The Future Commanders of the U.S. Military: ROTC

By Cody Page

It was 1970 and the height of the Anti-Vietnam War protesting hit its peak after the Cambodian invasion. A shooting on the Kent State campus took place during a student run demonstration to advertise anti-Vietnam war propaganda. Known as the Kent State shootings, four students were killed and nine others injured by the Ohio National Guard during this antiwar protest. This event along with other antiwar sentiment led several colleges and universities to drop ROTC units all together.

It was not until the 1980s that the ROTC programs regained their units on college campuses. Until 1990 that total number of servicemen enlisted in ROTC was stable at 100,000 cadets between all three military branches.¹ That number had dwindled down to 90,000 by 1999, due to the de-escalation of the cold war. Today the number of cadets is closer to 105,000 cadets.

“That increase in ROTC participation post 9/11 was due to a sense of patriotism and the increase in the amount of scholarships made available by the army”, said Cadet Joe Welch.

These cadets enrolled in Reserved Officer Training Corp, known as ROTC, are future officers with training in tactical warfare and leadership. These future commissioned officers undergo physical training (PT) three times a week and develop leadership skills through highly stressed field training exercises (FTX). Their motivation to enlist is not because it pays well, which it doesn’t at $33,408 per year, but they do it to protect their country. They take initiative on social issues as well, such as sexual assault. The Army has made a strong emphasis to change its perception on sexual harassment. Male ROTC cadets wore high heels at universities on April 21^st for the US military’s movement against sexual violence to support and raise awareness for women. It’s one of the many facets that ROTC demonstrate their concern and ability to serve their country.

“A call to serve is still the paramount motivation behind these new recruits, its 75 percent patriotism and 25 percent about school”, said Cadet Tom Flett.

The Army increased its goal for the number of new officers and pumped more money into scholarships and recruitment, and it had succeeded its goal of 5,000 newly commissioned officers in 2012.

“Up until the past two years where budget cuts have forced the Army to downsize, the Army had seen a steady uptick in its enrollment of ROTC cadets”, said Sergeant Christopher Bolwell.

At Stonehill College their company size has also been downsized, but not from a lack of interest. “We have 50 cadets in Bravo Company with 15 of them with scholarships” said Sergeant Christopher Bolwell. However, “because the Army is downsizing, the difficulty to contract people is increasing. The number of contracts being offered has decreased every year I have been here”, said Cadet Ben Zaniewski. It has created a competitive environment and as a result better recruits are coming to Stonehill. Even with increasing interest in ROTC, the Army has had difficulties competing with their budget.

Work Cited

¹ John Whiteclay Chambers II. "ROTC." The Oxford Companion to American Military History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (December 2, 2015).

² Jenna Johnson. “Army ROTC steadily grows on college campuses, including Virginia Tech.” The Washington Post. (November 6, 2012).