ROTC completes return with signing ceremony

By Amanda Woods
Assistant News EditorThe near 20-year absence of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) will officially come to a close March 29, with a ceremony reinstating the military program onto the UTC campus.

The ceremony will include the signing of a contract between the university and the Army, stipulating the monetary amounts, scholarships and services each party will provide for the program, Bud Ziegler, the president of the university's Elder Scholars, said.

The signatures will include: UTC Chancellor Roger Brown, UTK Chancellor Loren Crabtree, General Gus Hargett, head of Tenn. Army National Guard, Col. Marshal Ramsey, professor of military science and tactics at UTK, Captain Ben Smith, local head of UTC ROTC and a United States Cadet Commander.

With these six signatures, UTC ROTC will be under the command of the UTK ROTC. Some teachers from the UTK ROTC program will surface on the UTC campus in the fall and begin teaching the military science programs.

This formal agreement will consist of a brief signing and will be followed by a reception open to the public, Ramsey said.

The reception held on campus will include a speech made by Chancellor Brown and the introduction of Army Cadets in the program, Ramsey continued.

This program not only affects the UTC campus, but also the neighboring colleges and high schools in the region.

According to Ziegler, UTC will host other colleges in the area such as Tennessee Temple, Lee University, Bryan College and Chattanooga State to help in the commissioning process of military soldiers.

According to advocates of the ROTC program, the need is never greater for such a program on-campus. The program builds the advantage for homeland security.

"After the advent of nuclear capability, the picture [of war] changed," Ziegler said. "Our people are facing the possibility of contaminated warfare; a nuclear holocaust.

"So many countries are in the process of developing [nuclear power]. The time element dictates a ready response, and our country needs to know who will be available immediately. The ROTC affords that."

According to Ziegler, the reinstatement is vital to the integrity and reputation of the university.

"The ROTC produces good citizens," Ziegler said. It also "puts UTC right up there with UTK with the programs being offered."

Ramsey said he is anticipating the new program on the UTC campus and has expectations of developing at least a handful of cadets to help them along to someday lead troops.

"You can't make a lieutenant over night. It takes time, patience and about two to three years," Ramseu said.

Ziegler said, "With the presentations of their degree when they graduate, along with their commission in the ROTC, it is an absolute 'come-on' for those looking for qualified workers."

Leading the pledge of allegiance and invocation at the ceremony, Ziegler said the Elder Scholars plan to push a composed logo to unite the UTC ROTC behind one image during the ceremony.

The proposed logo displays an American bald eagle clutching the American flag in its left hand and the Liberty Bell in its right hand.

Also, the Elder Scholars plan to advocate the name "University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ROTC Bell Battalion" to coincide with the logo.

The name and logo will honor the Liberty Bell and the UTC ROTC graduate, General B.B. Bell, who is presently in charge of the Asian Command.

"Chancellor Brown has personally endorsed the logo. Now we need students and leaders to give their opinion and get involved," Ziegler said.

Columbia, Tenn., junior Eric Thompson feels that ROTC is a good use of the UTC's money.

"Even though I wouldn't go into the ROTC if I was younger, I think it's a good idea to have it, because it benefits the university and doesn't raise tuition costs.