University of Wisconsin Stevens Point - Horizon / Iris Yearbook (Stevens Point, WI)

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HISTORY OF ROTC AT WSU-SP BY SANDY HEMAUER A Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) was initiated on the WSU-SP campus in the fall semester. 1968. As stated in the 1968 catalog. “WSU-SP and the United States Army will jointly offer military training leading to a commission as an officer in the Regular Army or the reserve components of the Army.” The ROTC program has been under consideration for this campus since February 2, 1966, when Dr. Kurt R. Schmeller, Assistant to the President, inquired of Robert S. McNamara. Secretary of Defense, regarding the establishment of a ROTC program here. At that time only one such program existed in the WSU system which was an Air Force ROTC unit at Superior, initiated in 1947. From Schmeller, the matter was handed to Acting President Haferbecker, May 23, 1967. At this time Colonel John R. McLean, Professor of Military Science at UW-Madison and ROTC coordinator for the Fifth Army indicated an interest in opening up additional units on WSU campuses. Acting on this request, Haferbecker on May 26 wrote to the Commanding General of the Fifth Army stating in part “We know that the students generally in the Wisconsin State Universities would like to see such programs established on several of our campuses.’' Further information and an application was received. The Academic Council at WSU-SP voted on June 19, 1967, 12 in favor, 2 opposed, to support the application of the university for a ROTC unit here in the fall of 1969. At a regular faculty meeting on October 5, 1967, Haferbecker reported on the application for ROTC. A motion that the faculty recommend withdrawal of the application by the Acting President was discussed at length. The motion was defeated, however, by a vote of 93 to 68. On November 24, 1967, notice was received from the Secretary of the Army, Stanley R. Resor, that WSU-SP had been selected as a senior ROTC unit. Enrollment was to begin for the fall semester. 1968. On January 30, 1968, Haferbecker appointed 6 faculty members and 1 student senate representative to a Special ROTC Curriculum Committee. This committee held several open meetings between February 12 and March 27. On April 5, 1968. the committee submitted its recommendations to the Faculty Curriculum Committee which approved the ROTC curriculum proposals on April 17. Copies of the proposals were distributed to the entire faculty. The ROTC curriculum was considered by the faculty at its regular meeting of May 2, 1968. After extended discussion, the curriculum was approved by a vote of 67 to 52. The ROTC curriculum was offered concurrently with regular undergraduate courses in the fall, 1968. The curriculum provided a course of military training consisting of two years basic and two years advanced study. As stated in the 1968 catalog: “The training is designed to prepare students to enter their military service in a leadership capacity as commissioned officers and to lay the foundation for future Army leaders in time of emergency.” During the advanced course the cadets receive an allowance of $50.00 per month. During a six-week advanced summer camp period the cadet is paid $208.00 per month, based on one-half the pay received by a 2nd lieutenant. A student may apply during his sophomore year for the advanced course. A six-week basic summer camp previous to the junior year satisfies the two-year basic course requirement for those who are not enrolled in ROTC during the freshman and sophomore years. Cadets who complete the ROTC program receive 16 ROTC credits applicable towara a degree. In the fall of 1968 the Military Science Department had four faculty members. ROTC enrollment at the beginning of the semester was approxmiately 200 freshmen in the basic course and 14 in the advanced course. Approximately 125 freshmen remained at the close of the semester. Eleven seniors comprised the first ROTC graduating class in spring, 1970. In the fall semester, 1970, the ROTC program enrolled approximately 140 freshmen and retained a total of approximately 65 upperclassmen. Four faculty members remained. No major changes have been made in the program since its initiation. ROTC also offers extra-curricular activities to its members, the largest organizations being the Pershing Rifles and the Rangers. ROTC also sponsors a Military Ball each spring. Currently, ROTC senior units exist on approximately 279 United States campuses. Approximately 750 junior units are in operation at the high school level. ROTC enrollment at the college level has generally declined over the nation during the last few years. However, possible increases are in sight with proposals to raise the ROTC scholarship quota and to double the monthly allowance to $100.00. Lee Sherman Dreyfus, WSU-SP President, currently represents the Fifth Army on the Army Advisory Panel on ROTC Affairs to which he was appointed in October, 1969. 6

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tested on this with such questions as, “Do you think Israel should defend itself?”, “If a nation suffers unprovoked attack, should it not defend itself?”, Should we let the communists suppress the Vietnamese people?” In filing for the status, the young man must fill out a special form 150 for conscientious objectors which requires written justification of his belief and references of people who will give information concerning the nature of his religious training and beliefs. It is wise to seek the assistance of a draft counselor in applying for the CO status, since there is much involved here and unless a young man knows his rights and choices, there could be a mix-up that might result in an unnecessary prison sentence or a hitch in the Army. The registrant mav file for a personal appearance but must do so within 30 days of the mailing of his classification. This time period cannot be extended except in cases where a courtesy transfer may be made to a more conveniently located draft board. The careful manipulating of a personal appearance to appeal a classification is all important. The registrant should review any other appearance he’s made to sight difficulties encountered. He should look over and be familiar with all of the forms and information previously received from his draft board. He should know his story and his rights. This is his chance to change the board’s decision and present any new material pertinent to his claim. It is a must for all registrants, for their own safety and regardless of the status or claim, to maintain copies of everything sent to the local board and everything received from them. Every statement should be in writing and all appearances should be objectively recorded afterwards. The draft board should always be notified of any changes that might occur affecting status. If a registrant qualifies for any other deferment, this will be considered before an 1-0 classification. There are two separate forms of CO classification which allow for increased variety in the draft system. The 1-0 is one most people are aware of. It allows for alternate service in civilian work which means hospitals or other non-profit organizations or government work. It must be a continuous 24 month job, with exceptions. The I-A-0 classification is given when the specifications for appeal require only that no weapons be used. This is a CO available for noncombatant duty only. He spends his two years in the military but is assigned to medical tasks such as a medic in a combat unit. He is trained as vigorously as an I-A, but is not required to pick up a gun. The balance of his training takes place at the Medical Training Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Finally, it is necessary when giving or receiving information about the draft to realize the nature of its flexibility. Certain laws make it impossible for all facts to remain in effect continually and it is conceivable that any of it could be outdated at any time. For instance, by the time this is published, CO’s with an 1-0 classification may be in for three years instead of two. The draft is a difficult system to fight and for those who wish to do so or for those who merely wish to know more about what to expect, several books are very helpful. The Central Committee for Conscien- tious Objectors puts out the Handbook for Conscientious Objectors, edited by Arlo Tatum, which ex-lains much more thoroughly what as been delved into here. Tatum also puts out, with Joseph S. Tuchinsky, a Guide to the Draft, explaining in plain English all the essential aspects of the draft. Both these publications and other valuable services are available at the Stevens Point Draft Information Service at 1125 Fremont. Reverend Richard Steffen will assist interested young men who find it applicable to have assistance and advice on the draft. So don’t believe everything heard through the grapevine. Turn to sources that are reliable in inter-reting the draft. It’s a system that as no equal in confusion or in the consequences to a young man’s life. Use it with caution. SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM kzrcZiu. I HUM I CLASSIFICATION QUESTIONNAIRE n DATE QUESTIONNAIRE RECEIVEO | AT LOCAL B0AR0 CONFUTE A«0 MTS AM M OM (L»»o 3. Mailing addrru (Number And street, city, county And State, and Zip code) 2- Srlrctnc Sritice — In ,n“ • » “ . IWH mtnU U.» M l«al air »I 0 4 Mu , Mwc iW uum a wW.) INSTRUCTIONS The law rebuild you (o SU out aixl retuin thit quertionnaiic on or befo«r llic elate shown to the right above in Older that your local board will have information to enable it to elanify you. A notice of your clatufkaciori will be mailed to you. When a quotient or Matement in any verier docc not apply, enter DOES NOT APPLY, or • NONE, otherwite complete all verier. The law alto require! you to notify your local board in writing, within ten dayt after it oeeun, of (I) every change in your addreu, physical condition and occupational, marital, family, dependency and military Malut, and (2) any other fact which might change your clarification. Fill out with typewriter or print in ink. H.ct.-, I .— brawr. cz-a •! i—‘ »—c STATEMENTS OF THE REGISTRANT Confidential at I'rrrenbrd in the Selecllre Service KetulatUwa Serle I.—IDENTIFICATION 1. Name 2. Date of birth It-' II.Ml 3 Other turner uwd (If none, enter None ) I. Place of bitth 3. («) Color cyrrj (A) Color hair | (r) Height (d) Wright 6. Citi en or aubject of (country) 1. If naturalized citi ra, giro dale, place, court of ju indict mo and naturaliration number A Current marling addreu iiMn u warn —.••• if«r. •—«, 9. Telephone No. (If none, enter •’None ) Hmh tCwmmj . je. 10. Social Security No II none, enter ' Nine ) 11. Name and addtm of permit oilier than a member of my houirhotd who will alwaya know my addreu IVmI IA44a ».t SSS To-- IM fltr-Wrd C -l7) c.ppl-i cl pe-v-c-v penunf. UnSJ W uwd wad r.ha.u-4 (1) 5

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MILITARISTIC AND PACIFISTIC - - - IRRATIONAL? BY LAURA THILL CATHIE MORTENSON NANCY CORDY War is a game people have been playing since time began. At first, war was recognized as a survival game. One individual possessed a necessity which another individual wanted. The result was a fight to acquire a desired object — at any and all expense. Next, war became a game of you have it and I want it.” War then progressed to a game of corporate interest and business ethics. The contemporary position which war maintains may appear precarious but the inevitability of war still exists and will continue to exist until human beings adopt a more satisfactory method of solving their disputes. The guidelines for the war game are not structured by the gun and bomb or knife and blood format. War involves any dispute, psychological or physical, between two human beings. In an attempt to present several divergent views on war and peace, or militarism verus pacifism on this campus, interviews were conducted with Lt. Col. Neil O'Keefe of the Military Science Department: James Missey of the English Department: and David Wrone of the History Department. The inverviews were conducted separately to avoid rhetorical debate. The general format of the questions presenter! to the three men were essentially the same. Changes occurred only where a question was’not applicable to the particular interviewee. IRIS: What made you choose the military as a career? O’KEEFE: Having entered the service as an ROTC graduate. I found that the responsibilities given to me as a commissioned officer were challenging and the positions held, interesting and rewarding. Military life appealed to me in most all respects. Therefore, based upon actual experience. I chose to make the service my career. Although pay and other benefits are not as great as found in many other professional fields, they are adequate. One particularly attractive aspect, of course, is the opportunity to travel and meet other people from different lands and cultures. There is also a sense of pride and satisfaction that one feels in serving our country, which is much the same as that realized bv teachers, doctors, politicians and other similar vocations. The past 19 years on active service have been most gratifying and satisfying, and. because of these and many other favorable qualities. I would certainly select the same profession again, given the opportunity to do so. IRIS: What incident or incidents caused you to follow-pacifism? MISSEY: I suppose I was first turned on to pacifism when, as a freshman in college. I was rather active in the Methodist Church. I met a number of people in that context. both students and ministers, who favorably impressed me by the qualities of their lives: and so I was in a sense forced to examine their beliefs and to revaluate my own spekticism concerning pacifism. I should add that, though I was first introduced to pacifism within Christianity. I do not believe the doctrine of nonviolence (which I tend to use interchangeably with pacifism) is confined to that religion: indeed. I no longer call mself a Christian. NEIL L. O'KEEFE r LIEUTENANT COLONEL. Corps oP Engine |u •PROFESSOR OF MILITARY SCIEMCE 7