Ranger Challenge update: Bucs don't repeat, but fare well

Ranger Challenge 2013 update: There was no repeat for the Bucs, as Michigan State was crowned this year's champion during Sunday's awards ceremony - but reports from Fort Knox tell us that ETSU finished in the top third among all teams and closed out a grueling competition by winning the one-rope bridge event late Saturday afternoon. Way to go Buc Battalion!

ROTC Ranger Challenge: Buc Battalion prepares to defend title

Departing for the ROTC Ranger Challenge: Buc Battalion Cadets gather in Brooks Memorial Hall early Friday morning and greet well-wishers prior to their departure for Fort Knox. ETSU ROTC is the defending champions and will compete this weekend against nearly 40 other Army ROTC programs from Tennessee, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan. Hooah! Go Bucs!
Check out our Facebook photo gallery.

ETSU president thanks supporters of ETSU ROTC

After Thursday's re-dedication of the Veterans Memorial on Nov. 7 at ETSU, Dr. Brian Noland offered thanks to all who supported ETSU ROTC and helped play a part in the Army's decision to keep the program open. Click HERE to watch the video.


Breakthrough: ETSU ROTC to remain open!

This evening comes wonderful news from the office of Congressman Phil Roe:

WASHINGTON D.C. – Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-TN) announced that the Department of the Army reversed its decision to close ETSU’s ROTC program and instead would be putting the program on a two-year probation, allowing the program to remain open. During the probationary period, as long as the program commissions fifteen officers in a three, five or ten year average, they will remain open.  

Since the Army’s initial announcement, Congressman Roe and Senators Alexander and Corker have worked together to reverse the decision.  Roe released the following statement on the announcement:

“ETSU’s ROTC program is highly valued by both the university and the community, and I am proud we were able to work to reverse this decision. Since we first learned that the Army’s Cadet Command was reviewing ETSU’s ROTC program, I have been working with President Noland to prevent a possible closure of this excellent program. ETSU is lucky to have Dr. Noland and I thank him for his leadership on this very important issue.”

Veterans Day ceremony to include re-dedication of ETSU Memorial

Join us on campus Thursday, Nov. 7, as ETSU holds a ceremony to honor and remember those who have served their country through military service. Events begin at 11 a.m. Get more details here.

 

ETSU Student Government steps forward for ROTC

Many thanks to ETSU's Student Government Association, which passed a resolution in support of #KeepETSUROTC. Visit their Facebook page to read more.

WJHL speaks with program alumni at ROTC breakfast

WJHL reporter Allie Hinds spoke with ETSU ROTC supporters and alumni at the program's annual homecoming breakfast. Dan Mahoney, Class of' '66, had this to say: "There's a lot of people in this region that can go back to this program and  say this is what made me what I am." See Hinds story here:
http://www.wjhl.com/story/23860815/etsu-rotc-alumni-meet-for-homecoming-talk-about-saving-the-program

Dan Mahoney, Class of '1966, was named an ETSU Outstanding Alumnus in 2010.

Check out Keep ETSUROTC on Facebook

Now there are two websites to get #KeepETSUROTC updates: We're on Facebook. We invite you to keep following this blog, and also visit us on Facebook. While you're there, we hope you hit the "Like" and "Share" buttons!

Delchrisha Young is a senior ROTC cadet at ETSU.

Johnson City Press: Newspaper agrees that Army decision was 'shortsighted'

The Johnson City Press devoted its Sunday editorial to the cause of #KeepETSUROTC. Read the entire editorial here, and send us your stories and your opinions to KeepETSUROTC@gmail.com.

WKPT report: Committee Aims to Save ETSU ROTC

Nice piece by Cody Weddle of WKPT-TV News, who speaks with Cadets who are hopeful the Army will keep ROTC at ETSU. Freshman Colin Rose tells Weddle this: "I had my next four years planned out, and in the matter of a day, it kind of went up in smoke."
Watch the WKPT report:

The Keep ETSU ROTC story is generating media interest . . . here's the link to an article published in the Johnson City Press earlier this week: ROTC group aims to save ETSU program.

Interestingly, that story's even been "picked up" within Army channels, and was one of yesterday's featured posts on the 7th ROTC Brigade (the Buccaneer Battalion's higher headquarters) page.


The 7th Brigade ROTC on Facebook: Visit their page and "Like!"

We received this note today in our KeepETSUROTC@etsu.edu email account . . . a great reminder of ETSU ROTC's positive impacts on the local community:

 

My child is a member of the Jr. ROTC battalion at Science Hill High School in Johnson City.  Cadets from ETSU’s ROTC program often assist with activities in which the JROTC cadets are involved.  ETSU’s cadets act as role models for these high school students and provide much needed assistance which allows the JROTC program to do things they may not otherwise be able to do.  So, it’s not just the ETSU community that will be affected by this closure.  Please keep ETSU’s ROTC program!

Thanks,

Amy

 

Thanks to Amy for her note.  Our ETSU ROTC Cadets ARE outstanding role models, and go on to become outstanding leaders for our Nation - as Army officers.  That's been the case for over 60 years.  Share YOUR thoughts, and help us #KeepETSUROTC, so that ETSU can continue its tradition of honor and excellence for many years to come!

 

"I sincerely hope that this decision can be reversed . . ." - an email from Ms. Rita Quillen

From an email we received recently (KeepETSUROTC@etsu.edu):

"I am especially sad to hear of the plans to do away with the ROTC program at ETSU. 

 

My late aunt, Marie Sims Miller, was the program secretary for many years. Though she had to retire on disability over 20 years before her death,  she remained a friend, volunteer and supporter of the program as long as her health allowed. After her death, the family set up a scholarship in the military science department in memory of her and her husband, Henry C. Miller.  She valued education very highly and always wished that she could have gone to college. So she was especially proud of the opportunity that the ROTC program afforded young people who, like her, might have not been able to have that opportunity otherwise. 

 

I sincerely hope that this decision can be reversed for the good of the university, the community, the students and our country.  Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Rita Quillen
Gate City, VA"

 

If your family, like Ms. Quillen's, has been positively impacted by the ETSU Army ROTC program, we encourage you to share your story with us.  Let's work together to Keep ETSU ROTC!

Retired Maj. Gen. Gary Harrell: No ETSU ROTC would be 'strategic loss' for Army

MajorGeneral(Ret.) Gary Harrell has spent his life in service to his country. He got his start toward a career in the U.S. Army through a four-year ROTC scholarship at ETSU; he received his bachelor's degree in industrial technology and commission in the Army in 1973. 

In the Army, Maj. Gen. Harrell fashioned a decorated, heroic career. He was an SMU commander in Mogadishu, Somalia, during the brutal combat in 1993 made famous in the book and film Black Hawk Down. In 2001, he was Assistant Division Commander for the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan and was interviewed by Dan Rather on 60 Minutes II, discussing special operations work with Afghan forces to remove al-Qaida and Taliban operatives from power.

Maj. Gen. Harrell visited campus Friday, Oct. 18, and shared his thoughts on ROTC at ETSU:

ETSU seeks your help to convince Army to reverse ROTC decision

Army announces decision to close ETSU ROTC program

East Tennessee State University learned in early October that its Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program is one of 13 programs across the nation being closed by the U.S. Army.

The decision to close the programs was made by the Secretary of the Army, based on a recommendation by the U.S. Army Cadet Command. The phase-out plan will begin immediately and is expected to be completed by August 2015. ETSU is one of three schools in Tennessee on the list of programs being closed. 

The ETSU ROTC program, which falls under the auspices of the ETSU College of Business and Technology, includes 54 Cadets who are on contract with the U.S. Army. Approximately 222 ETSU students are enrolled in military science programs.

The ETSU family is determined to do all we can to convince the Army to reverse its decision.

On Oct. 3, the day the decision was announced, Dr. Brian Noland, President of ETSU, said this:
"We are devastated. We feel this decision is an injustice to our students, to our graduates, and to the outstanding men and women who have led this program since it was founded in 1952."

To view a video where Dr. Noland shares his thoughts, click here.

We do not consider this story to be finished. We do not accept this decision to end ROTC at ETSU. We need your help to Keep ETSU ROTC.

Follow this site for news and updates about ETSU ROTC. And please send us your stories about ETSU ROTC and what the program means to you, your family, your friends, your community – to our nation.

And, most importantly, write to your elected representatives to voice your support for the program. Tennessee U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, as well as Congressman Phil Roe, want to preserve this great program as well.

This vital part of the ETSU family has provided officers and leaders for the U.S. Army, National Guard and Reserve units throughout the region including neighboring states.

So, please: send us your ETSU ROTC stories! Write to your elected officials. In the coming days, we will provide suggestions on you may help in a letter writing and e-mail campaign to share your support with the Tennessee Congressional Delegation as well as encouraging the efforts of Tennessee State Senator and Representatives, the Tennessee Military Office and Governor Bill Haslam.

Tennessee is the most affected state; the Volunteer State is losing three ROTC Units. Future opportunities for Tennessee university students at ETSU, Tennessee Tech and UT-Martin are in jeopardy.  In addition, the UVA-Wise ROTC Program is an ETSU partner and it directly also affects these Southwest Virginia college students.

Please share your messages and photos with us! 

For e-mail you want to share, please send it here. By U.S. mail, send to:
KeepETSUROTC P.O. Box 70410, Johnson City TN 37614