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NEWS RELEASE
Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu
)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
01/07/2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES-Northwestern State University's Army ROTC
program has earned a ranking among the top 10 percent of all programs
nationwide. The Demon Battalion was ranked 23rd out of 270 programs
and was the only school in Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama to
be in the top 10 percent. The ranking was achieved against several
flagship and major research universities. Each ROTC program is
rated annually by the U.S. Army's Cadet Command based on its commissioning
rate, enrollment, retention, cadet quality, Leader Training Course
recruiting and National Leader Advanced Camp Performance.
NSU has a commission mission of 15, but commissioned 19 lieutenants
in 2003 and is projected to commission 24 in 2004 and 27 in 2005,
according to Professor of Military Science Lt. Col. Clay Chandler,
the battalion commander. The NSU program currently has 103 cadets,
which includes students at partnering schools, LSU-Shreveport,
LSU-Alexandria, Centenary and Louisiana College.
"The success would not be possible without the support we
receive from throughout the university," said Chandler. "We
are assisted by the administration, the faculty and staff, the
Office of University Recruiting and other areas whenever we need
it."
Northwestern's support includes providing qualified cadets with
performance-based out-of-state tuition waivers and a scholarship
to cover room and board. The Department of Military Science also
has its own building on campus, Noe Hall.
Chandler said the NSU ROTC battalion has a unique additional mission
because of its proximity to Fort Polk. Northwestern is designated
as a "Counterpart Battalion." charged with supporting
enlisted soldiers and non-commissioned officers at Fort Polk who
desire to participate in the Army's "Green to Gold"
program. This program allows quality enlisted soldiers with officer
potential who have served at least two years on active duty to
voluntarily request discharge from active duty, and enroll in
Army ROTC to earn baccalaureate degrees and commissions as second
lieutenants. Those who participate in the Green to Gold program
receive scholarships, a monthly stipend and other tax-free assistance.
Approximately 40 percent of the NSU battalion are individuals
with prior military service, many of whom were stationed at Fort
Polk.
The faculty in the Department of Military Science, the cadre,
also deserves a great deal of credit for the program's accomplishments,
according to cadets.
"We have a great cadre of officers and NCOs," said
Clint Shelby of Maud, Texas, who was previously on active duty
in the Army. "They are the main factor in motivating you
and setting you on the right track as any good teacher would.
They help develop good leaders among the cadets who take things
from there."
Shelby said members of the cadre are "very genuine and approachable."
"They are concerned with our progress academically,"
he said. "They prepare us very well. When we were at camp,
we knew we were prepared to do well."
Members of the cadre have varied backgrounds within the Army which
better prepares cadets. Each cadre member selected for an ROTC
assignment is screened by the Army's Cadet Command to ensure that
only the highest quality officers and non-commissioned officers
are placed on university campuses.
"Each individual has knowledge within their area of expertise
whether it is infantry, quartermaster or ordinance," said
Kenneth Hoover, a graduate student in education from Natchitoches
who previously served in the Army. "That diversity and versatility
gives the cadets what they need to know when they go into the
Army. From talking with cadets at other universities, I know
we have a good battalion."
Chandler says the program has a strong team of recruiters who
work well with the Office of University Recruiting. They visit
high schools throughout Louisiana and make visits to Fort Polk
twice a month to promote the Green to Gold program. Among the
strongest recruiters are the current cadets.
"I never thought I would be in the military, but I met some
of the cadets and I was so impressed," said So Song, a junior
biology/pre dental major from Uijungbu, Korea. "This program
gave me a sense of belonging. It feels like family."
Song came to the United States five years ago and transferred
to NSU a year ago. She plans to become a U.S. citizen, earn a
commission in the Army and serve in the dental corps.
"Being an Asian female, this is something I never thought
of doing because of my culture,""she said. "They
push us here to perform above the standard."
Chandler said NSU is poised to maintain a high national ranking
for the next two years because of the battalion and university's
strong recruiting and retention efforts.