Army ROTC began at Youngstown College in 1950 to answer the Army’s need for officers. The first cadets to undergo training were veterans of World War II, who participated in an accelerated commissioning program during the Korean War to rapidly field trained officers for wartime service. Initially, the institution was designated as an Air Defense Artillery branch program; however in 1964, the program was re-designated as branch immaterial, allowing officers to serve in any of the 16 branches of the Army. YSU Army ROTC was headquartered in the Wick-Pollack building until 1982, when it moved to its present location in Stambaugh Stadium. In 1986 the Corps of Cadets was named “The Western Reserve Battalion.” The name Western Reserve originates from the 1789 Congressional Land Grant to the Ohio River Valley area which granted land to veterans of the American Revolution’s Continental Army.

In 1990, the YSU Army ROTC Program was cancelled as part of the post cold war draw down, but continued as a partnership school with the University of Akron. That association ended in 1995, when the YSU Army ROTC program was placed under Kent State University and has remained so since.

Since the programs inception in 1950, the YSU Army ROTC Program has commissioned over 1,000 second lieutenants for service in the U.S. Army. Those officers have participated in all major conflicts and peacekeeping missions since that time, including ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of its graduates continue to serve as officers on Active Duty, or in the Army Reserve or National Guard. The Army ROTC program is a visible asset, providing support to many YSU and community activities. A capstone of the program is a replica of a civil war field gun provided by the YSU Army ROTC Alumni and fired by the Corps of Cadets in support of the YSU football team each fall.

Recent Graduates and Commissionees:

2011 Seniors, John Jerome, David Bruno, Roger St. Julian, Thomas Satterthwaite, and Matthew Williams pose for a photo with YSU OIC MAJ Dennis Sleva at the 2011 Awards Breakfast

Commissioned 2012

• Justin Butt - Adjutant General's Corps
• Mark Cornman - Military Police Corps
• John Jerome - Army Nurse Corps
• Kelli Phillips - Signal Corps
• Scott Smith - Ordnance Corps (EOD)
• Cory Vesey - Medical Service Corps

Commissioned 2011

• Roger St. Julian - Armor
• David Bruno - Military Police Corps
• Tom Satterthwaite - Adjutant General's Corps
• Matthew Williams - Chemical Corps

Commissioned 2010

• Brock Burkhart - Signal Corps
• Preston Dihle - Intelligence Corps (branch detailed Chemical Corps)
• Jared Hirtz - Transportation Corps
• Michael Kachelries - Medical Services Corps
• Jim Woodward - Infantry
• Sarah Wilmouth - Army Nurse Corps

Commissioned 2009

• Michael Deem - Quartermaster
• Travis Phillips - Quartermaster

Commissioned 2008

• Paul Buncic - Armor
• John Mingo - Military Police Corps
• Joshua Nolan - Military Police Corps
• Erin Laughlin - Finance Corps

Commissioned 2007

• Joseph Bratek - Field Artillary
• Raymond Butler - Medical Service Corps
• Michael Gabriel - Armor
• Lowell Hilty - Army Corps of Engineers
• Jason Kelley - Signal Corps (Branch detailed Infantry)
• Ryan Kelly - Signal Corps (Branch detailed Armor)
• Tijuana Rogers - Signal Corps