army ROTC programs for pre-medical students. Students will learn the scholarship opportunities that allow them not only to get their degree but also serve their country.
Student cadets will be attending Joint Field Training Exercise April 14-17. CSC cadets will be accompanied by by 150-200 other cadets from other regional colleges. Cadets participate in day and night land navigation, platoon patrolling, basic riffle marksmanship, and squad exercises. The training will be at West Camp Rapid, S.D.
There are many cadets that are affiliated with the 1057 Light/Medium Transport Company that will be deploying April of 2012. The cadets that have not gone through training will not be deployed along with the company, yet many of the commanding officers including Capt. Raymond Phillips.