The University of Toledo

About Us

Mission: The Rocket Battalion will graduate and commission future Second Lieutenants who are ready to meet the needs of the United States Army. We will market, recruit, motivate, retain and train high-quality Cadets for future service to our nation. The Rocket Battalion will be an active member of The University of Toledo and the Toledo community, showcasing the U.S. Army in a positive light.

Department of Military Science and Leadership – Quick Look

Department Summary: The Department of Military Science and Leadership is home to the UT Army Reserved Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Rocket Battalion. Dr. Phillip C. Nash, then President of the University, made a formal application to the War Department for an Infantry ROTC unit in January 1947 and the ROTC was established on May 28, 1947. Over 2,000 lieutenants have been commissioned through the program since 1947.

Faculty by the Numbers: 13 (five active duty, two government service, five private contractors, and one UT). The 13 faculty members have a combined 200 years of service to our nation and almost half possess a Masters degree. Faculty members are nominated for their positions in the ROTC by the Army and assignments are from two to four years.

Cadets by the Numbers: The ROTC is comprised of student cadets from all fields of study from across all campuses. Currently, 110 undergraduate and 4 graduate; 40% from the JHCEHSHS, approximately 25% are female, approximately 30% are minority; the average cadet maintains a 3.1 GPA and is enrolled in 17 credit hours per semester. The average Cadet enters their freshman year with a 3.8 high school GPA, 26 ACT, and is a two-sport athlete. Cadets who return for their sophomore year graduate at a rate of 96%.

Mission: The Rocket Battalion will graduate and commission future Second Lieutenants who are ready to meet the needs of the United States Army. We will market, recruit, motivate, retain and train high-quality Cadets for future service to our nation. The Rocket Battalion will be an active member of The University of Toledo and the Toledo community, showcasing the U.S. Army in a positive light.

Commanders Endstate: The Rocket Battalion is an aggressive, disciplined, physically and mentally hardened organization that is run by the Cadet Chain of Command. The Rocket Battalion graduates and commissions quality officers for service to our nation. The battalion is seen as a positive influencer both on and off campus as the face of the U.S. Army.

Service/Career: Many of the Commissioned Lieutenants become career Army. Others choose to serve their eight years (in active duty, National Guard or Army Reserve) and then go on to the careers for which they trained while earning their degree. These careers span all disciplines—engineering, nursing, and law enforcement for example.

Curriculum: In addition to their major course of study, Cadets take coursework in Military Science and Leadership (three credit hours as freshmen and four credit hours in each of their remaining three years). Cadets learn leadership skills hands on as they work their way up through the Cadet Chain of Command, supervising an increasing number of younger cadets as they progress.

Alumni: LTC Jon Beasley, ROTC class of 1994, is the second alumnus to return to Toledo. The highest ranking alumnus of the UT program is retired Major General Foley, class of 1973. Only two Lieutenants have been killed during active duty since 1947—Second LT Peterson and First LT Flynn—and both were lost during the Vietnam War.

Department Chair: LTC Joseph W. Vongsvarnrungruang, HE 2120A, ext. 4699,

joseph.vongsvarnrungruang@utoledo.edu, MS 217

Department Secretary: Bonnie Edmonds, HE 2160, ext. 2681, bonnie.edmonds@utoledo.edu, MS 217

History 

Several years prior to 1947, civic groups in Toledo encouraged the university administration to consider the establishment of an Army ROTC unit at The University of Toledo. World War II interrupted these plans, but on 29 January 1947, Dr. Philip C. Nash, then President of the university, made a formal application to the War Department for an Infantry ROTC unit.

In response to this application and following an inspection of the university’s facilities, the ROTC unit was established on 28 May 1947. An Engineer unit was established 1 April 1951. In September 1951, the ROTC department at The University of Toledo was selected as one of the units to enact the general Military Science curriculum.

Initially, the Corps of Cadets consisted of 110 students, 40 of whom were veterans of World War II. From this group came many of the policies concerning the ROTC department on this campus, including such matters as academic credit for pursuit of Military Science courses.

The Army ROTC Battalion at The University of Toledo is a group of outstanding men and women committed to excellence. Over 2000 lieutenants have been commissioned through the program since 1947