HISTORY

ARMY ROTC

The ROTC story really begins in 1819 with Capt. Alden Partridge, a former superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. Capitalizing on his experience, Partridge established the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy in Norwich, Vt. It was there that Partridge's method of producing "citizen-soldiers" first took root. The institution, now known as Norwich University, continues operating to this day. Partridge advocated a process through which able-bodied men would receive military training while attending civilian institutions of higher learning. The benefits to the nation would be multifold.

A cohort of trained military leaders would be available on short notice whenever the need arose. But when circumstances did not require their service in uniform, they would be free to pursue civilian occupations. The merits of Partridge's approach soon became evident, and a number of other American academic institutions began to operate along the lines he advocated. Between 1819 and 1861, several other schools focusing on military instruction were established. These included Lafayette College, Pa.; Oak Ridge Military Academy, N.C.; Kemper Military School and College, Mo.; and Marion Military Institute, Ala. By 1840, Indiana University and the University of Tennessee had added compulsory military training as well.

The state-supported Virginia Military Institute and The Citadel, S.C., also commenced operations during this period. The Land Grant Act of 1862, championed by Vermont legislator Justin Morrill, represented the next milestone in ROTC's history. Under its terms, each state received 30,000 acres of public land to establish institutions of scientific learning. In return, these land grant colleges were to offer military tactics courses. Graduates of these institutions, along with those trained on other campuses, would ultimately fight in both the Union and Confederate armies. The Confederacy's surrender in 1865 did not mark the end of efforts to incorporate military instruction on college campuses across the growing nation. A total of 105 colleges and universities across the country were offering military training by the early 1900s.

MIGHTY HAWKEYE BATTALION

Military instruction on the campus of The University of Iowa had its beginnings in the fall of 1861 when University President Oliver M. Spencer called for the establishment of a military department at the University. The first course, however, was not offered until school year 1864-1865. After the close of the Civil War, interest in military training declined and drill was discontinued in 1867. On August 26, 1874, the War Department assigned First Lieutenant Alexander D. Schenck, Second Artillery, as the first professor of military science (PMS) at the University. The Department of Military Science at The University of Iowa has been in continuous existence since that time. With the exception of a few months during the Spanish-American War, there have been active duty army officers assigned to the department on a full-time basis since Lieutenant Schenck assumed the duties of PMS in 1874.

The department has made many significant contributions to the University, the State of Iowa, and the nation in the past century, not only in providing qualified military leaders for times of emergency, but also in establishing many traditions which continue to this day. On March 11, 1875, the first University band was formed as a branch of the Iowa Corps of Cadets and on June 17, 1881, the first Governor's Day ceremonies were held. The Military Ball, which has been an annual event on campus for many years, was first held on February 26, 1895. Classes were originally conducted in the Old Capitol and various other buildings in the Pentacrest area until the Armory was constructed across from the current University Library in 1904. In May 1908, the Cadet Battalion went on its first large-scale practice march and maneuvers north of Iowa City near Turkey Creek.

On March 1, 1917, the war in Europe brought about the establishment of Army ROTC (Reserve Officers&apos Training Corps) at The University of Iowa and the program (which commissions officers in the Active Army and Reserve Forces) has continued to this day in similar form. Today, the Department of Military Science exists both as a full academic department in the College of Liberal Arts and as a detachment of USACC&aposs 3rd ROTC BDE, headquartered at Great Lakes Naval Station North of Chicago, Illinois, with enrollment averaging 125 students in the total program.