Gateway Battalion Army ROTC

Washington University’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC)

The Gateway Battalion

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Gateway Battalion Army ROTC

Agenda

•Introduction•Mission•Perspective•Curriculum•Conclusion

Gateway Battalion Army ROTC

Problem Statement

•Washington University sends conflicting messages to the student body and broader community by retaining its Army ROTC program while not recognizing the worth of the curriculum or the efforts of its students by withholding academic credit•At the same time the nation needs the best and brightest leaders in public service, Washington University student participation in ROTC has plummeted in the last 45 years •Many negative stereotypes and ignorance toward ROTC and/or the military still exist on this campus

Gateway Battalion Army ROTC

Our Missions Are Not Dissimilar “Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a great university experience filled with knowledge, discoveries and service. Through more than 90 programs and 1,500 courses, we help you develop intellectually, personally and professionally.”

“The choices and challenges are yours. . . . and you can explore them all because crossing academic boundaries is a Washington University specialty.”

http://wustl.edu/admissions/

Gateway Battalion Army ROTC

Mission of ROTC :Select, educate, train, and commission college students to be officers and leaders of character in the Army; instill the values of citizenship, national and community service, and personal responsibility.

Desired Competencies:•Character and Accountability•Adaptability and Initiative•Communication and Engagement•Teamwork and Collaboration•Comprehensive Fitness•Critical Thinking and Problem Solving•Cultural Competence•Tactical and Technical Competence•Lifelong Learner 

Gateway Battalion Army ROTC

We Are Among The Ten Elite Host ROTC Schools

1. Princeton 2. Duke 3. MIT (PE credits)4. Johns Hopkins5. Washington University* 6. Cornell 7. Vanderbilt8. Notre Dame9. Georgetown10.Berkeley

Bold = Schools granting academic credit for Military Science and Leadership courses

*Students majoring in Engineering receive academic credit for MSL 300 & 400 courses

2013 Commissioning Ceremony at WUSTL

Gateway Battalion Army ROTC

A Lot Has Changed Since We Last Met:•1968: A&S vote to withdraw ROTC credit•Feb., 1970: Arsonists burn Army ROTC & throw cherry bombs at STL firemen •May, 1970: In wake of Kent State, arsonists burn Air Force ROTC building while students raise the Viet Cong flag & throw rocks at STL firemen •Late 1960s /early 1970s: several universities ban ROTC •1970: Army ROTC moved to mid-town ; then the Academy bldg in 1978 ; then North Campus in 2004. SLU takes Air Force ROTC•1973: Begin All-Volunteer Military•1976: Service Academes integrate women•1980s: U.S. Military transforms its approach to training, education, and professional development•1986: Cadet Command established •End of Cold War – present day: An era of near constant armed conflict •2011: Repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell•2013: A&S agrees to review ROTC credit

Arsonists burn ROTC buildings at WUSTL

Gateway Battalion Army ROTC

Wash U ROTC Enrollment 1970 to 2013

1970 1981 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2013 20130

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AVE enrollment since 2000: 222013: 12

AVE Freshmen: 72013: 2

1968 Vote to withdrawacademic credit

1988 SLU overtakes WU; begin teaching on SLU

1978 ROTC Moved to Academy Building

2004 Moved to North Campus WU ROTC

91 National Scholarships = $18,200,000 (does not include 3 or 2 yr scholarships)

1970 Moved off campus after arson attack

“A nation that makes a great distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its laws made by cowards and its wars fought by fools.”

― Thucydides

Gateway Battalion Army ROTC

ROTC was not created by President Wilson to militarize college campuses; it was created to liberalize the Army.

Commissioned officers are devoted to selfless service to the nation. They swear an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

If you want to change the military, educate its leaders

An Unhealthy Disconnect

Gateway Battalion Army ROTC

Healing Recent Facebook comments:• “Look what I saw on WashU's campus.” • Richard Goldblatt “Proudly displayed on the heart of campus where it should be! Good for this old soldier to see. Wouldn't have happened when I went through the program '76 - '78. • John Mark Atkins “Okay who twisted the administration's arm to do this? I stopped giving to the university because of the way they treated ROTC. I thought this would never happen LA '82.”

Walk-in perspective student: #2 of 402; she wants to study bio-medical engineering and is interested in ROTC.

Gateway Battalion Army ROTC

CurriculumOne 3-hr MSL course per semester with lab, physical fitness, and field training requirements

•~ 15 hours per week •Service learning model connects theory with application and practice

Professor of Military Science:•Board selected•Master’s degree or higher•Recent operational experience•Proven career success •Instructor certification

MSL 300 and 400 level courses:•MSL 301 Three formal leadership position assessments, oral briefings, term paper, mid-term, final exam. ~ 30 pages of reading per class

•Six week leadership evaluation and training experience between junior and senior year

•MSL 401 Semester-long formal leadership position assessment, oral briefings, book review, mid-term, final exam; responsible for planning, executing and assessing training, assessing and mentoring underclassmen. ~ 60 pages of reading per class

Gateway Battalion Army ROTC

Cultural Exchange and Language Proficiency Program

2013: Croatia, Panama, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Korea

2014: Dominica, Tanzania, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary

Gateway Battalion Army ROTC

"Public business, my son, must always be done by somebody. It will be done by somebody or another. If wise men decline it,

others will not; if honest men refuse it, others will not." -- John Adams

Gateway Battalion Army ROTC

Conclusion

We respectfully request that the Academic Committee grant academic credit for Military Science and Leadership (MSL) 300 and 400 courses and offer Physical Education credits for MSL100 and 200 level courses for a total of twelve academic credits and four PE credits or explain what changes are required to meet academic standards worthy of credit for MSL courses.

Gateway Battalion Army ROTC

Questions?