Mission and History
MISSION
The Navy ROTC Program was established to develop midshipmen mentally, morally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, and loyalty, and with the core values of honor, courage and commitment to commission college graduates as naval officers who possess a basic professional background, are motivated toward careers in the naval service, and have a potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.
HISTORY
The Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (Navy ROTC) Program was established in 1926 to provide a broad base of citizens knowledgeable in the arts and sciences of Naval Warfare. The program provided an opportunity for young citizens to undertake careers in the naval profession. In the beginning, there were six Navy ROTC units located at the University of California at Berkeley, Georgia Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, University of Washington, Harvard University, and Yale University.
The Marine Corps entered the Navy ROTC Program in 1932, offering qualified Navy ROTC graduates commissions in the United States Marine Corps. In 1968, Prairie View A&M became the first Historically Black College (HBC) to host the program. In 1972, the Secretary of the Navy authorized women to enroll in the program. Faced with the challenges of an all-volunteer force after the draft ended in 1973 and retention rates falling from 64% to 45%, Recruiting District Assistance Councils made up of distinguished civilians chaired by a Reserve Officer were formed as centers of influence in large metropolitan areas to enhance Navy recruiting. In 1979, Rear Admiral Ed Briggs, USN, Commander Navy Recruiting Command, asked the Washington Recruiting District Assistance Council (RDAC) chaired by Captain Donald Morency, USNR; with DC Superior Court Judge John Fauntleroy; LT Samuel Barnes USNR (PhD), Peter Hackes, nationally recognized TV and radio correspondent, RADM Arther Esch, USN (ret), former Commandant Naval District Washington, along with several other members, to look into establishing an NROTC unit in the Washington area. The George Washington University was approached by Council member RADM Arthur Esch, USN (ret), who had graduate from GWU and knew President Lloyd Elliott. After serious discussions, not only did the University agree to establish a unit but to widen it to a consortium which would allow prospective students from the surrounding universities to join. The Council assisted the university and President Lloyd Elliott, a Navy veteran, with the application which was submitted to the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS)n where Deputy, RADM Fran McKee, USN expedited processing for SECNAV John Lehman’s final approval in 1982. President Elliott was personally invested in bridging the divide between the military and universities in the post Vietnam era and the unit was established on May 9th, 1983. In 1987, the first commissioning occurred at GWU. In 1988, the first full class of Midshipmen were commissioned.
In 1990, the Navy ROTC Scholarship Program expanded to include applicants pursuing a Nursing degree, leading to a commission in the Navy Nurse Corps. GWU NROTC became the fifth largest NROTC unit with 280 members and was especially recognized for its concentration of international affairs majors. The Capital Battalion continues to be a large and respected unit with in the NROTC domain.
The mission of the Navy ROTC Program today is to develop young men and women morally, mentally, and physically, and to instill in them the highest ideals of honor, courage, and commitment. Currently, there are 63 Navy ROTC units/consortiums hosted at 77 schools throughout the United States. The Navy ROTC Program is available at over 160 colleges and universities that either host Navy ROTC units or have cross-town enrollment agreements with a host university.
History Pamphlet
Check out our History Pamphlet.