University of Virginia Library

No Credit
For ROTC

On the eve of the Moratorium I
felt it appropriate to express my
feelings on the presence of ROTC
on campus. I have not yet resolved
with myself whether or not military
training has a justifiable place on
the college campus, but I have
come to believe that ROTC courses
should not be given for academic
credit. I was in Army ROTC for
three semesters before my changing
beliefs became strong enough to
warrant my dropping the program.
(ROTC appeared to be the most
practical alternative to the draft.)
During that time I cannot honestly
say I gained any knowledge which
would contribute to the general
education that a bachelor's degree
is supposed to represent.

I ask the leader to look at the
section in the college catalogue
entitled, "The Purpose of the
University." (Granted: The administration
presents many hypocritical
statements; but accept this as
the ideal.) Now observe the courses
offered by the three ROTC programs.
Even on paper these courses
fall far short of the ideal. In
practice, they are merely grounds for
military training and propaganda. I
can discover no educational value in
any of the ROTC courses that I
took.

Basic training in boot camp
would easily surpass this instruction
in a matter of days; yet ROTC
students receive at least fourteen
credit hours for their participation.
I cannot see any justification for
this measure. Let those students
who elect to join a ROTC program
as preparation for eventual military
service, do so voluntarily - without
academic credit. These programs
are militarily oriented - directed
toward service in the armed forces,
not intellectual enlightenment.
With such a limited scope (that of
militarism), ROTC instruction contributes
nothing toward a student's
actual education, and should not be
credited as doing so.