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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 1973-009 RESOLUTION NO. 73-9 WHEREAS, It has since the beginning of our existence as a nation been fundamental that the security of the United States depends on the individual's acceptance of the responsibilities of active citizenship, including the contribution of a person's talents, leadership and service in the defense of our nation; and WHEREAS, The Reserve Officers· Training Corps, or ROTC, has for many years served as the training ground for the military officers who lead our military services in times of conflict and who train and maintain our modern combat-ready reserve forces; and WHEREAS, The Reserve Officers' Training Corps has throughout its long and glorious history proved to be one of the most successful and critically important programs ever developed and implemented by the United States; and WHEREAS, The idea of providing military training to college men was first approved by the United States Congress when it passed the Land- Grant Act of 1862 providing for the sale of government lands to establish colleges and universities and requiring these land-grant institutions to teach agriculture, the mechanic arts and other scientific and classic studies including military tactics; at least 1,345 officers from land-grant schools served on active duty during the Spanish-American War; and WHEREAS; The ROTC program in civilian colleges and universities was officially established by the National Defense Act of 1916; prompted by the fighting of World War I in Europe, the National Defense Act of 1916 established an Officers· Reserve Corps to be composed of men prepared through a Reserve Officers' Training Corps; most of the 90,000 members of the Officer's Reserve Corps who served on active duty in World War I received their military instruction in the ROTC in civilian institutions; and WHEREAS; The true value of the ROTC program and the high quality of officers it produces were dramatically shown by World War II; during the rapid build up of military forces in 1941, over 50,000 ROTC officers were called to active duty allowing an otherwise impossible expansion of forces to be accomplished during one of the most critical times in United States history; well over 100,000 ROTC graduates served as commissioned officers during World War II, many times more than the number of officers commissioned from the nation's military academies; and WHEREAS, The ROTC program of today continues to provide the armeà forces of our country with the well trained and responsible leader's which they need to protect the security of our nation; and . WHEREAS, The Reserve Officers' Training Corps is not only an indispensable and major source of military officers but it is recognized as .much more; it provides the nation with citizen-soldiers who serve their nation in the finest tradition of service to one's country by contributing time and energy to the reserve forces of the nation; and WHEREAS, The ROTC program and the qualities which it teaches and instills in its cadets and midshipmen have proved beyond any doubt to be of inestimable value to the cadets and midshipmen themselves in their civilian careers; approximately four percent of all cOllege male graduates today have had the benefit of ROTC, but this relatively small group has produced 23 percent of the men who earn over $100,000 annually, 16 percent of our state governors, 24 percent of our senators and 16 percent of our congressmen; and WHEREAS, American business and industry recognize the greater potential of ROTC graduates, and many companies have established preferences for ROTC graduates; a substantial percentage of doctors, lawers and other professional persons have also had the benefit of ROTC training; and WHEREAS, The ROTC program also enables numerous students, who would otherwise be unable to attend college or who would be forced to discontinue their education due to financial difficulties, to obtain a college degree through the ROTC Scholarship program; at the present time, 19,000 scholarships are given to deserving cadets and midshipmen across the nation annually; these scholarships pay for all academic expenses, except room and board, and pay an additional $100 tax-free stipend for up to ten months of each scholastic year; and WHEREAS, The Reserve Officers' Training Corps offers to the young men and women of the United States a unique opportunity to serve their country and to acquire skills, discpline, responsibility and leadership ability which will qualify them for outstanding job opportunities in civilian life; and WHEREAS, It is greatly important that the Reserve Officers' Training Corps be given the fullest support possible by the citizenry of the United States as one of the most effective programs available which benefits the nation and strengths the youth of America today; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of North Richland Hills, That by this Resolution the City Council of the City of North Richland Hills staunchly supports the Reserve Officers' Training Corps as the strongest link in the traditional role of the citizen-soldier in this country and as one of the most outstanding programs for producing military officers and future leaders for our nation; and, be it further RESOLVED, That the City Council of the City of North Richland Hills strongly recommends to all college and university students that they take advanage of the tremendous opportunity for training and achievement which the Reserve Officers' Training Corps presents. ~- CITY SECRETARY