Fordham ROTC Among Best in the Country

Eighteen New York City Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets took an oath to serve their country and were commissioned as second lieutenants during a ceremony at Fordham University Church on Friday, May 19. As the host institution for the New York City Army ROTC, Fordham partners with more than 50 colleges and universities in the metropolitan area.

Fordham University’s New York City Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) battalion was recognized by the U.S. Army as being among the top 15 percent of the 272 ROTC units nationwide in the 2004-2005 school year.

“This accomplishment demonstrates excellence in the overall Army ROTC program and the hard work and competence of Fordham University cadets,” Maj. Gen. W. Montague Winfield wrote to Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham University.

The Fordham ROTC unit is commanded by Maj. Michael Hoblin (FCRH ’91 and GSAS ’03), professor of military science at Fordham, who said the rankings are based on a combination of factors, including recruitment, retention, academics, military and leadership training, and the number of officers who are commissioned each year.

“We have experienced a resurgence of the ROTC battalion at Fordham in the past six years,” said Hoblin, who is in his sixth and final year with Fordham's ROTC unit. “It’s due to students volunteering, in the Jesuit tradition of selfless service to community and nation, and aspiring to become leaders. These cadets are involved in a rigorous regimen of scholarship, athletics, as well as military and leadership training.”

Hoblin expects 22 cadets from Fordham’s ROTC unit to be commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard by the end of the summer. Fordham University has had an Army ROTC program continuously since 1926.