Ripon College - Crimson Yearbook (Ripon, WI)

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WonlA 'Wan. 1 . . . S. 7. J. e.—191S Shortly after the United States entered the war in April, 1917, Ripon College displayed her patriotism by instituting compulsory military drill in the school s curriculum. Drill was formally begun on Wednesday, April 18, immediately after the Easter vacation. This did not allow a great deal of time for drilling before the close of school in June, but it was gen erally conceded at that time, that the hoys had made remarkable progress. Drill was held 4:30 on Monday. Wed- nesday, and Friday: one hour’s credit be- ing given for the work. The basics drilled under eleven men, who had been given an intensive training course at Fort Sher- idan. The drill of these two months con sisted mainly of the schooling of a sodlier and of the squad, with a few platoon ami company movements worked in gradually. It was held in the gymnasium at first, but later most of the work was done out of doors. With the opening of classes in October 1917. drill was again begun in full swing. It wall held three times a week as before, but two hours’ credit were given per se- mester. as the course covered a larger period of time. Owing to the nearness of winter, the companies were not able to drill in the open every night, but every time it was possible to do so they prac- ticed with the college band assisting mi the marching tactics. Fall of 1918 the college furnished wooden sticks to be used as guns, and the manual of arms was taken up along with the rest of the drill. Headquarters was established at Bartlett, and Duffie. Smi:h and West housed the various com- panies. This training in the manual of arms also fulfilled the highest expecta- tions of those in charge, and the compa- nies became very proficient in combining it with the squad, platoon, and company movements. Thus the SATC was estab- lished at Ripon College to be followed shortly by the Reserve Officers Training Corps as we recognize it today. 18

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. . . and rWa Ud TiJa’i 2 With the end of the first World War, Congress decided to adopt means to train in time of peace a large reserve of officers so that in case of a future war our army might be able to take the field more promptly. Congress conceded that the best way to acomplish the task was to offer military training to selected men in schools and colleges throughout the Unit- ed States. It was therefore authorised the establishment of a unit of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, one to be situat- ed at Ripon College. Ripon. Wisconsin. Under the necessary basic acts, the ROTC has become an important part of the well-integrated system of national defense, upon which the nation now re- lies. Their mission is to qualify the student as a leader, whether in peace or in war. to help prepare him to discharge his duties as a citizen, and to awaken in him an appreciation of the obligation of citizenship. The four year Reserve Officers' Train- ing Corps course of the senior division is divided into the advanced course, con- sisting of the last two years in the de- partment corresponding to junior and senior years academically, and the basic course, consisting of the first two years in the department of military science and tactics. Entrance into the advanced course is both voluntary and selective. To supplement the academic instruction given during the college year, annual encampments of not more than six weeks in any one year are held to familiarize the students with tactical functions, troop units and administration. Thus primarily it is an agency for the production of reserve officers for those arms, which are restricted as to their sources of production, and it should pro- duce for those arms the number of Re- serve Officers required in the initial peri- od of a general mobilization. ?. 0. 7. e.—1943 19