Famous for its Vietnam war protests, UC Berkeley is less-known for its long and unbroken tradition of military training and service. From 1870 until 1962, all male students received mandatory military instruction. What became the ROTC produced distinguished programs and graduates, and although pushback eventually ended the required training, the Military Affairs Program endures, and a model center for student-veterans is expanding.
1862 Morrill Land Grant Act
Cadet Corps
Early marching band
1906 earthquake
Flagship of Naval ROTC
Top 10 in 1913-14
World War I
Pilot training
Dorms honor fallen alumnae
1930s search for stars, Amelia
Peace rallies and famous grads
World War II
Mandatory ROTC ends in 1962
Marine becomes dean of women
Korean War hero
Air Force ROTC lands on campus
Memorial Glade 1998
1985 fire destroys Callaghan Hall
Vietnam and the ‘60s
Women allowed into ROTC
2011 repeal of “Don’t ask, don’t tell”
New center for student-veterans
Post 9/11 surge at ROTC
Model student-veterans program
Project team:
Steve Finacom, Gretchen Kell – research/writing
Melani King, Hulda Nelson – design/web production