12/4/2002

Contact: K.E. Schwab  -- 724-738-2199;  e-mail: karl.schwab@sru.edu

NATION-LEADING ROTC PROGRAM IS SOLID FOUNDATION FOR SRU’S ONE-OF-A-KIND MINOR IN LEADERSHIP

        SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- When Slippery Rock University created its leadership minor, the only one in the state, it was building on the solid strength of its Army ROTC Program.

        The latest evidence of the quality of SRU’s Reserve Office Training Corps comes in the form of the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Award proclaiming the unit as the “Best Small School” in the region. Some 270 similar programs across the U.S. competed for the honor, which is awarded to one unit in each of three regions across the U.S. The MacArthur Award recognizes exemplary performance in training Army officers.

          For the third time in nine years, the MacArthur plaque was presented to the SRU Army ROTC Program at ceremonies held in Orlando, Fla. Accepting the latest honor was Lt. Col. Steven Stevens, chair of the university’s military science department. “This award gives tremendous recognition for the hard work of our cadets and the entire cadre, especially those enrolled in our leadership minor,” he explained.  The SRU program also earned the MacArthur Award in 1993 and 1995.

          The annual award is given jointly by the MacArthur Foundation and the U.S. Army Cadet Command to the top programs in each of the Army’s Cadet Command's regions. The SRU unit was named the best unit for 2002 in the First Region, headquartered at Ft. Bragg, N.C. The award is named for the late Gen. Douglas MacArthur who commanded forces in the Pacific during World War II and headed the occupation force in Japan following the war. He also served as UN commander during the Korean War.

           The award is presented to ROTC units that exceed established evaluation standards and exceed yearly commissioning goals. The SRU unit had planned to commission seven, second lieutenants and exceeded its goal by three. Criteria for the award also include overall academic and leadership performance.

          “This honor is certainly befitting the quality of our ROTC Program,” said Dr. Bruce Russell, dean of the College of Business, Information and Social Sciences. “We are proud of their hard work and the quality of leadership created within the program by our military science faculty. I congratulate both the faculty and the students for their diligence and perseverance in developing leadership skills and for expanding the leadership minor within the program.”

          SRU created its leadership minor within the ROTC Program two years ago as a way of instilling multiple leadership traits and abilities in cadets. The program requires 25 credit-hours focused on Army ROTC courses such as “Principles of Leadership” and “Leadership Dimensions and Concepts.” In addition, it focuses on leadership through a number of hands-on laboratories where cadets are given responsibilities, mission goals, objectives and tasks with the chance to put their classroom leadership work into practice.

          In addition, SRU’s ROTC Program, which consistently ranks in the nation’s top 10 percent of all ROTC units, recently received two Liberty Brigade Commander’s Certificates with one including $1,000 cash for attaining the third-highest mission percentage within the second brigade. The funds will be used for equipment and cadet travel.

## -- PN, PGN, WPN, PR, S