MICHIGAN TECH 1ST ARCTIC BATTALION

Army Reserve Officer Training Corps

Table of Contents
Executive Summary ............................................................................ 1
Organization History .......................................................................... 1
Organization Description ................................................................... 1
Problem ............................................................................................. 3
The Seven Army Values .............................................................................................................. 3
Critical Thinking and Leadership Abilities .................................................................................. 3
Kindle Interest in U.S. Army Heritage ............................................................................................. 3

Project Description ............................................................................ 4

Sustainability .................................................................................... 5
Success ......................................................................................................................................... 5
Results ......................................................................................................................................... 5
Staff ............................................................................................................................................. 5

Budget .............................................................................................. 5

List of Tables
Table 1. Budget Breakdown... 5

I. Executive Summary
The Michigan Technological Universitys Army ROTC program is seeking multi-year funding to
conduct a Staff Ride for the senior Cadet class. The amount requested is $10,000 to cover
transportation, food, lodging, and additional event costs of approximately 10 Cadets to and from
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania for a 7 day period.

II. Organization History

The Michigan Tech Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program was founded in 1928 as
an Engineer Unit at the Michigan College of Mining and Technology (a former name of Michigan
Technological University). Until 1943, the ROTC program reached an average enrollment of 400
Cadets. In 1943 the ROTC program was disbanded but was quick to reestablish in 1946 this time
with the addition of an Air Force ROTC unit. In the 1970s the unit was changed from an Engineer
Branch ROTC Program to a General Military Science Program, this change allows Cadets to pick
the branch that they wish to serve in upon their commissioning date as an officer in the United
States Army. In this year Michigan Techs Army ROTC program was ranked 7th in the nation and
has four Distinguished Military Graduates who are rank in the top 20 percent of Army ROTC
graduates nationwide.

III. Organization Description

Mission: The U.S. Army Cadet Command partners with universities to recruit, educate, develop,
and inspire Senior ROTC Cadets in order to commission officers of character for the Total Army.
At Michigan Tech Army ROTC is located in the ROTC building on campus. There you will find the
offices of the current Professor of Military Science, Senior Military Instructor, Recruitment
Officer, other Cadet Professors, and the human resource sergeant. Army ROTC is a student
organization and a class composed of 60 cadets. The program is mostly coordinated by Cadets.
However, there is general oversight from the Cadre.
Each year Cadets are assigned a rank and job to help run the battalion by the Cadre. The goal of
the organization is to develop leaders for commissioning as second lieutenants into the United
States Army upon graduation. In this program Cadets study how and why the Army makes the
decisions it does through the process of mission command. Here each Cadet is recognized for his
or her unique talents and they learn to work together to build unit cohesion, and work towards
a common goal. Throughout the four years of school Cadets learn about the seven core Army
values; Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. In the
final year of the ROTC program gives the senior cadets a chance to study a past battle that the
United States participated in. This study is generally done through the process of a Staff Ride.
The ROTC program, as a class meets, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for mandatory
physical fitness and on Thursday those enrolled meet for two hours of lab (developed and taught
by fellow Cadets) and two hours of class (taught by Cadre). What really defines Army ROTC as a
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student organization is that Cadets are encouraged to go above and beyond what is required to
pass each class.
ROTC also includes campus and community involvement and fundraisers. In recent years the
Army ROTC program has become more involved in their campus community. Army ROTC is
dedicated to increasing awareness about the dangers and repercussions of sexual assault. They
have participated in all events on campus for the last three years and want to show that they
stand with survivors. Their participation in these events has been noticed by students and faculty.
Cadets volunteer their nights and weekends to help with multiple fundraisers in order to improve
community relations. One example is the Day of Challenges event that the ROTC program hosts
at the Student Development Complex on campus. The Cadets coordinate with multiple schools
around the area to bring students from 6th to 12th grade up for a Day of Challenges. These
students are tested on how to work together as a team to complete certain tasks during the day,
including a swimming test, a PT test, obstacle course, rope climbing, a virtual gun range, and a
Field Leadership Reaction Course. Through these events students get an idea of camaraderie,
they learn to develop their own leadership skills, and they are given the chance to compete with
each other, to push themselves and improve their confidence.
Cadets also volunteer with 31 Backpacks, an organization that sends home backpacks full of food
every Friday for those students identified as being in need. They also participate in the Wounded
Warrior Project, The SISU Challenge, and other local marathons.

III. Problem
The Michigan Tech Army ROTC program brings together many different students from diverse
backgrounds. Within this program Cadets are offered scholarship opportunities to pursue the
career they want after attending school and the ability to grow and develop as future leaders of
the United States Army. During their senior year Cadets are given the chance to participate in a
Staff Ride. A Staff Ride gives Cadets the ability to study a campaign or battle from the actual
historic site, to kindle interest in the US Army heritage and gain perspective on:

The relationship between technology and doctrine

Mission command and leadership
The human dimension of war
Unit cohesion
How terrain effects plans

In order to gain this valuable insight for the future leaders the Army ROTC program is seeking
funding to:
1. Develop Cadets in the seven core Army values
2. Promote critical thinking and leadership abilities
3. Kindle interest in the US Army heritage
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1. Seven Army Values

Cadets are taught the seven core Army values upon entering the ROTC program. These values
are Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. If Cadets are
given the opportunity to discuss and analyze a past battle they will gain valuable insight on how
these values have grown and developed over time. Cadets will be able to stand on the same
ground where former soldiers stood, fighting for a cause they believed in. The willingness to fight
and die for a cause displays all seven of the values. While all Cadets understand the risks
associated with military service learning about individual soldiers that were actually there will
add much needed perspective to what it means to be a soldier. The role each Cadet assumes
during the preliminary study will give them a personal connection the battle.
2. Critical Thinking and Leadership Abilities
Cadets attending the Staff Ride will be officers in the span of nine months, so they must be ready
to accept responsibility for those soldiers appointed under them. The Staff Ride will allow Cadets
to gain perspective on the relationship between technology and doctrine, mission command and
leadership, the human dimension of war, unit cohesion, and how terrain effects plans. All these
things are critical in understanding a battle. The integration phase will require Cadets to make
connections between past military plans and how the battle might have played out using the
tactics that have been developed.
3. Kindle Interest in the US Army Heritage
This goal also intends to promote a personal connection between Cadets and the battle. An
appreciation for the history of the US is critical to understanding where we are as a country,
where we come from and where we want to go in the future. Hopefully, Cadets will want to
further explore past battles to get an encompassing picture of our history.
Students are taken to past battle fields to help them understand the higher level of decisionmaking, military tactics, and leadership used during that time.
Unfortunately, the funds are not available through the program itself to take our ROTC cadets on
this type of training. Right now, Cadets spend weeks discussing a particular battle that theyve
only read about. Last year (2014-2015) the Army ROTC senior Cadets discussed the battle of
Wanat. This study centered on a coalition Task Force conducting a counter-insurgency operation
(COIN) in the Waygal valley of Afghanistan from 2007-2008. The focus was on an insurgent attack
on small company outpost. Cadets were unable to gain insight on why commanders might have
chosen a particular course of action through paper alone. Goals that could be obtained by
conducting a Staff Ride include:

IV. Program Description

If funded, the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation will be backing an Army ROTC Staff Ride.
A staff ride consists of three phases:
1. Preliminary Study: Students study the battle in detail with guidance from the staff ride
instructor. Each student assumes a role to brief during the ride.
2. Field Study: Staff ride instructor helps orient students to key terrain and guides them
through discussion of actions at each position, finishing with questions that help spark
deeper analysis of the actions. Examples include why commanders used certain terrain,
technology, and why they deployed their soldiers in a certain way.
3. Integration: Students take what they learned from their field study and apply them to
the current environment
This event would take place yearly, during a designated university break, either during winter or
spring break, which would allow students to participate without missing classes.
Your foundation states that, Since the needs, desires and capabilities of Michigans people and
their organizations are constantly changing, there can be no fixed or steadfast priority in the
Foundation grant making decisions. However, trustees tend to support organizations that: have
clearly stated objectives, strong and purposeful management and are publicly accountable, have
needs which are in areas not normally funded by governmental or public financing, are not
hesitant to explore, initiate, volunteer, or execute original ideas or concepts, are willing to
collaborate, have purposes which tend to advance private enterprise and the preservation of a
free, open and self-resourceful society.
The Army ROTC program has been around for 87 years. They know what they want and know
how to keep the program sustainable. ROTC Cadets are publicly accountable, they are held to a
higher standard than regular students, their visibility on campus and in the community requires
them to act professionally at all times. They take the seven core values to heart. Cadets are
always willing to take on a challenge, they will not hesitate to explore, initiate, or volunteer. The
labs Cadets participate in every week require them to collaborate with each other as well with
Cadets in other schools. They will not hesitate to work with other programs. This program allows
Cadets to execute original ideas and encourages critical thinking. The ROTC program wants to
preserve a free, open and self-resourceful society.

V. Sustainability
Success
Success for the program will be measured by the Cadets ability to provide a detailed brief to
underclassmen in the program, a written paper highlighting what each Cadet has taken away
from the trip, and an analysis of the event as a whole. This analysis will include an AAR (After
Action Report), a detailed list of pros and cons and recommendations on how to make the trip
better for future classes.
Results
The results of the Staff Ride will hope to provide Cadets with an in depth understanding of a
specific military battle conducted on US ground. We hope to encourage continued participation
in the program for underclassmen and instill the importance of US history in the future
development of tactics and the military decision making process.
Staff
The Staff Ride would be facilitated by the programs current PMS (Professor of Military Science)
and SMI (Senior Military Instructor). Included in the price for the Staff Ride itself, is the
professional knowledge of those guiding the tour.

VI. Budget
Table 1. Expense Breakdown
Expenditure Category Expense
Transportation

$5,500

Lodging

$2,400

Food
Staff Ride
Totals

$900
$5,000
$13,800

As shown above a Staff Ride for 10 Cadets over a 7 day period would be $13,800. Average bus
rental cost would be (at minimum) $775 per day. The cost of hotel rooms is based off of reserving
four rooms at $100 per room per night for 6 nights. Food costs are broken down by $10 per Cadet
per meal at 3 meals per day. However, the Cadets would be expected to fundraise for the extra
$3,800. Possible fundraising opportunities could include partnering with CrossFit Hakkapelitta for
the SISU Challenge which is a mud and obstacle team race that focuses on determination,
resilience, and perseverance. Money raised from fundraising would cover the cost of each

Cadets hotel room and food for the four days of travel time. Staff Rides usually include meal
options for the participants.
Once funding is received Cadets will travel to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania for their Staff Ride. Upon
returning, ROTC cadets are prepared to collaborate with Michigan Techs military history classes
or the local VFW to offer a presentation on the battle to the public. This presentation would offer
civilians a chance to see how their future military leaders think about war, it may help broaden
their perspective and improve perception on the past battle or battles to be fought in the future.
Democratic citizenship requires knowledge of war.
It is imperative that ROTC Cadets develop these critical thinking skills, and learn that military
history has the moral purpose of educating them about past sacrifices that have secured our
present freedom and security. Cadets need to experience a Staff Ride because, as George
Washington said, To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving
peace.