(The University of Akron) The U.S. Army positions itself as “Army Strong,” an expression that can go beyond distinguishing the men and women in the service branch who spend long nights on patrol or parachute out of airplanes into combat.

“Army Strong” can also describe one of The University of Akron’s most enduring programs – Akron Army ROTC, which turns 100 years old this academic year.

In 1918, just a month after the end of the First World War, UA President Dr. Parke Kolbe and the Board of Trustees applied to the U.S. Department of War to establish a reserved officers’ training corps unit at the University. The following year, the Board approved a resolution to agree to the mandates and responsibilities set by the War Department in order to maintain its new ROTC program.

Striving to be the best

Over the past century, Akron ROTC, also known as the 42nd Ohio Volunteer Battalion, has continued to meet, and even exceed, those mandates. In fact, Akron ROTC still encompasses a four-year academic curriculum, annual summer training camps at Fort Knox, and cadets still train on Buchtel Field on Brown Street where yesteryear’s cadets once trained.

“Our program has performed well to meet the standards of the U.S. Army because we want to be the best in the country,” said Lt. Col. Trevor S. Liverpool, commander of Akron ROTC and chair of the Military Science and Leadership Department. “Akron ROTC was recognized this summer as the top-performing program in the critical area of cadet evaluations in our brigade. And last year, an Akron cadet was the distinguished graduate for Airborne. So, the determination to be among the best in the country has contributed to Akron ROTC’s success and longevity.”

Compulsory start

UA’s program, originally proposed as a volunteer course, was compulsory for all freshman and sophomore male students from fall 1919 until 1972. The four-year curriculum consisted of field fortifications, hippology (the study of horses), field sanitation, map reading and infantry tactics. Cadets began attending summer camp at Fort Knox in Kentucky in 1923, and most new officers attended six months of full-time training before serving part-time in the Army Reserve.

After World War II, the U.S. Air Force established a separate ROTC detachment at UA in 1947. (In June 2005, the detachment was integrated with Kent State University’s Air Force ROTC program.) Also, veterans took advantage of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 (aka the G.I. Bill) to fund their higher education at Akron ROTC, which commissioned its 1,000th graduate in 1955.

Female students held supportive roles in auxiliary groups in the early days of Akron ROTC, but they didn’t participate as cadets until the fall of 1970. Anne Marie (Connell) Freund ‘77 was the program’s first female graduate and the first female cadet commander of troops at UA. Female cadets now participate from across all majors and make up 41 percent of student participation in Akron ROTC.

Career launcher

Today, Akron ROTC has 112 undergraduate and graduate students, many of them pursing degrees in physical sciences, nursing, business and liberal arts.

ROTC is a college elective program where cadets can pursue the degree of their choice while learning valuable leadership skills. Upon completion of a degree, cadets are commissioned as second lieutenants in the Army and receive an average starting salary of about $51,000. Graduates can choose to serve in active duty, the Army Reserve or the National Guard.

Over the past 15 years, UA has supplemented funding from the U.S. Army with slightly more than $4 million in generous scholarships that assist with expenses such as tuition, fees and books.

“Akron ROTC provides unmatched apprenticeship in leadership; students are given a chance to challenge themselves to meet standards in accordance with the Army’s Leadership Requirements Model,” said Liverpool. “This model focuses on not only what a leader knows, but also what a leader does and what attributes they possess. Akron ROTC is an immersive program, from freshman all the way to senior years. It is designed to give the students and cadets leadership experience in real-life situations, so they become agile and adaptive. We produce some of the best cadets in the nation.”

:17 - The Ohio State Buckeyes sit at six in the AP Top 25, which makes them on the outside looking in for the college football playoff. Ray thinks the Bucks have a case for the playoff, while Tony believes their loss to Purdue and narrow win over Maryland may have cost them

10:49 - We’re a year and a half from the 50th anniversary of the Kent State shootings, and the folks there want to preserve the memory. Dr. Mindy Farmer from Kent State talked about the Ohio History Connection award the school won in commemoration of the event.

15:31 - My, how things have changed in high school athletics. An offseason once meant an off season, but there are no off days in this world. Dr. Joe Congeni from Akron Children’s Hospital discussed the weight training schools are doing throughout the winter to prepare for sports like track, baseball, and even football.

21:07 - Could the Indians part ways with Trevor Bauer? How about Corey Kluber or Carlos Carrasco? While the window is still open, they may need to, as mentioned here by Ray and Tony.

28:05 - At 10 AM on Saturday, the Joe Siegferth Basketball Classic is happening over at Firestone CLC. Ron Linger, Akron Public Schools’ assistant athletic director, went over the bulk of the games.

Non-stop service from CAK to Detroit is no more, as of Monday evening's final Delta Airlines departure.

The Canton Rep is reporting that Delta is now only serving Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport out of Akron-Canton.

Director of Marketing for CAK tells the paper that they will continue working with Delta, though, to "explore other opportunities."

:17 - The counties of Summit and Stark will collide Thursday night at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, as the Archbishop Hoban Knights take on the vaunted Massillon Tigers. Hoban head coach Tim Tyrrell previewed that matchup for the title.

5:50 - Speaking of championship weekend, Tim Stried from the OHSAA called in to go over the games and pass along information for folks heading to Canton, including why it’s being played on a Thursday.

18:16 - The Tuesday after Thanksgiving is called Giving Tuesday. Bishop Nelson Perez from the Diocese of Cleveland promoted We Give Catholic, a 24-hour crowdfunding program to help benefit 195 parishes, schools, and other areas.

22:23 - The biggest regional story of the week is the closing of the Lordstown General Motors plant. How will this affect the economy and jobs as a whole? Richard Peterson from Capital Financial explains.

32:58 - The Ohio State Buckeyes came off a convincing victory over Michigan last weekend, and are set to travel to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship. Paul Keels, the voice of the Buckeyes, went over their upcoming game against Northwestern, as well as the chances of them sneaking into the college football playoff.

41:16 - Another team that is surging is the Browns, with their 35-20 win over the Bengals on Sunday. Fred Greetham from the Orange & Brown Report discussed that contest, as well as the quarreling between camp Hue Jackson and camp Baker Mayfield.