A Proud History-A Bright Future
The Georgia State University ROTC Battalion has been proud to help
develop the leaders of tomorrow.
A Proud History-A Bright Future
The Georgia State University Army ROTC Panther Battalion has been proud to
help develop the leaders of tomorrow. Learn about our history here.
The Reserve Officer Training Corps Department at Georgia State University (GSU)
was first formed as a Transportation Corps Unit in May, 1951 when GSU was
known as the Atlanta Division of the University of Georgia. In the Fall Quarter
of 1951, 319 cadets enrolled in ROTC, which had a cadre of four officers and
four non-commissioned officers. In 1955 the GSU ROTC Department evolved into a
General Military Science Unit. Instead of training focused on one Army branch,
the new curriculum’s purpose was to give cadets a general military education.
The program’s structure, a 2-year basic course and 2-year advanced course, has
remained intact to date.
GSU ROTC enrollment surpassed 1000 cadets during the Korean War and nearly
reached that level again during the Vietnam War. During this time all male,
full-time undergraduate students were required to participate in the Military
Science program if they had no prior military service and met the physical,
age, and other eligibility criteria. As a result, enrollment in Military
Science was always greater in those early years than it has been of late. There
were several extracurricular activities on GSU’s campus. The Military Science
program offered opportunities in the drill team, ROTC band, rifle team, and the
auxiliary corps.
During the early 1970’s, ROTC enrollment at GSU declined when the ROTC
requirement was lifted and the all-volunteer system was initiated. During the
last decade the Military Science program has generally been a two-year program
attracting veterans and Leader’s Training Course (LTC) participants. The
enrollment has remained fairly consistent. GSU cadets have been very successful
in all facets of the program and in their post-secondary studies.
Today the ROTC program at GSU emphasizes quality in all aspects of military
leadership. Guidance from the combat-proven cadre ensures that the GSU ROTC
training program optimally prepares a cadet for service as an officer in the
U.S. Army.Efforts are under way to boost LTC, veteran enrollment, and
traditional student enrollment in the GSU ROTC program.
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