A Proud History-A Bright Future
The University of Delaware ROTC Battalion has been proud to help
develop the leaders of tomorrow.
University of Delaware and Army ROTC; The beginning years.
Since as early as 1870, there has been a Professor of Military Science at
Delaware College. Following a suspension of military instruction between 1875
and 1885, the Army officially established a Military Department, with 1LT
George Leroy Brown was the first Professor of Military Science
UD Army ROTC comes of age
In 1890, the number of cadets included four seniors, six juniors, nineteen
sophomores, fifty-two freshman, seventy-six sub freshman, and one special
student. As a result, when the Spanish-American War came, the Cadet Corps was
well organized and its members proved valuable in preparing the Delaware
Militia for its part in the conflict. Many of the undergraduates volunteered
for service, and a few who obtained commissions remained in the Regular Army
and served as officers in World War I.
Post WWI to Pre Gulf War.
Army ROTC at Delaware was an infantry unit until 1926 when it was changed to
Coastal Artillery. In May 1930, the first ROTC class in Coastal Artillery
graduated and was commissioned. During World War II, ROTC continued with the
Army's Specialized Training Program. In September of 1953, the Department of
the Army authorized the conversion of the branch specific course at the
University of Delaware to a general military science program. This conversion
has given ROTC graduates a broad background in military science common to the
Army as a whole. Upon graduation a cadet may be commissioned into almost any
branch of the Army.
Present to Future Operations
The Army ROTC program at the University of Delaware is responsible for
commissioning 16 cadets as 2nd Lieutenants into the Army annually. Graduates
have gone on to serve in the Army in every field including infantry,
engineering, nursing, judge advocate general, and special operations to name a
few. They have served more recently in Operation Desert Storm, Enduring
Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom, in addition to successful careers in public service
and private business. The Military Science Department is committed to
providing the discipline and excellence necessary to compete in any
environment.
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