Army Preserves ROTC Units Previously Slated to Close

The U.S. Army will continue to support nine ROTC units affiliated with colleges and universities, reversing cuts announced in June. ROTC cadets can continue to enroll at the affected schools, which will now operate as extension units in partnership with another institution.

Cuts to civilian employees this summer threatened Reserve Officer Training Corps programs at dozens of colleges and universities, as well as the academic prospects of students at those institutions. This summer, the Army announced the closure of 10 host programs and nine extension campuses in an effort to realign units and the workforce. The changes were slated to take place at the end of this academic year.  

Nine of the impacted institutions—California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; Clarkson University; Elizabeth City State University; John Carroll University; Truman State University; the University of Northern Iowa; the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh; West Virginia State University; and Western Illinois University—will still merge their ROTC operations with larger nearby campuses, but students will not have to transfer now.

The reorganization of Army ROTC was due in part to the Trump administration’s deferred resignation offering, which resulted in a 12 percent decrease in the Army’s civilian workforce, or 168 positions. After a review of programs and feedback from the community, Cadet Command has elected to keep programs open, Lt. Col. James Delongchamp told Stars and Stripes.

The one institution that will not continue its ROTC program is St. Augustine’s University in North Carolina, due to an inability to maintain its accreditation status, according to Delongchamp.

ROTC offers participating college students full-tuition scholarships at the partner institution, as well as monthly stipends for living and housing expenses, in exchange for a future service commitment in most cases.