In 1895, Professor Edward S. Keene organized a company of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at North Dakota Agricultural College , as per the requirement for military training declared by the Morrill Act and State legislation. Professor Keene acted as captain and trained cadets using equipment from the North Dakota National Guard.
Lieutenant C. G. French, of the Fifteenth Infantry, U.S. Army, reported to the college in early 1897 to set up a course of instruction for the new company. He stayed at the college until June 1898, at which time three faculty members of the college followed his course of practical and theoretical instruction. Early instruction in the ROTC courses was required for all males, except for seniors and those that were physically incapable. The courses occupied two hours of work per week for freshmen and sophomores and five hours of work per week for juniors and seniors.
Captain James Ulio was the first commissioned officer to run the program and he started his command in 1901. He organized two companies and held weekly parades.
The Military Science Department moved to the College of Engineering and Architecture in 1994. |
