Collegian May 1, 1986 ROTC marks their tenth year at Behrend by Thomas Milley 'Collegian Staff Writer As this school year draws to a close, it brings with it the close of the first decade of Army ROTC at Behrend. As I look at the yellow ed newspaper articles and photographs that have been left behind, stuck in a dusty blue photo album, I see many things. First, an announcement dated August 1975 which stated that ROTC would be conducted that fall at Behrend. Next, I see an article from the September 25, 1975 issue of the Collegian introducing ROTC to the students. The next issue of the Collegian had an article on the new ROTC sponsored clubs: Rangers, Rifle Club. and a women's track team called "The Stars and Stripes of Behrend" (the only club which has fallen by the wayside, only to be replaced by co-ed colorguard, a Scuba Club and the Adventure Club). That issue also contained a small letter to the editor by a freshman who called the establish ment of an ROTC program at Behrend "an insult to any socially conscious person." Behrend's ROTC program had a significant level of involvement during the early years, and had a starting enrollment in 1976-77 of 98 MS-I's and 15 MS-ll's, a significant increase from 39 and 6 the first year. In a list of the first year's events I found a note stating that the Ri fle team had won its very first rifle match, against Edinboro State College; a tradition of excellence which the Rifle Team still main tains, winning this year's PMS In vitational Rifle match at Fort In diantown Gap. The Army ROTC program has made other, lasting contributions to Behrend, for instance, the lower half of the fitness trail was cleared by the cadets during the Summer of 1976. Also, the obstacles on the course such as the horizontal ladder, the chin-up bars, parallel bars and the other obstacles were joint projects bet ween the Physical Education Department and the ROTC Department. The program has also made lasting contributions to the U.S. Army, as the Detachment has either commissioned, or sent to University Park 61 Second Lieutenants over the last ten years. These newly commissioned Lieutenants have since been pro moted and can be found in all parts of the world today. Many orientation trips to Fort Knox, Kentucky; Aberdeen Prov ing Ground, Maryland; Fort Lee, Virginia; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania have occurred with over 650 cadets participating. The numerous colorguard mis sions for city function, national holidays and campus activites have been completed with many more anticipated for the future. All in all, it appears as though the program has been very much a success to date, and it seems likely that fifteen years from now, there'll be a cadet writing a review of the first 25 years of ROTC at Behrend, as this yellowed article collects dust . . . feature 9 MESSIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH Eastern and Gray Ave. Phone 899-6386 The Rev. Martin Roth, Pastor* WESLEYVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH Buffalo Road and Market St. Phone 899-9243 The Rev. George Schoonmaker, Pastors EAST ERIE ASSEMBLY OF GOD 2653 Saltsman Rd. Phone 899-5247 The Rev. Cliff Hamilton, Pastor* TROUBLED? NEED TO TALK? WE CAN HELP...WE CARE ABOUT YOU! PENN STATE-BEHREND CAMPUS MINISTRY Student Affairs Reed Building 898-6245 OFF CAMPUS WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES BUS TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE FOR 11:00 a.m. SERVICES BUS LEAVES REED 10:15 a.m. SUNDAYS ST. JAMES R.C. CHURCH 2635 Buffalo Road Phone 899-6178 The Rev. Robert W. Cohan, Pastor WESLEYVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 3306 South Street 899-3302 The Rev. Jerry Schmidt, Pastor ON CAMPUS WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ROMAN CATHOLIC MASS with The Rev. Ron Toven* (Fr. Ron) SATURDAYS, 5:30 p.m. in THE REED LECTURE HALL PENN STATE-BEHREND CAMPUS MINISTRY •Participating Campus Ministry Office Clergy
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers