Army ROTC was founded in 1916 and has produced more than one-half million lieutenants for America’s Army. It offers a wide range of opportunities for men and women wanting to serve as officers in the Army.

An Army officer is a very prestigious professional who serves as a leader for one of the most respected institutions in America.

The Army ROTC unit at UTM was established in September of 1952, making this week the 50th anniversary of their existence on this campus. This unit came under the direct control of UTM’s Military Science Department in Knoxville, where basic ROTC was offered until 1964.

Army ROTC also is a college elective that gives you a wide range of experiences while you work toward a degree. The studies include: leadership development, military skills, and adventure training.

In the fall of 1964, a four year ROTC program was started in Martin. The Military Science Department achieved separate Senior Division ROTC status on January 10, 1968, under General Orders 382, Third U.S. Army.

Beginning in 1952, ROTC enrollment steadily increased from 190 to 1155 by the fall of 1970. The requirement for the compulsory ROTC training for all qualified male students was eliminated nationwide. Women were not included until November, 1973. In April, 1973, an ROTC minor was added to the university curriculum.

As a result of this action, the UTM Faculty Senate voted in April 1971 to drop the two-year Military Science training as a mandatory requirement for graduation. To replace the requirement, all students, including women, were given the option of taking six quarters of Military Science, Physical Education or a combination of the two.

In the spring of 1981, the Faculty Senate voted to drop six quarters of Military Science and Physical Education requirement for graduation, becoming effective for the 1985-1986 school year.

Since the ROTC program was established at The University of Tennessee at Martin, 561 cadets have been commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the Army, the United States Army Reserve and the Tennessee Army National Guard. The Military Science program at UTM currently consists of approximately 45 basic course cadets and 22 advanced course cadets.

Many prominent Americans got their start through Army ROTC. The program has produced two U.S. Secretaries of State, innumerable business and civic leaders and a female astronaut. Among the more famous graduates of the program are Colin Powell, Sam Walton, Earl Graves, Lenny Wilkins and James Earl Jones.

No special events will be held to commemorate this event, but I ask everyone to take time out to commend the students and faculty of the Military Science Department at UTM for all of their hard work and dedication.