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.
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CITY SECRETARY