[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6555-6556]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



           TRIBUTE TO THE ROTC PROGRAM AT PROVIDENCE COLLEGE

 Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
achievements of the ROTC Program at Providence College on the occasion 
of their 50th Anniversary.
  ROTC dates back to 8 January 1951, when the Very Reverend Robert J. 
Slavin, O.P., President of the College, received word that the 
Department of the Army had approved the establishment of a Reserve 
Officer Training Corps within the curriculum. On 19 September 1951, 
Colonel Roy P. Moss, officially opened the Military Science Department 
of Providence College

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Transport Corps Unit. In 1951-52, the original student enrollment was 
512 cadets and in 1953, the first class of seven received commissions 
in the Transportation Corps.
  In the 1954-55 academic year, the unit was re-designated as a General 
Military Science program. In 1956, a rifle range was built and had its 
official inauguration as Company K-12. During the Vietnam era, the ROTC 
program at PC provided many qualified officers and as a result of the 
ROTC Vitalization Act of 1964, students from local colleges without 
programs became eligible to participate. The act also resulted in both 
four-year and two-year ROTC scholarships going into effect.
  In the late 60's and early 70's, changing public opinion lead to a 
decline in enrollment in programs throughout the country until the 
revitalization of ROTC began in the 1973-74 academic year as women were 
allowed to enroll. In 1982, Bryant College was added to the Patriot 
Battalion and along with Brown University, Johnson & Wales University, 
UMASS Dartmouth, Rhode Island College, the Community College of Rhode 
Island, Bristol Community College. As of May 2000, 1,690 officers have 
been commissioned through the Providence College Program.
  The ROTC Program at Providence College was recognized in 1996 as one 
of the top programs in New England and the New York area. As it 
celebrates this milestone in the history of the program, we pause to 
recognize the many students who have learned about the history and 
structure of our military and who have gone on to study tactical 
operations and military instruction as well as advanced techniques of 
management, leadership and command. These proud cadets have earned 
scholarships and upon graduation are Commissioned Officers in the Army.
  The strength of this program lies in patriotism and dedication to 
duty. The Patriotic Battalion faculty and staff are indeed to be 
commended for the success of the program and for the significant part 
they play in instilling leadership and good citizenship in these young 
people. I would respectfully ask my colleagues to join me in honoring 
the proud tradition of the Providence College ROTC Program on the 
occasion of its 50th Anniversary.

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