The Razorback Battalion is a premier leadership program with a rich history at the University of Arkansas. Established in 1871 the ROTC program is as old as the University itself. Our program commissions officers to meet the Army’s leadership requirements; and provides a citizenship program that motivates young people to be strong leaders and better citizens.
The Arkansas General Assembly accepted the Morrill Act (Land Grant College Act of 1862) provisions and created the Arkansas Industrial University (now the University of Arkansas) on 27 March 1871. The act provided funding and land to establish public colleges in each state. These colleges taught military tactics along with other subjects. This was done to address the shortage of trained military officers caused from the Civil War.
A lithograph drawing of Fayetteville as it appeared when chosen for the site of the university.
In 1873, the War Department detailed Lieutenant E.S. Curtis, an Artillery Officer and West Point graduate to supervise military training at the newly established university. LT Curtis served from 1872 until 1875 training the corps that had grown to 120 young men by 1875.
In 1874, Arms arrived for the military science department in January provided by Gov. Elisha Baxter and are seized in May by forces loyal to gubernatorial rival Joseph Brooks, leading to the Brooks-Baxter War, fought primarily in Little Rock. The dispute was settled when President Grant recognized Baxter as the legitimate governor.
Men loyal to Joseph Brooks seize weapons from the University's Armory.
The passage of the National Defense Act of 1916 created the Reserve Officers Training Corps. Colleges taught military tactics along with other subjects. However, the implementation and quality of military instruction across these schools lacked standardization. The University of Arkansas Army ROTC Program was established as one of the charter universities under this act. Major C. F. Armistead, former commandant, returned to the University to become the first officer at the University of Arkansas to hold the title of Professor of Military Science and Tactics.
A Student Army Training Corps substituted for ROTC during its suspension in World War I. Major K. M. Halpine reactivated the ROTC Program in 1919. This was done to hasten the training of soldiers for war. Students enlisted in the Student Army Training Corps would concurrently train and while taking college courses.
Within a month of the declaration of war, at least 200 University of Arkansas students — fully a third of the university's total enrollment — joined the war effort by signing up for the military, working on food production or joining the Red Cross. The university became a major military training sight. According to historian Kim Scott Allen, the university became a "military enclave," with Maj. George Martin, the university commandant, sharing administrative power with Futrall. During this time former President William Taft spoke to the students in front of Old Main.
President William Taft
News clipping. Circa 1918
In 1927, LT H.O. Lane guided the ROTC rifle team to the first of three consecutive National Championships capturing the William Randolph Hearst Trophy in 1927, 1928, and 1929. The ROTC program would add National Championships in 1944 and 1957.
1927 National Championship Rifle Team
The first of 5 Alumni of the University of Arkansas is awarded the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is the highest individual that can be awarded to U.S. military service members. CPT Maurice Britt was awarded the Medal of Honor for going above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Platoon Leader in Mignano, Italy.
Captain Britt with the Medal of Honor
Maurice Britt attended the University of Arkansas on both a Football and Basketball Scholarship. Britt was drafted to the Detroit Lions and played for one year before serving his time in the U.S. Army. Britt lost his arm while serving and Italy ending his football career.
He would go on to serve as the Lt. Governor of Arkansas from 1967-1971 and ran unsuccessfully for Governor against William J. Clinton.
Lt. Nathan Gordon serving in the U.S. Navy, becomes the second alumni of the University of Arkansas to receive the Medal of Honor. Lt. Gordon was awarded the Medal of Honor for going beyond the call of duty as commander of a Catalina patrol plane in rescuing personnel of the U.S. Army 5th Air Force shot down in combat over Kavieng Harbor in the Bismarck Sea, February 15, 1944.
Vice Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN and Lieutenant Nathan G. Gordon, USNR shaking hands after Gordon was presented the Medal of Honor