Reprinted from the Texas
A&M University-Corpus Christi website
by Melissa Goonan
(Corpus Christi)—The U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi marked a new era on Wednesday, Sept. 6, when the Islander Battalion was activated.
The ROTC training began at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, then Corpus Christi State University, in 1978. For the next 28 years, the ROTC program grew and prospered as a partner with Texas A&M University-Kingsville as the Javelina Battalion’s Charlie Company. ROTC basic course expanded to Del Mar Community College in the spring semester of 1984. Beginning Sept. 6, the United States Army ordered the ROTC program to be established as an independent battalion. Courses will still be offered at Del Mar College by the battalion.
The ROTC is a program that trains and prepares college students to be
commissioned officers. The mission of the ROTC program at A&M-Corpus
Christi is to train the future leaders of the Army. To date, 139 cadets
from A&M-Corpus
Christi have been commissioned as 2nd Lieutenants. 