Tennessee Tech Signs 10-Year Army Contract

The Tennessee Tech ROTC has received a new 10-year contract with the US Army.

Military Science Program Recruiting and Enrollment Officer Ron Borden said the contract creates a new goal for the ROTC program.

“We have an assigned mission from the US Army Cadet Command to commission 15 officers with each graduating class starting with the year 2020,” Borden said. “And our goal is to be able to meet that consistently and to exceed it.”

Borden said the 10-year contract gives Tennessee Tech the tools to operate the program.

From left, President Phil Oldham and Lt. Col. Adam Grim sign the 10 year ROTC contract. (Photo: TN Tech)

“So it lays out what the Army provides to operate the program and it also notes what the university provides,” Borden said. “So that it a win-win, mutually-agreed-upon agreement to be able to offer the program at Tennessee Tech.”

Borden said Tennessee Tech implemented the ROTC program 68 years ago.

“This program here was renewed,” Borden said. “And the program, as far as what we know as ROTC today, has been on the campus since 1950.”

Tech currently has 86 students in the program and will see 33 new students enrolled this semester. Borden said the program allows students to try their hand at military sciences.

“It has open enrollment for the first and second year, their freshman and sophomore year. So they can take it,” Borden said. “Try it out without any military obligation to see if the Army and becoming a leader for the Army and our nation and communities if they go with the army reserve or army national guard.”

Borden said even students that do not complete the program will learn leadership skills.