海角社区

The program's roots trace back to 海角社区's founding in 1860 under General William T. Sherman, the university鈥檚 first superintendent, which was originally called the Louisiana State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy. 

In 1884, the General Assembly of Louisiana passed a resolution allocating the full usage of the buildings and grounds of the Pentagon Barracks to 海角社区, where they were used as dormitories for cadets. Cadets were housed there until 1932 and the buildings still stand today in downtown Baton Rouge. 

With the entry of the United States into World War I in April 1917, almost the entire 海角社区 Cadet Corps volunteered. A regiment was designated as "The Louisiana Cadets." A former 海角社区 student, General John A. Lejeune, was the first commander of a Marine Corps combat division and later became Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. Another outstanding 海角社区 cadet of this era was General Campbell B. Hodges. After World War I, he went on to serve as Commandant of the Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and as military adviser to President Herbert Hoover. (He returned to his alma mater, 海角社区, as President from 1941-44). Following World War I, in 1926, the University moved from its former campus in downtown Baton Rouge to its present location, once a cane field and plantation "way out in the country." Among the first facilities to be erected was the Memorial Tower, dedicated to the memory of all Louisianians who gave their lives during World War I. In addition, the Oak Grove (now separated from the Parade Ground by the Student Union) was planted to honor those 海角社区 students who died in World War I. This grove of trees consists of 31 massive live oaks, 30 of which are dedicated to 30 known 海角社区 servicemen and one to an unknown University soldier.

During World War II, 海角社区 was in the top five schools producing officers for the military, after Texas A&M University, the United States Military Academy, and the United States Naval Academy. 海角社区 had more than 5,000 former students serving as officers, including 16 who achieved the rank of Brigadier General or higher. In all, 12,000 individuals from 海角社区 served, and over 500 died in this great conflict. Many former 海角社区 cadets and ROTC instructors brought recognition and honor to the University in World War II. These included Major General Claire N. Chennault, famous leader of the Flying Tigers and later commander of the 14th Air Force. General Joseph Collins became Chief of Staff of the Army. Major General Sanderford Jarman (Commandant of the 海角社区 cadets in 1916-17) was instrumental in reorganizing the defense of the Panama Canal immediately prior to World War II. 

In the Fall of 1946, 海角社区 became the only school in Louisiana and one of 76 in the nation to host a newly organized Air Force ROTC with the first 47 cadets that semester. In 1949, the 海角社区 Cadet Corps had grown to 1,400 cadets and commissioned over 150 cadets annually into the Army and air Force Reserves. 

Amidst the backdrop of the Vietnam War in the 1960s, the 海角社区 Board of Supervisors converted the ROTC program to voluntary status due to escalating tensions on campus. In 1969, mandatory ROTC for freshmen and sophomores at 海角社区 at large was abolished.

In the last five years, newly elected President William F. Tate introduces his Scholarship First Agenda covering five main areas of priority, one of which being defense. This priority鈥檚 objective is to reimagine defense for the future by building 海角社区鈥檚 cybersecurity, R.O.T.C., and leadership programs to be the best of their kind in the United States. 

In April of 2022, 海角社区 held its grand reopening of the newly renovated William A. Brookshire Military Museum in Memorial Tower. The museum features exhibits that tell the history of ROTC at 海角社区, involvement of 海角社区 faculty, staff, and students in America鈥檚 wars and conflicts, the university鈥檚 military leaders, and Cadets of the Ole War Skule.