Bill Text: MI SR0100 | 2013-2014 | 97th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: A resolution to urge the U.S. Army to continue the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program at Northern Michigan University.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 9-1)
Status: (Passed) 2013-10-30 - Adopted [SR0100 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2013-SR0100-Enrolled.html
SR-100, As Adopted by Senate, October 30, 2013
Senator Casperson offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution No. 100.
A resolution to urge the U.S. Army to continue the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program at Northern Michigan University.
Whereas, For forty-four years, the Northern Michigan University (NMU) Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program has provided unique leadership training and management experience to our nation's future Army officers. Students are given an opportunity to earn a college degree and an Army officer's commission upon graduation from NMU. The ROTC experience at NMU helps students develop self-discipline, courage, integrity, and physical stamina; and
Whereas, NMU has graduated nearly 400 students from its military science/ROTC program. In the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 school years, the NMU ROTC program was recognized as being in the top 15 percent of the ROTC units in the nation. This past summer, eleven active cadets participated in professional development opportunities and another eleven attended the Leader Development and Assessment Course or Army schools, such as Airborne or Air Assault. It was the largest number of summer training seats NMU cadets have ever earned. Currently, sixty-five cadets are active in the program; and
Whereas, NMU's program serves both U.S. Army and Michigan National Guard cadets and receives funding from the Michigan Guard Assistance program. NMU, the largest university located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offers one of the lowest tuition rates in the state, making its Army ROTC program one of the most affordable for prospective officer candidates. NMU estimates that it can train three officers for the price it costs to train one officer at Harvard University. In addition to lower tuition rates, five cadets qualify for an annual room and board scholarship to cover the cost of living on campus while in the ROTC program. The university provides training facilities at little to no cost to the Army ROTC program; and
Whereas, Prior to October, NMU had never received notification from the Department of Defense that the status of its program was in jeopardy. Without advanced warning, the U.S. Army has notified NMU that its ROTC program will be one of thirteen eliminated nationwide in May 2015. There are currently 273 ROTC programs in the country, with two located at universities in the Upper Peninsula. Another five are available in the rest of the state. Closing the NMU ROTC program will adversely affect high school students from Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin who desire to serve their nation as commissioned officers in the U.S. Army; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the U.S. Army to continue the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at Northern Michigan University; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the United States Secretary of the Army, the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Cadet Command, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.
