Like the state of Oklahoma and the great Comanche nation, Cameron University’s Comanche ROTC Battalion has a proud and illustrious history. From 1951 to 1966 the Federal Government began its mandatory 2 year program of basic Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) for incoming Freshmen and Sophomores at all Federally funded Colleges and Universities. While all Freshmen and Sophomores were obligated to enroll and participate, there was no obligation for military service. The Advanced Course, for Juniors and Seniors, did carry an obligatory service requirement ranging up to 6 years in a variety of options; Active, Reserve, or National Guard service. It was during this time that Cameron reached its peak enrollment of over 1,800 cadets. However, at this time Cameron did not grant 4 year degrees, therefore, any cadets wishing to pursue a commission, needed to transfer to a 4 year College or University offering ROTC.
In 1970, following Cameron’s transition to a four year degree granting institution, the Comanche Battalion commissioned our first class. That year we commissioned 35 Second Lieutenants, the first of many more to come! Since that group of volunteers, over 750 officers have been commissioned from the Comanche battalion at Cameron University’s ROTC program. From the jungles of Southeast Asia in Vietnam, to the 1,000 mile long Iron Curtain in Cold War Europe, from the deserts of Southwest Asia in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, to the frozen Sava River in Bosnia, to fighting the Global War on Terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq, these outstanding young men and women have served their nation proudly in both times of peace and war, in and out of uniform.
NUMUNUH NO-YE-KA! COMMANCHE ON THE MOVE!
