Eagle Battalion ROTC
Encyclopedia
The Army ROTC Eagle Battalion is a Military Science
program at Georgia Southern University
. The Eagle Battalion is a part of the 6th Brigade, which consists of Georgia Southern University, East Georgia College
, Savannah State University
, Armstrong Atlantic State University
, and Savannah College of Art and Design
. The Eagle Battalion was recently awarded the MacArthur Award and ranked in the top eight ROTC programs in the nation in February 2010, along with North Georgia College and State University
. During the 2009-2010 academic year at Georgia Southern University, the ROTC program graduated and commissioned seven nursing major cadets. Seeing as there is a high demand for nurses in the Army, this accomplishment was deeply recognized. The ROTC Program at Georgia Southern is notably ranked to be "the largest producer of nurse officers [out of] the 39 ROTC programs in the 6th Brigade." The Brigade Region stretches from Louisiana
to Florida
, and includes Puerto Rico
and the US Virgin Islands. The Eagle Battalion ROTC program is also one of the few Army ROTC programs to offer the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) with the Georgia Army National Guard
and the US Army Reserves, giving the cadets a chance to embark on an even greater journey while still attending college.
The Eagle Battalion Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) was established in 1980 at the former Georgia Southern College. The program was started following a petition by the student body at the time, and an approval from the College president, Dr. Lick. Shortly after the approval, the program became part of the Military Science Department at Mercer University
. In the fall of 1980, the first Army ROTC classes were held at Georgia Southern College. By October 1981, the program had received a "host status", and was no longer apart of Mercer University. LTC James C. Hare, Jr. became the first Professor of Military Science at Georgia Southern.
The Eagle Battalion ROTC program takes in first-year college freshmen, whether they be on scholarship
or not, and prepares them to be 2LT Officers in the Army throughout the four years they attend Georgia Southern. Freshmen cadets start off by taking MS I classes, and end with MS IV. While in the program, cadets will be taught the significant difference in being a soldier and a civilian. Cadets will learn the Cadet creed and the Soldier's Creed
, as well as earn a minor in Military Science
that counts towards his or her Bachelor's degree.
To date, The Eagle Battalion, with the help of Georgia Southern University, has commissioned over three hundred fifty Officers into the United States Army
since the program was started.
The current recruiter and enrollment Officer for the Eagle Battalion is Lt. Col. William Roberts (US Army Retired). He has been a part of the program since 2008. Col. Roberts was recently awarded the U.S. Army's Recruiting Operations Officer award, along with the title of being the top ROTC recruiter in the nation. Since he joined the program, there has been a significant increase in the number of cadet enrollments and scholarships. The number increased from 76 cadets at all five campuses to 242 cadets at the host school alone.
Along with Lt. Col. Roberts, the Eagle Battalion is run by LTC George Fredrick as the Battalion Commander, and SGM James Braet as the Battalion Sergeant Major.
Military science
Military science is the process of translating national defence policy to produce military capability by employing military scientists, including theorists, researchers, experimental scientists, applied scientists, designers, engineers, test technicians, and military personnel responsible for...
program at Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive...
. The Eagle Battalion is a part of the 6th Brigade, which consists of Georgia Southern University, East Georgia College
East Georgia College
East Georgia College is a state college of the University System of Georgia. Located in the rural city of Swainsboro, the college serves Emanuel, Bulloch, and surrounding counties throughout east-central and southeast Georgia.-History:...
, Savannah State University
Savannah State University
Savannah State University is a four-year, state-supported, historically black university located in Savannah, Georgia. Savannah State holds the distinction as the oldest public historically black university in Georgia...
, Armstrong Atlantic State University
Armstrong Atlantic State University
Armstrong Atlantic State University, also referred to as Armstrong Atlantic, Armstrong, or simply AASU, is a four-year public university part of the University System of Georgia. It is located on a campus in suburban Savannah, Georgia, United States...
, and Savannah College of Art and Design
Savannah College of Art and Design
SCAD, the Savannah College of Art and Design, is a private, accredited and degree-granting university with locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, Hong Kong, and Lacoste, France.-History:...
. The Eagle Battalion was recently awarded the MacArthur Award and ranked in the top eight ROTC programs in the nation in February 2010, along with North Georgia College and State University
North Georgia College and State University
North Georgia College & State University is a four-year public university located in Dahlonega, Lumpkin County, Georgia. Founded as North Georgia Agricultural College in 1873, it is the second oldest co-educational institution in the state. The university is renowned for its ROTC program, and is...
. During the 2009-2010 academic year at Georgia Southern University, the ROTC program graduated and commissioned seven nursing major cadets. Seeing as there is a high demand for nurses in the Army, this accomplishment was deeply recognized. The ROTC Program at Georgia Southern is notably ranked to be "the largest producer of nurse officers [out of] the 39 ROTC programs in the 6th Brigade." The Brigade Region stretches from Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, and includes Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
and the US Virgin Islands. The Eagle Battalion ROTC program is also one of the few Army ROTC programs to offer the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) with the Georgia Army National Guard
Georgia Army National Guard
The Georgia Army National Guard is the Army National Guard component of the Georgia National Guard, administratively part of the Georgia Department of Defense. It consists of more than 11,100 Citizen-Soldiers training in more than 79 hometown armories and regional facilities across the state...
and the US Army Reserves, giving the cadets a chance to embark on an even greater journey while still attending college.
| Eagle Battalion ROTC 6th Brigade |
|---|
| Georgia Southern University: host school |
| East Georgia College |
| Savannah State University |
| Armstrong Atlantic State University |
| Savannah College of Art and Design |
The Eagle Battalion Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) was established in 1980 at the former Georgia Southern College. The program was started following a petition by the student body at the time, and an approval from the College president, Dr. Lick. Shortly after the approval, the program became part of the Military Science Department at Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
. In the fall of 1980, the first Army ROTC classes were held at Georgia Southern College. By October 1981, the program had received a "host status", and was no longer apart of Mercer University. LTC James C. Hare, Jr. became the first Professor of Military Science at Georgia Southern.
The Eagle Battalion ROTC program takes in first-year college freshmen, whether they be on scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
or not, and prepares them to be 2LT Officers in the Army throughout the four years they attend Georgia Southern. Freshmen cadets start off by taking MS I classes, and end with MS IV. While in the program, cadets will be taught the significant difference in being a soldier and a civilian. Cadets will learn the Cadet creed and the Soldier's Creed
U.S. Soldier's Creed
The U.S. Soldier's Creed is a standard that all United States Army personnel are encouraged to live by. All U.S. Army enlisted personnel are taught the Soldier's Creed during basic training, and recite the creed in public ceremonies at the conclusion of training...
, as well as earn a minor in Military Science
Military science
Military science is the process of translating national defence policy to produce military capability by employing military scientists, including theorists, researchers, experimental scientists, applied scientists, designers, engineers, test technicians, and military personnel responsible for...
that counts towards his or her Bachelor's degree.
To date, The Eagle Battalion, with the help of Georgia Southern University, has commissioned over three hundred fifty Officers into the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
since the program was started.
The current recruiter and enrollment Officer for the Eagle Battalion is Lt. Col. William Roberts (US Army Retired). He has been a part of the program since 2008. Col. Roberts was recently awarded the U.S. Army's Recruiting Operations Officer award, along with the title of being the top ROTC recruiter in the nation. Since he joined the program, there has been a significant increase in the number of cadet enrollments and scholarships. The number increased from 76 cadets at all five campuses to 242 cadets at the host school alone.
Along with Lt. Col. Roberts, the Eagle Battalion is run by LTC George Fredrick as the Battalion Commander, and SGM James Braet as the Battalion Sergeant Major.