Tucked away in the basement of Freudenberger residence hall, the Department of Military Science often goes unnoticed by passersby.
The concrete-grey steps leading down to the department draw little attention.
Just inside, the mood changes. Visitors encounter a bold welcome message on the department’s front doors:
“What’s your warrior? Join our TEAM.”
This is the home of the MSU Bear Battalion.
The Bear Battalion
MSU’s Bear Battalion was established in 1952. During the 1970s, the program branched out to include other area schools. At this time, Evangel, Drury and Southwest Baptist University also participate in the Bear Battalion.
According to the Army ROTC website, ROTC was officially created in 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Defense Act.
Its roots can be traced back to 1819 when the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy was formed in Norwich, Vermont, to develop “citizen-soldiers” while providing them with an education.
The concept continued to expand, culminating in the official creation of ROTC in 1916.
Since then, Army ROTC has become the “largest officer-producing organization with the American military.” The organization has produced over 600,000 men and women commissioned officers.
At Missouri State, the Bear Battalion is just part of that 600,000 ROTC-strong.
These young men and women stand out on campus when they wear their military gear, especially on Thursdays, when they have ROTC lab.
Otherwise, they blend in with other MSU students, milling about campus in their jeans and khakis and “BearWear.”
They act like other MSU students, too. They goof off and kid around, they go on spring break trips, they play video games. They are into art and music and movies. They are active in campus organizations and church.
They truly do look and act like “regular” college students. And they want people to know that they are regular college students.
Yet their experience as Bear Battalion cadets does make them a little different.
They admit it themselves when they talk about how ROTC has changed their lives for the better.
