History of Army ROTC

The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) in the Fox Valley officially began in January 1919 with an agreement to establish an ROTC Program at Ripon College. St. Norbert College officially established an ROTC Program in January 1936.  The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, then the Wisconsin State University Oshkosh, established an ROTC program in 1967.  Marian College (University) established their ROTC program in 1979, and University of Wisconsin Green Bay followed in 1981. In 1991, it became official that all schools within the Fox Valley region would be organized under the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and officially be known as the Fox Valley ROTC Battalion.  This was done to meet an increasing demand for Army Officers.

The battalion is headquartered at the UW Oshkosh Kolf Sports Center and has all the essential instructional support capabilities. These capabilities include 8 separate offices, Cadet Learning Center, conference room, dedicated classroom, rifle range, gym, and supply room. The Fox Valley ROTC Battalion is rooted in a rich tradition of excellence that has commissioned over 2,770 Cadets into numerous components and branches throughout the Army.