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WIU ROTC Leatherneck Battalion during a recent proficiency badge event.
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WIU-Quad Cities Offers Military Science Course

March 20, 2019

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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL -- Beginning Fall 2019, Western Illinois University's Department of Military Science will offer Military Science 111 - Leadership and Personal Development at the WIU-Quad Cities campus.

"WIU has a proud tradition of serving the military, and this latest offering at the Quad Cities campus, coupled with Western's tuition assistance to all military personnel, further illustrates that commitment," said WIU President Jack Thomas.

For 50 years, WIU's Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) on the Macomb campus has commissioned the future officer leadership of the United States Army. Western's Leatherneck Battalion is a three-time General Douglas MacArthur Award Winner for Best ROTC Program in Midwestern United States and a four-time winner of Best ROTC Program in the Brigade.

"We are excited to provide leadership instruction to students in the Quad Cities, as well as educate the community about the opportunities offered through ROTC," said LTC Joan Sommers, WIU Department of Military Science chair.

The Military Science course taught at the WIU-QC campus will be held on Wednesday afternoons beginning August 2019. Students majoring in any discipline may enroll in MS 111, Sommers added. The department will host an open house at the WIU-QC at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23 for those interested in learning more about the course and WIU's ROTC program.

The WIU Military Science program received approval of the ROTC addition Nov. 20, 1967, and classes began the fall quarter of 1968. There was an enrollment of 32 MS III junior cadets and 95 basic course cadets in the first freshmen class. Both two- and four-year programs were initiated on the WIU campus. The four-year program on the Macomb campus consists of the Basic Course (first two years) and the Advanced Course (second two years). According to Sommers, Basic Course students do not incur any military obligation; the course is taken like any college course.

For more information about Western's Military Science and ROTC program, visit wiu.edu/rotc.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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