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 critical role of ROTC in National Defense. In 1964, the ROTC Revitalization Act added flexibility and incentives to the program. This Act created the 2-year ROTC program, increased pay, and created new scholarships. This Act also changed ROTC from mandatory to optional training on campuses across the Nation. In 1973, women became eligible for enrollment in ROTC.
