History

ROTC at the University of Kansas enjoys an old and proud heritage. The KU Army ROTC program is one of the top ROTC programs in the country and we have the luxury of having all the military services represented here at KU. Army ROTC is the senior program, having been established in 1918 in the wake of World War I. Since then, over 2,000 second lieutenants have been commissioned through KU’s Army ROTC program.

In 1946, following World War II, both the Naval and Air Force ROTC programs joined the Army at KU. The Air Force ROTC program is actually older than the Air Force itself, which didn’t become a separate service until 1947. The original program was called “Air ROTC” and was administered by the Army Air Forces.

KU is one of only 50 universities in the nation offering an ROTC program that represents all branches of the military. These program are integrated into the mainstream of campus activities. Students who participate in ROTC pursue a regular university degree while augmenting their studies with ROTC courses from the Department of Military Science.

ROTC had its beginnings in the early 19th century, when a handful of colleges offered military instruction to students.

By the time the Civil War began, everyone could see the need to develop a source of military leaders and the college campus was a logical place to find those who could qualify.

In 1862, the Land Grant Act was passed authorizing grants of public land to state colleges that offered military training for all able-bodied male students. As a result of the legislation, 105 colleges and universities were offering military instruction by the early 1900s. But as our nation became increasingly involved in international affairs, the need for a reserve corps of training military officers was even more apparent.

In 1916, Congress recognized the need for an expanded military reserve to supplement the National Guard, and it passed the National Defense Act.

The National Defense Act provided for the establishment of the Officers’ Reserve Corps, to be composed of men trained in ROTC and in Army training camps. These officers not only served in World War I, but also went on to form the basis of the Officers’ Reserve Corps in the 1930s.

Consequently, when World War II broke out, ROTC was able to provide the necessary military leadership required for the Army to mobilize.

Within six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, more than 56,000 Army ROTC officers were serving on active duty. By the end of the ward, more than 100,000 ROTC officers had served our country.
Later, in Korea and Vietnam, Army ROTC graduates reaffirmed our National commitment to a defense force, led in a large part by citizen soldiers who had been prepared for leadership campuses for our colleges and universities.

Because of the critical role played by Army ROTC during these periods of conflict, Congress added additional strength to the program with the passage of the ROTC Vitalization Act of 1964.

The act provided for the establishment of Army ROTC scholarships, the creation of the two-year program, and the increase in the amount of money ROTC students receive. These additional incentives stimulated enrollment in the program and introduced the rewards of military life to thousand of qualified young students.
Today, Army ROTC opportunities are available across the country in over 270 host units, as well as hundreds of extension centers and cross-enrolled schools.