Teaching The Leaders Of Tomorrow

The Army Reserve Officer Training Corps at the Bucknell University is a voluntary program designed to enhance a student s education by providing unique and challenging leadership and management experience. This program helps students develop self-esteem, self-discipline, physical stamina, teamwork, and other qualities essential to success in any workplace.

The program invovles both classroom and applied learning. Through hands on instruction, studends learn and practice related skills. Through activities like orienteering, paintball, rappelling rifle marksmanship, and field training exercies, the program stresses teamwork and the application of leadership principles to overcome situational problems and obstacles. As students progress through the program, senior cadets are given the opportunity to lead and teach underclassman.

Completion of the program allows students the opportunity to commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Active Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard. In preparation for leading the soldiers of our great nation, instruction emphasizes leadership, management, ethics, and military history. Learning focuses on instruction and applied techniques.

The military heritage of the Bison Battalion dates back to 1863, when the Student Voluntary Company was called to assist in stemming the Confederate tide that was to crest at Gettysburg. Since then, the Bison Battalion has been involved in the Spanish-American War in 1899, World War I, with the establishment of the Student s Army Training Corps, and World War II, with the establishment of the V-12 program for the Navy and marines both at Bucknell and Bloomsburg Universities. During the Korean War, Bucknell petitioned the Department of Defense to establish an Army ROTC unit on campus. The unit began in 1951 and commissioned its first officer in 1952. Since then, over 2,000 students have earned commissions through ROTC at Bucknell and its Partnership Schools.