A Proud History-A Bright Future
The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs ROTC Battalion has been proud to help
develop the leaders of tomorrow.
The history of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at the University
of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) began in 1965 with the founding of the
institution, even though the program was hosted through other schools. Colorado
College (CC) was the host until student unrest in the mid ‘70s caused the
program to be moved to UCCS for a short period. Later, the University of
Southern Colorado (USC) took over as host, keeping one senior sergeant at
Colorado Springs.
The program gained momentum as enrollment increased from UCCS, CC, as well
as Pikes Peak Community College (PPCC) and Colorado Technical College
(CTC). ROTC students from UCCS were generally older than those from other
schools and many were military veterans.
Because of the increased possibilities for Army officers in the Colorado
Springs area, UCCS applied for and was granted Host Institution status in
1981.UCCS was assigned a Professor of Military Science (PMS), three assistant
PMS’s (APMS), four Non-Commissioned Officers, and one civilian in 1982. The
University staff and faculty welcomed the ROTC program and its staff as
partners in the Academic community.
In August 1983, the UCCS ROTC Company was reorganized as cadet battalion
oftwo cadet companies and renamed the “Mountain Ranger Battalion.”
The Mountain Ranger Battalion continued partnerships with CC, PPCC, and CTC,
and also incorporated students from Regis University and the newly accredited
Beth-El College of Nursing.
The Mountain Rangers have received high praise, being named the best trained
ROTC Battalion in the nation in 1987, 99, and 89. They were named the winners
of the MacArthur Award in 1990 and 1991, designating them the “Best ROTC
Battalion, Small College” in the nation. The 1990 MacArthur Award was presented
by the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Carl Vuono, to the PMS, Lieutenant
Colonel Pieffer. In 1991, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General
Colin Powell presented the award. In 1998, Major General Wallace, commander of
Army Cadet Command, described the UCCS program as a “remarkable success” that“
reflects the support given to the Army ROTC unit and students by the
University” in a letter written to the UCCS Chancellor.
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