Spotlight – ROTC
This month we wanted to highlight the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program and those that work as a team to ensure its success. The ROTC on the Purdue campus has a long history. Many Purdue Boilermakers have gone on to become great leaders in government, business, education and more. It requires a lot of training, instruction and dedication by everyone involved to provide the best ROTC program.
From its start as a land grant college, Purdue has been conducting education and training in military science to fulfil its founding charter defined under the Morrill Act of 1862. The University hosts and supports ROTC programs for the Departments of the Army, Navy and Air Force, as these organizations produce the next generation of officers for the United States Military. All three of these programs have graduated successful leaders both in and outside of the military, including our most famous astronauts. Of note, Navy ROTC also develops Marine Corps officers, and Air Force ROTC recently began educating and training officers for our newest service, Space Force. Purdue University has a rich history of research, education and training in support of national defense programs.
A Message from the Air Force and Space Force ROTC Commander, Colonel Ken Callahan
“Air Force ROTC Detachment 220 at Purdue University is the 11th largest out of 145 Air Force ROTC units in the country. There are currently 216 cadets participating in our leadership development program with hopes of commissioning as second lieutenants in the United States Air Force or Space Force upon graduation. Space Force was established in December 2019 and board selects officer candidates from the Air Force ROTC program to commission into Space Force and become Guardians in this emerging warfighting domain. Purdue University is well-known to the Department of the Air Force as a premier engineering and flight school making it an ideal host for Air and Space education.”
A Message from Ms. Sarah Prater, AFROTC Administrative Assistant
“I have been an administrative assistant at Purdue University for 10 years, eight of those with Air Force ROTC. This job has, by far, been the most rewarding job I’ve experienced. I really enjoy interacting with our over 200 cadets on a daily basis, as well as with the cadre. I love being able to mentor cadets and have a small impact on their lives. I have new co-workers every three to four years, which has given me the opportunity to meet and become friends with so many different people. I love keeping up with people after they’ve moved on from Purdue. I truly work for the best department on campus.”
A Message from Naval ROTC
“Purdue’s Naval ROTC unit is the second-largest stand-alone program in the country, with an average enrollment of 130 Midshipmen, Seaman to Admiral-21 (STA-21) Officer Candidates, and Marine Enlisted Commissioning and Education Program (MECEP) Officer Candidates. Upon degree conferral and successful completion of all program requirements, Naval ROTC graduates are commissioned as Ensigns in the United States Navy or Second Lieutenants in the United States Marine Corps. After initial training on active duty, these Boilermakers lead forward-deployed Sailors on Navy ships, submarines, aviation squadrons, and special warfare teams and lead always-ready Marines in units of all types, from infantry and armor to aviation. Our staff consists of seven active-duty Navy and Marine Corps officers, one Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant, two Federal Civil Service employees, and one Purdue University administrative assistant. We’re proud to be Boilermakers, and proud to see our graduates succeed in the Fleet as they serve our great nation.”
A Message from NROTC Member Midshipman 1/C Christine Wang
"For most people, their first exposure to the military was at NSO, the New Student Orientation the battalion hosts before school starts. Over the next four years, our job is to learn and earn our commission into the Navy or Marine Corps. In an average week, we attend physical training sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and then participate in drill/leadership lab on Tuesday. Beyond that, midshipmen enroll in Naval Science classes and participate in additional activities ranging from battalion social events to drill practices. A huge part of what we do as a battalion is student-run, which gives us midshipmen the opportunity to learn to lead as future Naval and Marine Corps Officers."
A Message from Army ROTC
“Purdue’s Army ROTC unit is one of the strongest in the nation, with an average enrollment of 160 Cadets. Balancing the requirements of ROTC and academically challenging degree programs our cadets our taught leadership through in person classes, a weekly leadership lab, and increasingly demanding leadership positions. Upon degree conferral and successful completion of all program requirements, Army ROTC graduates are commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the United States Army in one of three components (Active Duty, Army National Guard, Army Reserves) and placed in one of sixteen branches or afforded an opportunity advanced schooling (medical school, veterinary school, Seminary, etc.). After initial training these dedicated Boilermakers lead Soldiers across our nation and the globe. Our staff consists of six active-duty officers, four non-commissioned officers, three Federal Civil Service employees, and one Purdue University administrative assistant. We’re proud to be Boilermakers, and proud to see our graduates succeed in the Army as they serve our great nation.”
ROTC Hall of Fame
The Purdue University Reserve Officer’s Training Corps Hall of Fame includes distinguished graduates from the Army, Navy and Air Force ROTC programs. The Hall of Fame was established in 1974 by exemplifying those attributes of leadership, integrity, moral courage and self-discipline which the program develops. The Hall of Fame was expanded in August 1999 to include distinguished alumni of Purdue’s Naval and Air Force ROTC programs. Service to the nation, to the community, and outstanding leadership in the fields of business, government, education, or other professional fields are used as the basis for selection. Members’ photos are prominently displayed on the Hall of Fame wall on the first floor of the Armory.
Did you know…
Each fall, the three Purdue ROTC detachments compete in a variety of athletic events vying for the Commander’s Cup Trophy. The events include sports and activities such as flag football, soccer, softball, tug-of-war, basketball, volleyball, etc. At the end of the two-week competition, the battalion with the most points wins the trophy and holds it until the next fall.
Every home football game, the Midshipmen battalion works security detail at Ross-Ade Stadium. This is the battalion’s source of income and supports Midshipmen extracurricular activities. It also provides funds to defray the cost of the Navy / Marine Corps Birthday Ball, the Senior Class Mess Night, gifts from the battalion and picnics or pizza parties the battalion may host.
Each summer, Midshipmen on scholarship participate in a summer training program. Both Navy and Marine Option Midshipmen will have the opportunity to spend time onboard submarines, surface combatants, aviation squadrons, and a Marine Corps base during CORTRAMID the summer after their fourth-class year. Navy Option Midshipmen attend Sea Trials after third-class year for advanced training and as a milestone on their path to commissioning. The final summer, Navy Option Midshipmen shadow a junior officer on a surface ship, submarine, or aviation squadron to learn about that community as their First-Class Cruise.
Air Force ROTC Detachment 220 has earned a reputation as one of the best officer training programs in the entire country. Its members have the advantage of attending a world-class university and an exceptional Air Force ROTC unit. As testimony to this claim, the Detachment has been recognized numerous times as one of the nation’s top 4 Air Force ROTC programs and been awarded with the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award.
Being one of the few universities in the United States with an airport on campus allows us to offer our cadets many flight training options. Cadets who want to learn the basics of flight can take official Purdue Aviation department flight training classes, receive flight training through our local Civil Air Patrol unit, or practice in our detachment’s dedicated flight simulator room.
If you would like to learn more about the history of the Purdue Armory that serves as the home for our ROTC programs, you may want to watch the Tuesday Tour recently produced.
