A Proud History-A Bright Future

HISTORY OF THE ROTC AT VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY

The Senior ROTC Program, better known as the “Trojan Warrior Battalion” at Virginia State University was established in 1947 as a Quartermaster unit. Lieutenant Colonel Robert M. Hendrick (Retired) (then Captain) served as the first Professor of Military Science of the unit from 1947 until 1951. The ROTC program was established as a mandatory program for freshman and sophomores and continued in that status until school year 1967-68 when it was made an elective program.

The ROTC building was built in 1958 and named the J. B. Bolling building in honor of First Lieutenant Bolling who lost his life in the Korean Conflict in 1951. The building was last renovated in 1985.

In 1948, a satellite unit was established on the Norfolk State campus of Virginia State University to offer the basic program (MS I and MS II) only for the students enrolled on that campus. The Norfolk campus satellite unit continued to offer the basic program only until the school year 1965-66 when an advanced program was initiated.

In 1964, the Quartermaster ROTC curriculum changed to that of a General Military Science curriculum. By 31 May 1979, the program had commissioned 1,088 officers. The number of commissions declined after the program became an elective

However, during the 1970’s and early 1980s, the number of cadets getting commissioned remained extremely good.

Since activation of the ROTC unit the following special units and societies have been established as auxiliaries to the unit:

  1.      An Orienteering/Ranger unit

  2.      A unit of the National Society of Pershing Rifles

  3.      A unit of the National Scabbard and Blade Society

  4.      A unit of the National Society of Pershing Angels

  5.      A drill unit

In February 1969, the Norfolk State Division of Virginia State University was made a separate institution and re-designated Norfolk State University. Soon after that action, the President of Norfolk State applied for the establishment of an independent ROTC unit on that campus. His request was approved and effective 1 July 1969, the satellite unit was changed to an independent ROTC unit per Department of the Army General Orders Number 44 dated 8 July 1969.

The VSU ROTC program offers the two, three, and four-year programs. In addition, cross-enrolled programs have been established with St Paul’s College, Virginia Union University, and two community colleges (John Tyler and Richard Bland Community Colleges).

Currently our partnership schools are Saint Pauls College (4-Year Private, HBCU) and Richard Bland College (2 Year University).

Since its establishment, the ROTC Battalion at this institution has been well accepted and supported by the University Presidents, faculty, staff, students, and by individuals and organizations in the nearby community.

Females were first admitted into the program in 1972 and the first one commissioned in the spring of 1976 (LTC Ret Irene Fitzgerald Logan). The first female to attend and be awarded a four-year scholarship was LTC Patty Barbour, class of 1978.

The ROTC Hall of Fame was established in June 1961 to honor those officers who exhibited the will to compete and successfully graduate in the upper 10 percent of their class while attending service school. Since that time the criteria has been expanded to include several other categories. There currently are over 100 graduates and supporters of the program who have been inducted in the Hall of Frame. The criterion is available for anyone wishing to nominate someone into the Hall of Frame. The ROTC Hall of Fame is located in the main corridor of the ROTC building. Plaques of those inducted appear in the hall of the J.B. Bolling Building. A board meets each January to vote on nominations for the Hall of Fame.

In 1997, the cadets residing on campus received separate living facilities. Currently the males are housed on the 4th floor of Puryear Hall and the females are on the 3rd floor of Eggleston Hall. Computers were placed in the rooms for the cadets and the university is connecting them to the campus server.

Squad Tactical Lanes were set up on the University Farm in the past to help prepare cadets for Advanced Camp. Currently we utilize the facilities at nearby military installations Fort Lee and Fort Pickett to prepare cadets for the Leadership Development and Assessment Course (LDAC). In addition to enhancing training for MS IIIs, these lanes will also allow an introduction of tactical training for freshman and sophomore cadets.