University of Virginia Library

ROTC, Counseling Service
Provide Draft Alternatives

With the Selective Service
System ever increasing its demands
for draftees to fill the ranks of the
military, male students across the
country are likewise increasing their
efforts to avoid the insecurity of
being called up at the system's
convenience.

The University offers two
alternative paths to the students
faced with the draft. The first is a
Draft Counselling Service,
organized last year. The purpose of
this service is to provide the
draft-age male with pertinent
information regarding his status and
the options available to him.
Located in Newcomb Hall, this
service has counselors available at
regular hours throughout the week.

ROTC provides the other course
of action for the student who
expects his deferment to end at the
completion of his undergraduate
years. The University is one of the
few educational institutions in the
country to offer all three branches
of the ROTC program. The student
first entering the University may
inquire at one of the three ROTC
offices; the Army in Cabell Hall,
the Navy in Maury Hall, and the Air
Force in Varsity Hall.

There is no obligation to join
one of these programs, but it is
important for a student to view
their merits for himself. The Air
Force program consists of courses
on Air Power, aerospace weaponry,
and advanced courses in leadership.
It offers two and four year
programs leading to a qualifying
test and subsequently a
commission.

Army ROTC also sponsors a
two and a four year program
towards a commission. After
graduation the student is obligated
to spend two years on active duty
and four years in the reserves. All
ROTC uniforms and military
science textbooks are provided for
the student free of charge.

Varying slightly from the others
the NROTC provides two separate
programs. The first is for those
students who plan to make the
Navy a career. A contract program
for students not interested in a
career is provided to allow the
students to enter the Naval Reserve.