History of Ohio University ROTC
Background
ROTC was approved for Ohio University by the Department of the Army in September 1935. A total of three officers and one noncommissioned officer from the Regular Army were authorized for the new unit. The Board of Trusties in 1936 formally approved the establishment of the ROTC unit (Voluntary Program - Infantry Training) at Ohio University.
On 7 March 1936, Major Merritt E. Olmstead arrived for duty as the Acting Professor of Military Science. First Sergeant George Wallace reported for duty with the new unit on 1 April 1936, thus completing the assignment of cadre personnel.
Because of a large ROTC enrollment of 145 students, it was found that two additional enlisted positions were needed. Accordingly, with this new authorization, Sergeant Charles H. Fair and Private First Class Luther B. Andrews were assigned to the University. The first meeting of all classes was held on 17 September 1936, at which time Colonel McNeill gave them a general orientation. In the absence of President Herman G. James, Dean John R. Johnston, Dean of Men, gave an address to the assembled ROTC students. ROTC thus began at Ohio University.
On 29 October, the last day of outdoor leadership instruction for the first semester, an inspection ceremony was held for the President of the University. Demonstrations in squad and platoon drill were given by the cadets and official announcement of promotions to noncommissioned and commissioned cadet grades were made.
ROTC established itself more firmly in the social life during the year by sponsoring and successfully conducting the Military Ball held under the jurisdiction of the University. Since then the Military Ball has been the outstanding annual social function.
On May 1937 a group of thirty-four ROTC students, having formed a temporary organization called the "Kaydets," petitioned the Campus Affairs Committee for authority of organize a chapter of the Pershing Rifles for the Basic Course students. The application was approved and a charter was granted by the National Society of Pershing Rifles to this organization as of 27 May 1937, under the title of Company F, First Regiment of Pershing Rifles.
The ROTC Armory with an indoor rifle range was completed under the east wing of Peden Football Stadium in December 1937. On 20 May 1938, Company F, First Regiment, Pershing Rifles, attended their first competition drill at Columbus, Ohio. With the growth of the ROTC, Company A of the Scabbard and Blade was formed and they held their first Spring Formal on 17 May 1940, in the ballroom of the Berry Hotel. For the school year 1940, there were 89 students in the ROTC Program.
The school year 1942-43 found the total enrollment in ROTC climbing to 753 cadets. Because of the emergency, military training was made compulsory as of 28 September 1943. The two-year Basic Course was consolidated into three semesters with classes meeting every day. Cadets received three credit hours for each semester. Due to this change, and the conditions, the Advanced Course was also discontinued. However, on 20 November 1945, President John C. Baker formally requested that the Advanced Course be reactivated. This was approved on 23 November 1945.
On 1 September 1948, a Quartermaster ROTC unit was also established. On 3 October 1948, Air Force ROTC was established and on 1 July 1949, Army and Air Force ROTC were designated as separate departments. Professor James R. Patrick was appointed Coordinator of ROTC Affairs 9 August 1950. That year the Basic Course was changed from compulsory to the volunteer system. In September 1955, the Quartermaster and Infantry units were phased out to make way for the General Military Service Program. The last complete Quartermaster and Infantry classes graduated in June 1957.
September 1960 saw the beginning of the "Modified" GMS program that allowed the substitution of selected academic courses in lieu of 90 hours of military subjects in the Advanced Course. Then, in September of 1961, the "Modified" GMS pro gram was extended to the freshman class where 30 hours of military instruction was replaced by academic work in designated fields.
Effective with the beginning of school year 1962-63, Professor James R. Patrick was retired as the Coordinator of ROTC Affairs. Subsequently, Dr. Vernon R. Alden, Ohio University President, announced the appointment of a Military Affairs Committee were Dr. Taylor Culbert, Chairman, Dr. James Mason, Dr. H. B. Kendall, Lt. Col. David G. Smith(PAS), and Lt. Col. John D. Lucas (PMS).
In October 1964, a new law, the ROTC Vitalization Act of 1964, provided increased opportunities and advantages for students enrolled in, or about to enter college. The four-year Program continued with increased pay for students in the Advanced Course, and the new two-year Program for students who were unable to participate in ROTC during their first two years of college, junior college or while in attendance at the regional campuses of Ohio University. The new law also authorized financial assistance in the form of ROTC scholarships for carefully selected students in the four-year Program.
The adoption of the academic quarter system by Ohio University beginning in the fall of 1967 gave birth to the program as you see it today. Added in 1968 was Counterinsurgency Company, its purpose being to provide interested students with information and practical experience in counterinsurgency operations.
The ROTC Curriculum at Ohio University was presented to the New Programs Subcommittee of the University Curriculum Council in the fall of academic year 1969-70. The Subcommittee was to evaluate the academic credit, faculty status for instructors, and facilities within the department.
However, due to the tensions in the public and on campus to the U.S. involvement in Vietnam, the Ohio University Army ROTC program was often the target of anti-war and anti-military protests during the 1970-71 school year. Numerous rallies were held denouncing President Nixon's movement of troops into Cambodia. The university was forced to close early spring quarter due to rioting and violence similar to that happe ning across the nation's college campuses.
During March 1971, Ohio University and the Department of the Army entered into a new Reserve Officers' Training Corps contract after the role of Army ROTC came into question. As a result of this new contract all Army ROTC courses offered for credit will be objectively reviewed for academic credit on the same basis as other institutional courses.
Though program's numbers dropped significantly during the years after the Vietnam War, the quality of instruction never decreased. Under Col. Frank E. Norwalk, the Army gave the Ohio University program a superior rating in evaluations that included classroom inspections and instructor interviews.
Still, by 1976, enrollment numbers had dropped significantly enough to place the program under evaluation and spur the possibility of elimination. However, Ohio University alumnus, General James Abraham, then assistant adjutant general of the Ohio National Guard, pushed through a pilot program which allowed National Guardsman to enroll in the ROTC program and be commissioned upon graduation. The program was the first of its kind in the nation and led to the Simultaneous Membership Program or SMP, which was later implemented nationwide.
Through out the late 1970s and early 1980s, enrollment figures grew and stabilized, while the program retained its reputation for producing excellent officers.
During the 1990s, the program earned a reputation for academic and leadership excellence. The entire curriculum was revised in the spring of 1998. Through close cooperation with the university and community, the program has been able to build upon its excellence. In 1998, the program added a Field Leadership Reaction Course and a Hand Grenade Assault Course. During the past 3 years, the Ranger Challenge Team has scored in the top three, out of over 30 schools from Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Tennessee.
Today, the department provides a robust training program that is considered one of the best in the nation. The program continues to improve and create an environment that consistently produces outstanding commissioned officers.
