Bill Text: SC S1381 | 2021-2022 | 124th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: SC State ROTC Program
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Passed) 2022-09-07 - Introduced and adopted [S1381 Detail]
Download: South_Carolina-2021-S1381-Introduced.html
A SENATE RESOLUTION
TO CONGRATULATE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY'S ROTC PROGRAM UPON THE OCCASION OF ITS SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY AND TO COMMEND THE PROGRAM FOR ITS MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE PEOPLE AND THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are pleased to recognize South Carolina State University's ROTC program as it celebrates this important milestone; and
Whereas, the Department of Military Science was established at South Carolina State University (formerly South Carolina Agricultural and Mechanical College) during 1947-48; and
Whereas, the first graduating class in 1949 consisted of six Cadets: five received Regular Army commissions, and one received a Reserve commission in the Infantry. Since the establishment of ROTC at South Carolina State University, over two thousand students have received commissions in the Armed Forces; and
Whereas, the Army ROTC Program was initially branch material, producing only Infantry officers. The program was supplanted in 1954 by the General Military Science Program, enabling graduating Cadets to select the branch of the Army in which they were most interested and qualified. From 1947-1968, enrollment in the ROTC Program was mandatory for able-bodied freshman and sophomore men; and
Whereas, a cross-enrollment program was initiated in 1968 to permit students from other local institutions without an ROTC program to receive training at South Carolina State University and remain at the institution of their choice. To date, South Carolina State University has a cross-enrollment agreement with Claflin University, Voorhees College, Denmark Technical College, and Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College; and
Whereas, during 1972-73, the Department of the Army initiated a five-year program of enrolling women in ROTC. South Carolina State University was one of ten institutions selected nationwide to participate in this program. The first women graduated in 1976, and since then, South Carolina State University has commissioned over three hundred women; and
Whereas, South Carolina State's graduates move on to become highly decorated officers. The Bulldog Battalion averages approximately one hundred fifty Cadets and is still recognized as one of the largest producers of minority officers for the United States Army; and
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate greatly appreciate the dedication and commitment of South Carolina State University's ROTC program to serving the people and the State of South Carolina. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, congratulate South Carolina State University's ROTC program upon the occasion of its seventy-fifth anniversary and commend the program for its many years of dedicated service to South Carolina State University and the people and the State of South Carolina.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the director of South Carolina State University's ROTC program.
