CHAPTER1

1.1. PURPOSE OF THE GUIDE

The Army ROTC Cadet Guide is published by the Department of Military Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), to provide each cadet with a reference handbook designed to answer many of the questions concerning the ROTC program and the operation of the Cadet Battalion.

1.2. THE ARMY ROTC PROGRAM

A. GENERAL: The Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) offers a program of academic study and practical experience in military leadership designed to compliment your studies in your chosen major and prepare you for future responsibilities to country, community and a military or civilian profession. No profession, vocation or field of endeavor is more dependent on able leadership or more concerned with the development of leaders than the United States Army. America depends upon the colleges and universities of this nation for future leaders in military services as well as for future leaders in all civilian and government fields. For over half a century ROTC has provided qualified leaders for the armed forces and continues today as the primary source for Army officers. Over 70% of all officers in the Army, and over 60% of all General Officers serving today are ROTC graduates. Military leadership requires the same characteristics as civilian leadership: self-confidence, initiative, integrity, courage, dependability, knowledge and tact. ROTC assures that you will make an effective contribution to the nation during the challenging years ahead.

B. OBJECTIVES:

1. To motivate and train selected students to serve as commissioned officers in the Regular Army, the Army Reserve, or the Army National Guard.

2. To provide qualified students an understanding of the fundamental concepts and principles of the military arts and sciences; to develop leadership potential and to instill a strong sense of personal loyalty, integrity, honor and individual responsibility.

C. FEDERAL SUPPORT: The Federal Government supports the Military Science Department by providing instructors, administrative personnel, uniforms, books, equipment, and monetary compensation to scholarship and Advanced Course students. Uniforms, books, and equipment are provided to Basic Course students.

D. PARTICIPATION: Participation in the ROTC program at UIC is voluntary and open to all undergraduate and graduate students, male or female, who are citizens of the United States, physically and morally qualified and who maintain full-time student status at the University. Any student may enroll in a Military Science class for academic credit, without being required to meet qualifications for commissioning.

1.3. HISTORY OF ROTC:

A. The tradition of military instruction on civilian college campuses began in 1913 when Captain Alden Partridge, a former superintendent of West Point, established the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy which later became Norwich University. By mid-century the idea of military instruction in civilian colleges had spread to other institutions. The Land Grant Act of 1862 (Morrill Act) re-enforced this tradition by specifying that courses in military tactics should be offered at the colleges and universities developed as a result of this act. By the turn of the century, 105 colleges and universities offered military instruction. However, it was not until the National Defense Act of 1916 that Army ROTC was firmly established in the form in which it is known today.

B. In 1964 Congress passed the ROTC Vitalization Act to make the ROTC program more attractive and more effective and in 1972 females were invited to enroll in the senior Army ROTC program at 10 selected colleges and universities. Then in 1973 the enrollment of women was expanded to all host institutions. Today there are over 300 host senior ROTC institutions representing all 50 states.

C. Below is the ROTC patch, worn by all cadets and cadre representing senior ROTC throughout our country.

SYMBOLISM The shield symbolizes the Army mission of national defense and is divided into quarters representing the four traditional military science courses comprising Senior ROTC curriculum. The sword signifies courage, gallantry, and self-sacrifice intrinsic to the profession of arms. The lamp denotes the pursuit of knowledge, higher learning, and partnership of Army ROTC with American colleges and universities. The Greek helmet is symbolic of the ancient civilization concept of the warrior scholar. The motto "Leadership Excellence" expresses the ultimate responsibility of Army ROTC in the discharge of its moral responsibility to the nation.

1.4. HISTORY OF ROTC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO (UIC). The history of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is tied to that of the city in which its campus stretches.

The University of Illinois at Chicago's "Fire Battalion" is dedicated to maintaining the the traditions and history of the unit, its diverse cadet population, and the various partnership schools that span the city we have served for more than five decades.

In 1859, 22 years after the incorporation of the city of Chicago, the College of Pharmacy was founded. It was closed temporarily during the Civil War and reopened in 1872. Since that time the University has expanded and grown to the campus it is today. In 1946, just after World War II, the University responded to the needs of the returning veterans by establishing a two-year undergraduate program at Navy Pier.

On, 25 April 1947, then Chief of Staff of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower signed general Orders 91 creating the ROTC on the University of Illinois Urbana Campus. Because the old Navy Pier campus was an extension of the University of Illinois, the ROTC detachment at Navy pier was officially part of the University of Illinois program.


ROTC Flourished during the post WWII years. The Fire Battalion's history indicates a cadet battalion enrollment reaching 600 cadets during the early 1950's.

In 1953, ROTC instruction was split into a basic and advanced course phase of instruction. Each phase correlated with the academic alignment of the students. Thus, basic course students were Freshmen and Sophomores while the Juniors and Seniors conducted more rigorous campus based training and a six week summer camp in the Advanced Program.

1964 saw the first implementation of a two year program and scholarships to match the newly designed program of instruction. As a result of the ROTC Revitalization Act, the Battalion witnessed a growth.

In 1965, the university campus moved from Navy Pier to its present location, offering courses in four colleges to about 5000 students.

The Vietnam Years, 1965-1975 the Fire Battalion was still a detachment of the the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana campus. While enrollments declined significantly, the detachment continued to produce quality officers of exceptional talent and dedication.   During the Seventies, many of the established battalions in the Chicago Area were consolidated into a single Battalion. UIC was not among those consolidated, as officially we were already a detachment but on 22 October 1976, DePaul University was consolidated with the Loyola Battalion.

In 1973, Pursuant to Department of the Army Guidance women were allowed into the ROTC Program

Around 1976 UIC Fire Battalion was officially designated a Battalion separate and distinct from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana

In 1978, a staff study, nicknamed the subway study was conducted by the Loyola Instructor Group at the behest of the Second region Commander. The study was designed to test the feasibility of tying all the Chicago Area Programs together using the subway-rapid transit system. The idea was abandoned due to excessive travel times for students

Under President Reagan, during the Cold War years of the 1980's, the program was reinvigorated and many of the city's, smaller schools and universities were cross- enrolling in the UIC ROTC program. ROTC was located on the 8th floor of the Science Building on Main Campus.

In the early 1990's the Battalion was moved to the Sangamon Building, which is its current location.

17 May 1991, The Loyola-DePaul Battalion commissioned their last 5 cadets and folded its colors for the last time. The Fire Battalion assumed responsibility for the cross-enrolled students from Loyola and DePaul Universities as well as Northeastern Illinois University, Northwestern University. The later two schools were official extensions of the Loyola Battalion.

In 1996, the Fire Battalion became the host ROTC unit for all of the Chicago Area.   Chicago State University folded its colors as did Illinois Institute of Technology. With the closing of these last two Chicago area detachments, the Fire Battalion now was the only Battalion in Chicago.

April, 2002 the Battalion moved back to main campus from 115 S. Sangamon Street to the Roosevelt Street Building

Today, 2005, UIC has an active and diverse cadet population of 150 cadets from across the city's major institutions. We have seven active duty cadre who train and commission approximately 20-25 cadets a year and are one of the nation's largest battalions.

	In 1859, 22 years after the incorporation of the city of Chicago, the College of Pharmacy was founded. It was closed temporarily during the Civil War and reopened in 1872. Since that time the University has expanded and grown to the campus it is today. In 1946, just after World War II, the University responded to the needs of the returning veterans by establishing a two-year undergraduate program at Navy Pier.
	On, 25 April 1947, then Chief of Staff of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower signed general Orders 91 creating the ROTC on the University of Illinois Urbana Campus. Because the old Navy Pier campus was an extension of the University of Illinois, the ROTC detachment at Navy pier was officially part of the University of Illinois program.
	ROTC Flourished during the post WWII years. The Fire Battalion's history indicates a cadet battalion enrollment reaching 600 cadets during the early 1950's.
	In 1953, ROTC instruction was split into a basic and advanced course phase of instruction. Each phase correlated with the academic alignment of the students. Thus, basic course students were Freshmen and Sophomores while the Juniors and Seniors conducted more rigorous campus based training and a six week summer camp in the Advanced Program.
	1964 saw the first implementation of a two year program and scholarships to match the newly designed program of instruction. As a result of the ROTC Revitalization Act, the Battalion witnessed a growth.
	In 1965, the university campus moved from Navy Pier to its present location, offering courses in four colleges to about 5000 students.
	The Vietnam Years, 1965-1975 the Fire Battalion was still a detachment of the the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana campus. While enrollments declined significantly, the detachment continued to produce quality officers of exceptional talent and dedication. During the Seventies, many of the established battalions in the Chicago Area were consolidated into a single Battalion. UIC was not among those consolidated, as officially we were already a detachment but on 22 October 1976, DePaul University was consolidated with the Loyola Battalion.
	In 1973, Pursuant to Department of the Army Guidance women were allowed into the ROTC Program
	Around 1976 UIC Fire Battalion was officially designated a Battalion separate and distinct from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana
	In 1978, a staff study, nicknamed the subway study was conducted by the Loyola Instructor Group at the behest of the Second region Commander. The study was designed to test the feasibility of tying all the Chicago Area Programs together using the subway-rapid transit system. The idea was abandoned due to excessive travel times for students
	Under President Reagan, during the Cold War years of the 1980's, the program was reinvigorated and many of the city's, smaller schools and universities were cross- enrolling in the UIC ROTC program. ROTC was located on the 8th floor of the Science Building on Main Campus.
	In the early 1990's the Battalion was moved to the Sangamon Building, which is its current location.
	17 May 1991, The Loyola-DePaul Battalion commissioned their last 5 cadets and folded its colors for the last time. The Fire Battalion assumed responsibility for the cross-enrolled students from Loyola and DePaul Universities as well as Northeastern Illinois University, Northwestern University. The later two schools were official extensions of the Loyola Battalion.
	In 1996, the Fire Battalion became the host ROTC unit for all of the Chicago Area. Chicago State University folded its colors as did Illinois Institute of Technology. With the closing of these last two Chicago area detachments, the Fire Battalion now was the only Battalion in Chicago.
	April, 2002 the Battalion moved back to main campus from 115 S. Sangamon Street to the Roosevelt Street Building
	Today, 2005, UIC has an active and diverse cadet population of 150 cadets from across the city's major institutions. We have seven active duty cadre who train and commission approximately 20-25 cadets a year and are one of the nation's largest battalions.