UW Oshkosh’s branch of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), which was slated for closure earlier this year, has been spared and will continue operations as an extension unit of Marquette University’s program.
The program, which heads the Fox Valley Battalion and serves students from UWO as well as partner institutions like UW-Green Bay, St. Norbert College, Ripon College and Marian University, was among several nationwide targeted for inactivation as part of a U.S. Army “Rebalance and Optimization Plan.” The original decision, announced in July, would have phased out the UWO-based program by the end of the 2025-26 academic year.
Army officials say that the original decision stems from federal workforce reductions, initiated by the Trump administration, which have led to deferred resignations, allowing federal workers to continue to receive their pay through September.
The reversal by the U.S. Army Cadet Command comes after a summer of uncertainty and advocacy from students, alumni and community leaders.
“The decision follows a comprehensive review and consideration of feedback from community leaders and key stakeholders,” U.S. Army Cadet Command said in a statement. “Previously selected host programs slated for closure or reclassification to crosstown schools will be retained as extension units.”
UW Oshkosh administration welcomed the news with joy, with Chief of Staff Alex Hummel acknowledging the hard work that it takes in partnership with the Army to keep the program running.
“We continue working closely with our Army/ROTC colleagues to help revive a program that will best serve students and ensure their successful advancement,” Hummel said. “We anticipate more positive developments and good news to report to all of our stakeholders in the weeks ahead.”
About 40 students participated in the UWO program last school year, with half from Oshkosh and half from the other four colleges. As an extension program, UWO will be linked to the Marquette program, but students can continue to receive instruction in Oshkosh; however, full-time staff will be stationed in Milwaukee.
“Essentially what that means is we’re an extension unit; we are going to reduce slightly the number of active duty army personnel that are assigned to the organization,” Lt. Col. Jonathan Doiran, professor of military science at UWO, said. “The experience for the cadets will remain; they will continue to be able to take all the same coursework that they’re able to do and learn the same skills to prepare them to become a commissioned officer in the United States Army.”
Doiran also said that UWO has always been supportive of the unit.
“We’re super excited to be able to continue to serve and support the cadets that we have across the battalion, and continue to partner with the great partners that we have here at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, and the administrators at the other universities,” he said.
ROTC programs are available at about 900 campuses, including more than a dozen in Wisconsin. There are also 1,700 Junior ROTC programs at high schools across the country.
