University News
WIU ROTC Earns MacArthur Award; Named Top 20 Program Nationally
December 10, 2002
MACOMB, IL - - Western Illinois UniversityÂ’s military science program has earned its second consecutive General Douglas MacArthur Award and received a top 20 ranking among all 270 U.S. Army Cadet Command programs nationwide.
The MacArthur Award, given jointly by the MacArthur Foundation and the commander of the United States Army Cadet Command, is presented annually to the top programs in each of Cadet Command's three regions. Western earned the award as the best large division program in the Second Region, headquartered at Ft. Knox, KY, which consists of 88 schools in 14-states. Western also earned the MacArthur Award in 1994.
“Receiving the MacArthur Award for a second consecutive year is a wonderful accomplishment. We don’t see that often throughout Cadet Command. It is also a tremendous compliment to be ranked 20th out of 270 programs nationwide. This collective recognition validates the dedicated efforts of our staff and cadets,” said Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Mick Cumbie, chair of WIU's military science department.
The MacArthur Award is based on the number of commissioned officers a program produces as well as how those officers rate on a national order-of-merit list, explained LTC Cumbie, who accepted the awards from Major Gen. John Casey Dec. 4 at the Cadet Command Region 2 conference in Nashville, TN.
Also at the conference, two Western Illinois cadets received scholarships from the United Services Automobile Association (USAA) as a result of their exemplary academic performance and excellence in extracurricular activities. Receiving a $1,000 scholarship were Joan Hollein, a senior sociology major from Galva; and Travis Brainard, a senior computer science major from German Valley.
WIU's military science department, established in 1968, includes approximately 470 cadets.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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