Harvard Brings Back ROTC

Bostonist: Harvard Brings Back ROTC
Four decades after banning the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) over the Vietnam War, Harvard University will recognize the Navy ROTC program and welcome it back to campus today after a ceremony at Loeb House with Secretary Ray Mabus. The ROTC is back after the military's "don't ask don't tell" policy that banned gays and lesbians from serving openly was repealed.

Harvard president Drew Faust explained the importance of ROTC. "Our renewed relationship affirms the vital role that the members of our armed forces play in serving the nation and securing our freedoms, while also affirming inclusion and opportunity as powerful American ideals," she said.

Once DADT is fully repealed this summer, Harvard will name an ROTC director and alot campus space to the program. The school will begin paying MIT for Harvard's involvement with MIT's program. Harvard is in talks to bring Army and Air Force ROTC programs back to campus as well.

However, a visible ROTC program on campus may not happen right away. The Navy plans to keep Harvard's 20 ROTC students enrolled in the existing MIT ROTC consortium along with Tufts students. It's cheaper to run a joint ROTC. Harvard engineering professor Kit Parker wants the school to aggressively pursue bringing a sprate ROTC to Harvard. "We have to sell Harvard to the military," said Parker. "There might be some hard feelings in the Department of Defense and frankly, I don’t blame them."

Victoria Migdal is president of the Harvard ROTC Association and welcomes the change. She said:

“This is a great first step for reestablishing a relationship with the military and putting the past behind us. We can increase our presence on campus and let students know that the military is an option for them.’’