Could ROTC programs help further bridge the gap between the military & civilian world?

Capt Brandon Charters — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 19:49:02 -0400

Recent Report from The Hill: “A majority of Americans — 71 percent — admit to knowing and understanding little about the realities of military service. ROTC has been underutilized as a way to increase dialogue and learning between future military and civilian leaders.”
Remembering my time in ROTC, I did have healthy dialogue about the military with professors and other students I went to class with. There are some ROTC programs who do an incredible job engaging with universities. If done correctly, I think this definitely has long term impacts in educating the civilian world about our culture, mentality, and training. What do you think?
Full article from The Hill:
https://thehill.com/opinion/education/408967-why-rotc-is-the-overlooked-tool-to-challenge-the-civil-military-divide

Why ROTC is the overlooked tool to challenge the civil-military divide

Emma Moore says ROTC programs can provide a vital cultural link between the military and communities in a society where few such links exist.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2018 8:03 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 20:03:22 -0400

Sir,
This article is extremely interesting. As a Cadet I have become much more aware of how my university sees ROTC and the limited view of the military they may have. Until recently, ROTC and my university have been disconnected and wary of working together simply due to that divide. While students know what we are and they see what we do (whether it be PT, labs, or other various training) they see us as a completely separate entity from them. There is a lot of value for me as a cadet trying to integrate my program into what the school is doing because there are many things they can teach us as leaders in the civilian world that we can in turn take with us when we commission.
Similarly, like you said there is a lot of education that we can provide to the university personnel regarding how we operate and the culture that we carry in comparison to college atmosphere.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Oct 2 at 2018 11:56 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 23:56:43 -0400

Capt Brandon Charters there are several components to communication. The sender, the receiver, the message, and interference. One must be willing to receive the message that is being communicated. Many Univeristy and Colleges want to cultivate that veteran and military segment because we are a huge market segment and we pay on time thanks to TA and the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Many faculty are products of the Vietnam and Post Vietnam era. I am not sure these folks will want to hear or believe what they hear, no matter what it is.

"Harvard University’s Youth Survey found that 80 percent of young people do not consider the military in their future plans. Additionally, two studies found that 71 to 75 percent of young people are ineligible to serve due to failure to complete high school, criminal records, and low physical fitness." I really wish someone would break these numbers better. High school graduation rates are high. Not 3 of every 4 high schoolers has a criminal record. Low physical fitness can be fixed....although no one will be happy. Of those that are able, they are continually groomed to believe in a College only mentality where the end result is a college attendance or abject failure. There is little interest in an outcome where someone learns a trade or joins the armed forces in lieu of attending Schmuckatelli State. Society, particularly parents and educators, have convinced them of that. Getting your hands dirty is a dirty word.

Laying this information campaign, or metaphorically, the counter insurgency at the feet of Cadet Command and its Cadets is a tall order. Cadets are apprentice officers yet we will depend on them to accurately convey nuanced messages on service, national defense, culture clashes between MIL and CIV, etc which they have yet to experience or fully understand. It's not all bad...Cadets, like all young Joes, are lovable, pure, and earnest. It's hard not to like Joe. You see this in the random kindness they are often doing.

Question: I wonder what the perception is among civilian faculty as to the acceptance and equality of Military Cadre at their school? That survey question, among others specifically to Faculty would be telling. What value is perceived as to Cadre experiences, knowledge, and abilities as Faculty?

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Oct 3 at 2018 8:22 AM

LTC Eugene Chu — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 08:22:55 -0400

Pasting link to old 2001 book on college ROTC history in U.S. Unlike other countries, America is the only one to primarily have officers educated in civilian universities. It has been a bridge and actually recruited students during Vietnam era with incentive to avoid military draft.

https://www.amazon.com/Making-Citizen-Soldiers-Ideology-American-Military/dp/ [login to see] /ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid= [login to see] &sr=8-1&keywords=rotc+service

Amazon.com: Making Citizen-Soldiers: ROTC and the Ideology of American Military Service...

Amazon.com: Making Citizen-Soldiers: ROTC and the Ideology of American Military Service (9780674007154): Michael S. Neiberg: Books

Response by COL John McClellan made Oct 3 at 2018 10:45 AM

COL John McClellan — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 10:45:05 -0400

We did this on our campus and in the broader Community, when I was a PMS in Boston, MA some 10+ years ago now. I commuted to work 3-4 times on the public rail system (btw - never had to pay, ever) and was either in PT or Duty uniform on the train. I spoke to many, many people about the military - and this was during the "surge" in Iraq, btw. Our Cadets and Cadre participated in many charitable 5k/10ks and were visible and accessible. (We actually ran PT 3x week in downtown Boston - in the neighborhoods surrounding the college.) I was (as Dept. Chair) a member of the Faculty Senate and faithfully attended those meetings. Went out of my way to be available as a "guest lecturer" in political science and other departments. Northeastern U had a Minor in Leadership and a number of my students - and at least 2 of my NCOs - were in that program!! And my SMI (Senior NCO) and I started appearing at the school's sports team practices and awarding unit coins for "excellence" - we'd get the name of the "Athlete of the Week" from the campus newspaper, and call the coach and ask if we could come down and recognize those achievements. I could go on - many other things we did - but it all takes time and energy and a focus on these external audiences which is not the core "mission" and for which there is almost 0 attention or resourcing. It's all on the leadership at that campus.

Response by COL John McClellan made Oct 3 at 2018 10:53 AM

COL John McClellan — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 10:53:13 -0400

"Additionally, schools that host ROTC programs should at least offer a Department of Defense 101 course to teach students about one of the primary components of foreign policy." Now that's an idea... but the campuses would have to permit / approve this. As a PMS, I would have done this in a second!!