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ROTC Battalion wins national award for first time

ROTC Battalion wins national award for first time

2009-03-12

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE NEWS RELEASE [3/10/2009] 

MANKATO, Minn. -- The Minnesota State University, Mankato, ROTC program has been presented with the Most Improved Battalion award for 2008. In addition to the award, the program will receive $2,500 for the battalion’s efforts. 

Cadet Command, the branch of the U.S. Army that controls ROTC, disperses Battalion Recognition awards throughout the 273 ROTC programs in the United States. Minnesota State Mankato was one of three schools in the western region and one of nine schools in the nation to receive the Most Improved Battalion award.

Selection for the award is based on the following:

• (30%) – Degree of improvement in number of cadets commissioned over previous year.
• (15%) – Degree of improvement in battalion’s average OMS (Order of Merit Score) over previous year. OMS includes cadet grade point averages, physical fitness scores, etc.
• (15%) – Degree of improvement in battalion’s cadet percentages who earned “best qualified” ratings at the Leader Development and Assessment Course from previous year to just-completed year.
• (15%) – Degree of improvement in battalion’s retention rates for scholarship cadets from previous year to just-completed year.
• (15%) – Degree of improvement in battalion’s retention rates (all cadets) from previous year to just-completed year.
• (10%) – Degree of improvement in battalion’s percentage of non-medical waivers among contracted cadets in each battalion.

“This is the first time that we’ve won this award or any of this kind,” said Minnesota State Mankato military science professor Tom Cooper. “We are still a relatively young ROTC program,” being founded in 1981.

Cooper noted one of the main reasons Minnesota State Mankato received the Most Improved Battalion award is because the program met its commission mission.

“We are ‘missioned’ every year from Cadet Command. We have to provide 11 lieutenants per year in order to be a success,” Cooper said. “Anything less and we haven’t made mission.”

The Minnesota State Mankato ROTC program made mission in 1993, 2001 and 2008. The program is expected to commission 15 lieutenants in 2009 and 16 in 2010.

Those interested in more information may contact Cooper at 507-389-5832 or thomas.cooper@mnsu.edu.

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