Res 1415 5/1/1973RESOLUTION NO. 1415
WHEREAS, It has since the beginning of our existence as
a nation been fundamental that the security of the United States
depends on the individual' s acceptance of the responsibilities of
active citizenship, including the contribution of a person' s
talents, leadership and service in the defense of our nation; and
WHEREAS, The Reserve Officers ' Training Corps, or ROTC, has
for many years served as the training ground for the military
officers who lead our military services in times of conflict and
who train and maintain our modern combat-ready reserve forces; and
WHEREAS, The Reserve Officers ' Training Corps has throughout
its long and glorious history proved to be one of the most success-
ful and critically important programs ever developed and implement-
ed by the United States; and
WHEREAS, The idea of providing military training to college
men was first approved by the United States Congress when it passed
the Land-Grant Act of 1862 providing for the sale of government
lands to establish colleges and universities and requiring these
land-grant institutions to teach agriculture, the mechanic arts and
other scientific and classic studies including military tactics; at
least 1,345 officers from land-grant schools served on active duty
during the Spanish-American War; and
WHEREAS, The ROTC program in civilian colleges and universities
was officially established by the National Defense Act of 1916;
prompted by the fighting of World War I in Europe, the National
Defense Act of 1916 established an Officers ' Reserve Corps to be com-
posed of men prepared through a Reserve Officers ' Training Corps;
most of the 90 ,000 members of the Officers ' Reserve Corps who served
on active duty in World War I received their military instruction in
the ROTC in civilian institutions; and
WHEREAS, The true value of the ROTC program and the high quality
of officers it produces were dramatically shown by World War II;
during the rapid build up of military forces in 1941, over 50, 000
ROTC officers were called to active duty allowing an otherwise
impossible expansion of forces to be accomplished during one of the
most critical times in United States history; well over 100,000
ROTC graduates served as commissioned officers during World War II,
many times more than the number of officers commissioned from the
nation' s military academies; and
WHEREAS, The ROTC program of today continues to provide the
armed forces of our country with the well trained and responsible
leaders which they need to protect the security of our nation; and
WHEREAS, The Reserve Officers ' Training Corps is not only an
indispensable and major source of military officers but it is recog-
nized as much more; it provides the nation with citizen-soldiers
who serve their nation in the finest tradition of service to one' s
country by contributing time and energy to the reserve forces of
the nation; and
WHEREAS , The ROTC program and the qualities which it teaches
and instills in its cadets and midshipmen have proved beyond any
doubt to be of inestimable value to the cadets and midshipmen them-
selves in their civilian careers; approximately four percent of all
college male graduates today have had the benefit of ROTC, but this
relatively small group has produced 23 percent of the men who earn
over $100 ,000 annually, 16 percent of our state governors, 24 per-
cent of our senators and 16 percent of our congressmen; and
WHEREAS, American business and industry recognize the greater
potential of ROTC graduates, and many companies have established
preferences for ROTC graduates; a substantial percentage of doctors,
lawyers and other professional persons have also had the benefit
of ROTC training; and
WHEREAS, The ROTC program also enables numerous students,
who would otherwise be unable to attend college or who would be
forced to discontinue their education due to financial difficul-
ties, to obtain a college degree through the ROTC Scholarship
program; at the present time, 19 , 000 scholarships are given to
deserving cadets and midshipmen across the nation annually; these
scholarships pay for all academic expenses, except room and board,
and pay an additional $100 tax-free stipend for up to ten months
of each scholastic year; and
WHEREAS, The Reserve Officers ' Training Corps offers to the
young men and women of the United States a unique opportunity to
serve their country and to acquire skills , discipline, responsi-
bility and leadership ability which will qualify them for outstand-
ing job opportunities in civilian life; and
WHEREAS, It is greatly important that the Reserve Officers '
Training Corps be given the fullest support possible by the citizen-
ry of the United States as one of the most effective programs avail-
able which benefits the nation and strengthens the youth of America
today;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF
THE CITY OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, THAT;
By this Resolution the City of Wichita Falls staunchly supports
the Reserve Officers ' Training Corps as the strongest link in the
traditional role of the citizen-soldier in this country and as one
of the most outstanding programs for producing military officers
and future leaders for our nation; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the City of Wichita Falls strongly
recommends to all college and university students that they take
advantage of the tremendous opportunity for training and achievement
which the Reserve Officers ' Training Corps presents.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS THE 1ST DAY OF MAY, 1973.
Or MAYOR
ATTEST:
Ci y Clerk
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