Ripon College - Crimson Yearbook (Ripon, WI)

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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

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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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Me i cM-aoe. 9nli iu.cte.d Maj. I .men Steinman Coi.. George Sanford Lt. James Kuejin A newcomer to the ROTC department of Ripon College. Colonel George A. Sanford assumed the role of P.M.SAT. in October, suceeding Colonel Russell J. Potts. His military career began in 1911. after graduation from Kenyon College with Phi Beta Kappa honors. He has attended various specialized army train- ing schools including Fort Penning In- fantry School; Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth: and Army War College in Washington. O.C. In 1926, he spent a four-years' duty as P.M.S.6T. at Pomona College. His service record consists of foreign service in various provinces of China. Mexico and in the Panama Canal Zone previous to his arrival at Ripon College. In April he was named the commandant of the three ROTC units in this district. The associate P.M.S.6T. for the great- er part of the current year has been Major Leigh F. Steinman, a Ripon graduate of '32. Previous to his entrance into active service in 1940. he was a member of the 24 years. His duties at the headquarters are centered around the administrative de- tails of the corps, and in addition, he acts as a counsellor for the Ripon alumni who return to the campus after being on active service. It truly can he said that Sarge is one of the best traditions of Ripon Col- lege. Pfc. Robert J. Vincenti is the newest addi- tion to the military department. His army- service dates back to October. 1942. at which time he was inducted and sent to Camp McCoy for basic training. He was assigned to the Ripon staff in December and his duties have been to assist in the admin- istrative work of the department. Physical Education Department of Frank- lin High School. Racine. He returned to Ripon College in May. 1941. after ful- filling the duties of a recruiting and induc- tion officer of Wisconsin and Michigan. In April. Major Steinman reported to the Command and General Stalf School at Fort Leavenworth. First Lieutenant James J. Kuehn. an- other Ripon alumnus. '41. returned to the campus in September as a member of the Staff. After receiving his A.B. degree and reserve commission he reported to the Infantry School at Fort Henning. He re- mained at this post for a time after the completion of the course and then trans- ferred to Camp Croft. South Carolina, where he was stationed at the time of his receipt of orders to return to Ripon. The title of Ripon’s Standing Army has been appropriately bestowed on Technical Sergt. Arthur Peters. He boasts a record of 32 years of active serv ice and has been attached to the ROTC Department staff of Ripon College for 20 Sergt. Peters Pfc. Vincenti