Posted on 10/04/2013 3:25:30 PM PDT by Jim Hill
Virtually all of the sources on this are Gannett, which of course cannot be linked/excerpted here.
However, this looks very politically motivated to me, as most of the 13 college/university ROTC programs being closed are in very conservative areas of the country. An effort to reduce the influence of core conservative values among future officer ranks, perhaps? Here is a complete list of closings:
■ University of South Dakota
■ Northern Michigan University
■ North Dakota State University
■ University of Wisconsin—La Crosse
■ Arkansas State University
■ University of Tennessee at Martin
■ University of North Alabama
■ Georgia Regents (Augusta State) University
■ University of Southern Mississippi
■ East Tennessee State University
■ Morehead State University
■ Tennessee Technological University
■ University of California—Santa Barbara
They’re as subtle as a thermite grenade.
Obama planning for a much smaller US military.
My brother is a product of the ROTC program at the University of South Dakota. He was career infantry, retired as a Lt. Col..
My brother is a product of the ROTC program at the University of South Dakota. He was career infantry, retired as a Lt. Col..
Nail, meet hammer. Lest we forget, Barry and his minions at the Pentagon are planning to reduce the active duty Army by at least 80,000 personnel, from 570,000 to 490,000, by 2017. That not only means you need fewer enlistees entering basic training, you’ll need fewer lieutenants to lead them.
I spent a tour as an ROTC instructor during my military career. Generally speaking, both the Air Force and the Army had too many detachments across the country and some have been shuttered in recent years. I’m guessing the programs scheduled to close have been producing fewer new officers than detachments are larger universities. Couple the lack of production with fewer accessions, and you’ve got grounds to get rid of Army programs at selected schools.
And that’s a shame. During my ROTC stint, I spent two summers at field training (the program’s equivalent of basic). In my experience, the best cadets came from the small schools; many were prior service members or the first in their family to attend college. All wanted to serve their country, and many are still on active duty, laboring through the challenges of an Obama military.
On the other hand, the worst cadet I ever ran across was from Yale (he took ROTC academics at the University of Connecticut). Not only did he have a complete lack of military bearing, he had absolutely no personal integrity. The camp commander and I spent long hours developing a package to boot him from field training and ROTC. Our request was denied. The reason? The Air Force had already invested so much in his “education,” and they wanted the cachet that came with having another Ivy League grad in the officer corps.
Not necessarily.
Although these ROTCs close, in all of his other army, recruitment and funding remain in place. Indeed, it is expanding in inner and not-so-inner cities near you!
I know very little of how the ROTC is set up, even though I belonged to it decades ago. Does it have to be the Army that authorizes this organization? Also, the military structure and the value it has in kearning how to work as a team is quite valuable. Many teens are at a crossroad at this age; they are being recuited by gangs too. Would be good if the positive side has something to entice them with, some organization that makes the kids feel accepted and proud. Hopefully one will be invented like that.
Saw somewhere (WSJ, I believe) that said while the ROTC programs that are closing are primarily in rural areas, the Army dump more money into new scholarships and programs in big cities such as New York, Chicago, etc. Clearly pursuing and preparing radicalized liberals to become officers in Obama’s “New Army.”
Interesting that the ROTC at Texas A& M isn’t on the list.
DOH . . . . Army WILL dump . . . .
I know I’d prefer country boys to city boys in my outfit.
My company, the mgmt of which drink Obama Kool-aid, will not let us recruit a colleges that are not ‘Diverse enough’ (ie too white). I wonder what the make up of these colleges are.
My g-granddaughter entered Navy JROTC as a high school freshman. Was armed drill team commander as a sophomore and chosen executive officer in her senior year. ROTC is a most positive experience and influence for teenagers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.