USD ROTC Ranked 37th on National Order of Merit List
The OMS rankings are determined by cadets’ performances in academics, leadership and physical fitness levels.
“Our rise in the ROTC OMS rankings is a testament to the talents, hard work and determination of our cadets,” said Maj. Adam Kirschling, USD professor of military science. “Over the past couple of years, we have experienced a considerable amount of growth in our ROTC program. The efforts of our recruiting and the commitment from the university has enabled us to field an incredibly talented corps of cadets. I am excited to see the levels of excellence that this program will reach in the future. I am confident that in short order this battalion will be among the top programs in the country.”
The USD ROTC program has been a part of the university for over 100 years. The program has commissioned over 2,200 second lieutenants and more than 30 colonels into the U.S. Army.
Congressional Medal of Honor recipients Capt. Joe Foss ‘39, Capt. Arlo Olson ‘40 and Col. George E. “Bud” Day ‘49 were members of the USD ROTC.
In addition to its three Medal of Honor recipients, USD graduated the first two women in the nation to be commissioned in the Regular Army through its ROTC program in 1976—Cindy Orton and Sandy Koopman.
USD and ROTC alumni Lt. Gen. Ronald Place ‘86, director of the Defense Health Agency, and retired Col. Andrea Thompson ‘88 are members of the ROTC Hall of Fame.
For more information about USD’s ROTC, visit usd.edu/rotc.
