Timeline Post Type Description
With the entrance of women into ROTC in 1973, the Fighting Illini Battalion had the distinct honor of commissioning the first woman through ROTC. Throughout its history, the University of Illinois has consistently trained high-quality leaders for duty in the US Armed Forces. Cadets can be proud of being a part of the distinguished heritage …
The switch to voluntary ROTC drastically affected enrollment in 1964 under the ROTC Revitalization Act. In 1963, enrollment fell to 3,100 Cadets. In 1964, enrollment plunged to 500 Cadets. As a result of public resentment over the Vietnam Conflict, enrollment dropped to only 69 Cadets in 1974. The 1980s saw a rebirth of …
In 1919 ROTC, which had been created by the National Defense Act of 1916, began full operations on campus. All able-bodied males were required to take at least basic military training in ROTC. Originally, ROTC enrollment and training was branch specific. For example, the 1923 enrollment was 830 in Cavalry, 738 in Infantry, 236 in …
The second building constructed for the University was a drill hall and workshop in 1869. The present Armory building was built in 1914 with the last major renovation in 1926. The Armory building was constructed exclusively for military training: to house equipment and provide offices, classrooms, and a drill floor. The original Armory …
In 1871, the University’s Corps of Cadets was sent to Chicago to assist in maintaining order following the “Great Chicago Fire.” Up until this time, the University had received little popular support or publicity. As the University grew, the Corps of Cadets flourished to become known as the “West Point of the West”.
On the first day of classes, Spring Semester 1868, students at the Illinois Industrial University, currently named the University of Illinois, were formed into ranks before an instructor. These 75 young men, each of whom had to be at least 15 years of age, reported for roll call to the Military Department. The first campus …
In 1916 with World War I raging in Europe, congress passed the National Defense Act, which created the Reserve Offers’ Training Corps (ROTC). This Act provided support for college military training and training camps. During the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, ROTC provided over 70% of the Army’s officer requirements. This illustrates the continuing …
ROTC had its beginnings in the early 1800s when civilian colleges began to offer military instruction to students. During the early stages of the Civil War, it became apparent that the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York was not capable of producing the quantity of loyal officers required to lead the massive …