Campaigning for America's Elite Undergraduates
Abstract
America's elite universities are insufficiently represented in the ranks of the Army officer corps. The post 9/11 Army is profoundly transforming during the ongoing Global War on Terrorism to decisively respond to a complex array of current and future asymmetric threats. The Army must grow a new breed of leaders who can thrive in increasingly uncertain operational and strategic environments. The Army would be best served to take all necessary steps to attract students from elite universities as a high payoff investment in its own long-term health and vitality. Conversely, these top-tier schools would be afforded a valuable opportunity to directly imprint their institutional values and culture on future military officers to best serve the needs of a dynamic and diverse Army. The Army's Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Program has been largely shaped by fluctuations in the sentiment of the American population. During the World War II era, Ivy League schools boasted thousands of uniformed students much in consonance with the unified spirit of the nation at war. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, ROTC programs were banned as a response to strong anti-war sentiment on campuses brought on by the Vietnam War and the draft. Today, the vast majority of America's top schools are not directly affiliated with ROTC, causing their students to suffer significant hardship and disadvantage if they choose to attend ROTC classes at nearby colleges. However, with the passing of the Solomon Amendment in 2006, schools receiving federal funding are now required to allow military recruiters on campus, thus providing new opportunities for the Army to implement a reinvigorated recruiting campaign. This paper examines the primary forces in play that have contributed to the current situation. Specific recommendations are offered to the Army's senior leadership for recruiting and retaining significantly more students from America's top-tier universities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA493829
Entities
People
- John M. Wendel
Organizations
- University of Texas at Austin