Lowell Technological Institute - Pickout Yearbook (Lowell, MA)

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ROTC L.-R.— Lt. Col. Kelley, Capt. Mesle, M Sgt. Taylor, M Sgt. Blaise, M Sgt. Hawkins, Capt. Ingersoll

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lr ffi Dedication • £ Although we, the students of today, move in a stratum of learning somewhat removed from the omnipresent forces at play in our civilization, there still becomes apparent, even to the most impervious, a sense of the need for active participation in the common effort of free nations. The opportunity for materializing that spirit has become ours at L.T.I, with the inception of the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps. Now there can be produced from the halls of the Institute not only leaders in American industry but also men capable of leading the vanguard of our democracy. We proudly dedicate this yearbook to these men.

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Y n Le Marche Grande I The L.T.I. AF ROTC program, estab- lished in 1 95 1, is one of sixty -four new units initiated at colleges throughout the United States in an effort to procure twenty-seven thousand second lieutenants for the USAF by 1955. An official release from the command states: Although it is assumed by most that graduates from a textile college would be placed in a Quartermaster unit of the Air Force, no such unit exists and no intention is so directed. Rather, placement and assignment will be effected with academic major in mind. Those graduates who have both the desire and physical requisites for duty involving flying will be assigned to a flying command com- mensurate with their requests and subject to the best interests of the service. During this first year at L.T.I., the Air Force has offered only the Air Science I course, World Political Geography, in addition to a certain amount of discipline in Leadership, Drill, and Exercise of Command which has been enthusiastically accepted by the cadets. Mandatory for freshmen, the unit has also at- tracted sixty sophomores and six juniors who intend to accelerate and otherwise extend themselves in order to compete for USAF commissions. The cadets have been under the guidance of M Sgt. Hawkins for Leadership and Drill, and under Captains Mesle and Ingersoll for World Political Geography. Although at present it serves in lieu of the forthcoming USAF Academy as a principle source of junior officers, it is the desire of the ROTC to develop within the cadet, bv precept and example, those qualities of character and leadership necessary for the formation of good citizenship. Lt. Colonel W. E. Kelley, Professor of Air Science and Tactics, is high in his praise of the Cadet Corps, which has been very suc- cessful in its first military activities, parades, rifle team, and Military Ball. He is looking forward to an outstanding AF ROTC pro- gram here at L.T.I.