A Proud History-A Bright Future

The Beginnings of the Saluki Experience….

The Army ROTC at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale was established in the fall of 1980 as an extension center of Murray State University, Kentucky.  Captain Marcia Webb was the first program director and served in that position when SIUC became a host institution on 1 October 1981.  In July of 1982, Major Larry Fleener assumed the position of Professor of Military Science.  The unit doubled in only four years.  With the Battalion well established, LTC Richard Kuehl, the Battalion Commander, designated the unit as the “Striking Saluki Battalion”.  An extension center of our own was established at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and a four-year program began in the fall of 1987-88.  In the Spring of 1995 a minor was offered for the first time.

Today, commanded by LTC Gary Hilmes, the program is an extensive course of study at all levels of Military Science.  MSIV Cadets consistently return from Advanced Camp at Ft. Lewis with scores above the camp average.  Organizations sponsored by the Battalion include the Clyde L. Choate Chapter of the Association of the United States Army initiated in the spring of 1987, the Pershing Rifles’ Color Guard, the Bataan Death March Team, the Ranger Challenge Team, Rifle Team, Intramural Basket Ball team and the River to River Race team.