Latest news with #ROTC
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Army ROTC Programs at Dozens of Campuses Are Being Shut Down or Reorganized
The Army is undertaking a major shake-up of its Reserve Officers' Training Corps footprint, shutting down or reorganizing programs at 84 college campuses. The move, which Army planners describe as surgical, is part of a broader push to trim down bloat in the service. In total, 291 students are expected to be affected, most of them having to potentially shift to programs at other nearby campuses. Of those, 16 contracted cadets will have their programs totally deactivated and be left with few alternatives, though in some cases the service is aiming not to disrupt their tenures. Those cadets will be given the choice to transfer to another ROTC program or exit their contracts without penalty. Seniors currently in the program won't see changes, as the cuts won't kick in until after graduation. Most first- and second-year students haven't yet signed binding service contracts. The ROTC program is among the most public-facing elements of the Army. In September, reported that the service was eyeing a roughly $100 million cut to ROTC throughout the rest of the decade. The move comes as the service is aiming to nip and tuck where it can as part of a larger reorganization effort, which includes dismantling much of the Army Reserve's aviation elements and deactivating all but two Security Force Assistance Brigades. Read Next: Constraints on Trump's War Powers Rejected by Senate After Iran Strikes "This rebalance and optimization effort ensures we meet the Army's requirements for officer commissioning while being good stewards of resources," Brig. Gen. Maurice Barnett, commanding general of U.S. Army Cadet Command, said in a statement to "We are working closely with our workforce, cadets and academic partners to ensure a smooth transition while preserving the quality of our ROTC programs." ROTC's commissioning capacity is expected to shrink by about 500 slots, though the max capacity was nowhere close to being reached, with some campuses underperforming and no need from the force to recruit that many officers. The service has actually overrecruited officers in certain fields in recent years. After the shifts, ROTC will be able to produce roughly 5,500 officers annually, even as the service's demand has hovered closer to 5,000 in recent years. Service officials familiar with the plans described it being easier, and more cost effective, to shut down a program delivering only 10 officers per year and, if needed, widening the spigot at bigger schools, like Ohio State University or the University of Florida, two of the top 20 ROTC schools, which account for 20% of all officers commissioned through the program. The Army emphasized that first- and second-year cadets, who typically have not yet committed to military service through formal contracts, will have opportunities to continue their training at nearby partner institutions or walk away from the contracts without any financial obligations. Here are the host ROTC programs being shut down: California Polytechnic State University -- San Luis Obispo (Calif.) University of Northern Iowa (Iowa) Western Illinois University (Ill.) Truman State University (Mo.) Elizabeth City State University (N.C.) Saint Augustine's University (N.C.) Clarkson University (N.Y.) John Carroll University (Ohio) University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (Wis.) West Virginia State University ( Additionally, these schools that allow students at one campus to attend the ROTC program at another will lose their affiliation with the program: University of California -- Merced (Calif.) Buena Vista University (Iowa) University of Dubuque (Iowa) Idaho State University (Idaho) University of Nebraska -- Kearney (Neb.) Millersville University (Pa.) Pennsylvania Western University -- Clarion (Pa.) Texas A&M International University (Texas) St. Norbert College (Wis.) The programs at dozens of other schools are being redesignated and reorganized. The full list is here. Read Next: Upcharging on Food, Selling Booze: The Army's Plan to Privatize Dining
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Taiwan's military reform is failing where it matters most
When young conscripts in Taiwan refer to themselves as 'cannon fodder,' it signals a crisis in trust that the government must not ignore. Taiwan's government changed the duration of its mandatory military service from four months to one year beginning in 2024. A year into the reform, the Ministry of Defense admitted that it was falling behind schedule in training conscripts. Meanwhile, conscripts have shown growing dissatisfaction with the current system. Taiwan should seek a better and more efficient system based on its existing ROTC program, taking inspiration from the U.S. ROTC and Switzerland's military service system. One year after the conscription reform implementation, Taiwan's military faced several setbacks in the enactment of its plan. According to a 2024 report by the Washington Post, Defense Minister Wellington Koo acknowledged that equipment and instructor shortages have delayed plans to improve training for reserves. In 2024, only 6% of conscripts eligible for the one-year military service chose to enlist, with most choosing to defer service to attend university. Due to the small intake of one-year conscripts, drones, surface-to-air Stinger missiles and antitank rocket training was postponed for the cohort. These disappointing results demonstrate that without properly addressing systemic flaws within the military and the conscription system at large, reform efforts could fail. The conscription reform has demonstrated that systemic issues have had a negative effect on the military conscription system. Taiwan's military personnel fell from 165,000 in 2022 to 153,000 in 2024. Train like you fight: Taiwan comes to grips with an old military adage Meanwhile, conscripts are seen as temporary helping hands for full-time military staff; thus, one of the main reasons for the decrease in military training is understaffing and a lack of instructors. The military's staff and instructor shortages could be addressed by either hiring veterans to act as instructors or enabling a path for conscripts in the final stages of conscription to teach new conscripts basic training skills. Additionally, the alarmingly high suicide rates in Taiwan's military have shaken public trust in the military. According to an exclusive report by the Reporter, from 2016 to 2024, 134 deaths of military personnel by suicide have been recorded. The report indicated that overwhelming workload and understaffing had a tremendous psychological impact on soldiers. Legislator Wu Szu-Yao pointed out that the ratio of 'full-time psychological counselors with professional certificates' to all personnel was 1:2318. This begs the question: If soldiers cannot fight the psychological battle, how would they be able to fight an external enemy? Thus, to build trust and resilience, Taiwan should seek inspiration from its democratic partners for a more effective conscription system. The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) in the U.S. and Switzerland's mandatory military service are excellent models to take inspiration from. Taiwan already has a ROTC program, which was introduced by the Ministry of National Defense (MND), but it remains fairly limited in scope compared to the U.S. model. According to TVBS, the MND has signed agreements with 11 education centers and 129 schools, targeting recruitment of those aged 18 to 26. The program requires a commitment to serve in the military for five years upon graduation in exchange for three years of financial aid plus stipends during the participant's education. Under the current ROTC program, cadets can attend civilian universities and attend regular classes, while also undertaking military training such as weekly military courses and military training during winter and summer breaks. Graduates from the program are assigned the rank of second lieutenant and receive specialized military training after graduation. Taiwan's MND should leverage the program by expanding and making it more flexible, such as giving the option for conscripts to choose, after college graduation, whether they wish to remain in the force or not. For those who desire to join the military, the MND could continue providing stipends and financial aid for their studies, while those unwilling to commit to the military after graduation would be limited to the usual stipend paid during military conscription. Some might criticize the lack of military discipline that the ROTC program would bring to conscripts. A solution to this issue would be to conduct a basic training camp, similar to the ones regular conscripts go on, which could take five weeks. After graduating from basic training, conscripts could attend university while enrolled in the ROTC. Taiwan could develop two pathways for Taiwanese male students as an alternative to the one-year military service, which would be applicable for both those who want to study in domestic and international universities. This reform would be crucial to reduce the personal, academic, and professional toll that one year of military service would take on conscripts and would accommodate those with academic ambitions domestically and abroad. For the former, Taiwan could adopt the current U.S.-based ROTC model to replace the one-year conscription system. Students would attend weekly classes on ethics, tactics, leadership and military science alongside academic courses, regular physical training, summer camps, and field training exercises. Upon graduation, students could be committed to serving in the military for a specific time or join the reserve. Meanwhile, students who choose to further their education abroad could opt for a digital curriculum, participating in online military education programs mirroring the domestic ROTC route. To complement their online learning and maintain physical conditions, intensive-mandatory training sessions would be required during academic breaks. Upon graduation, these students could potentially choose to join the active-duty service or participate in the reserve program. Strengthening the training of reserve forces is equally important. Similarly to Taiwan, the Swiss army is made mostly of its conscripts, with men instantly joining the reserve after military service, but the Swiss reserve forces are regularly obligated to participate in periodic retraining courses. Taiwan's military personnel are currently backed by a large reserve force of 1.66 million which could benefit from periodic retraining courses akin to the Swiss model. According to Article 58 of the Swiss Constitution, every citizen must take on public duties to serve their community. The duty to serve is deeply ingrained in Switzerland and is a crucial part of its society. In contrast, Taiwanese society lacks a consensus on the effectiveness of the conscription system and lacks trust in the military. Revamping mandatory military service to be more flexible would improve public perception of the military. Incorporating the U.S. and Swiss models could provide long-term benefits for young Taiwanese men in terms of their personal, academic and professional development, as it enables them to balance their personal plans with the duty to their country. Taiwan has a long path to effectively reforming its conscription system. This comprehensive reform should appease conscripts' anxieties and improve the conscription system's structure by taking inspiration from the U.S. and Switzerland. To ensure young citizens are willing and ready to serve, Taiwan must change its approach to the conscription system as an opportunity for conscripts' development. A smart conscription system is not only about defense but also about empowering Taiwan's future. Patrick Ko is a policy analyst at Safe Spaces, a policy consulting firm based in Taiwan and Washington, D.C. His work focuses on East Asian and Latin American international affairs.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democratic Rep. Sara Jacobs exposes Pete Hegseth's anti-trans hypocrisy during embarrassing House hearing
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth found himself on the defensive Thursday as California Democratic U.S. Rep. Sara Jacobs used a House Armed Services Committee hearing to expose what she demonstrated is the hypocrisy of the Trump administration's purge of transgender service members—many of whom are among the highest-rated troops in the U.S. military. Video of the interaction has gone viral online. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. Marking National Women Veterans Day, Jacobs, who represents one of the largest military communities in San Diego, opened her remarks by highlighting the exemplary records of three women in uniform: a major responsible for advanced combat training, an aviator with more than 50 combat missions, and an ROTC instructor rated as one of the top noncommissioned officers in her command. All three, she noted, had received the highest marks from their commanding officers in recent months. Related: This trans Air Force recruit wants to jump out of planes to save others. He's suing Trump to serve Hegseth applauded their records—until Jacobs revealed they are transgender women. "I would commend the major, the aviator, and the instructor for their service," Hegseth said. 'You are actually kicking out these three highly qualified service members solely because of their identity,' Jacobs explained. 'You are the one injecting culture wars into the military, and it's at the detriment of our military readiness and national security.' Seemingly caught off guard, Hegseth responded dismissively. 'These are men who think they're women,' he said, claiming gender dysphoria poses a mental health risk that undermines military performance. Jacobs was quick to shut that down. 'These are women,' she said. 'I'm happy to educate you on trans issues at another time.' Related: Transgender Army officer Erica Vandal was born into military service. Now, she's suing Trump to stay in The exchange comes as the Pentagon carries out a sweeping purge of transgender troops under a May 15 directive from Hegseth's office. As of June 6, all service members with a current or prior diagnosis of gender dysphoria face involuntary separation unless they obtain a rare, restrictive, and essentially unobtainable waiver—one that requires them to deny their identity and abstain from accessing any gender-affirming care. The result has been a wave of forced exits, with troops being discharged under codes commonly used for misconduct—damaging their careers and benefits. Legal and advocacy groups argue that the policy is discriminatory, dangerous, and unfounded. 'There's nothing voluntary about forced separation,' said Jennifer Levi, senior director of transgender and queer rights at GLAD Law, which is representing transgender people who are suing the government. Related: Meet the transgender Army lieutenant who is challenging Donald Trump's military ban As The Advocate has reported, some of those affected include West Point graduate and Bronze Star recipient Maj. Erica Vandal, transgender Navy aviator Cmdr. Emily Shilling, Second Lt. Nicolas Talbott, and Airman Clayton McCallister, a recent basic training graduate who ranked at the top of his class. All are plaintiffs in federal lawsuits against the administration, arguing that the ban violates their constitutional rights and undermines the very readiness the Pentagon claims to protect. On Thursday, Jacobs zeroed in on the inconsistency in Hegseth's policy: if merit truly mattered, she argued, these troops would be retained—not expelled. 'Wouldn't that show up in their fit reps?' she asked, referring to the fitness reports from commanders that praised their leadership, skill, and service. Related: 'Lesser-known D-Day' strikes as Pentagon purges transgender patriots serving in the U.S. military Despite efforts by Senate Democrats led by Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a combat veteran who lost both legs in war, to halt the policy before the Pentagon began implementing the separations. Some service members have opted to retire early to protect their benefits. Others are being pushed out against their will. 'I thought I had to prove that trans people could serve,' McCallister told The Advocate last week. 'But we've already proven that, over and over. The military just doesn't want to see it.'
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
ROTC instructor sues SJSD over firing
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A former ROTC instructor who was fired in 2024 has filed a discrimination lawsuit against the St. Joseph School District. Master Sergeant Jamaal Anderson served as an instructor for Benton High School's JROTC program. Anderson alleges he was placed on leave on April 29, 2024, was given a letter of suspension and told to not to go on school property. His contract was not renewed for the 24-25 school year. According to Anderson's lawsuit, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent surgery in March of 2022. The lawsuit contends that Anderson informed the district that there would be times when he would need to leave class to use the restroom or miss work abruptly. The lawsuit states that Anderson was told that SJSD would not accommodate such breaks. Jamaal Anderson lawsuitDownload Anderson also alleges he was not permitted to take time off to attend doctor's appointments. The lawsuit also said Anderson's absences led to poor classroom and extracurricular event ratings by his district supervisors, which eventually led to his suspension. News-Press NOW did contact SJSD Superintendent Gabe Edgar, who stated, We are aware of this. However, because it's a personnel matter, we will not comment." The day after his suspension was announced, students and cadets spoke out against the move. "This makes all of us mad because he always stands up for what he believes is right and treats everyone with respect,' one student said. Anderson's lawsuit also referenced an incident at Lafayette that occurred in May 2023. Students allegedly "wrapped Anderson's car in paper and wrote racial slurs and drew offensive pictures on the paper. Anderson contends the school district should have filed charges against the students but failed to do so. Although no dollar amount was specified in the suit, Anderson does ask for actual and punitive damages.
Wall Street Journal
03-06-2025
- General
- Wall Street Journal
Not Everything at Harvard Needs Improvement
Ben Sasse makes an important observation in his op-ed 'Can Trump Force Harvard to Improve?' (May 31): The university isn't an 'undifferentiated monolith.' It has some wonderful parts and others that are broken and need to be repaired. Mr. Sasse got to experience both as he went onto the stage of Harvard's Sanders Theatre during ROTC commissioning for his daughter. A lone heckler started to yell about the University of Florida, Gaza and genocide. The audience booed for a bit and let the heckler speak for 30 seconds. Then, as Mr. Sasse's daughter was presented as a new officer in the Air Force, the hundreds of people in the audience rose in a standing ovation. There are appalling things occurring in some corners of Harvard, including disruptive Palestinian activism at the Divinity School and ideological suppression about racial topics at the Kennedy School of Government. But there are also wonderful things at the university, such as its ROTC graduates, whose numbers have been growing in recent years, with the encouragement of Harvard's administration. Our mission shouldn't be to destroy the university. It should be to fix the broken parts and help the great parts thrive.
