ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps)

The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or ROTC, was established in 1916 by the National Defense Act during the presidency of Woodrow Wilson. With World War I in full swing, the need to restructure the military became an urgent mission. Although the creation of the reserve officer training corps was one part of the 1916 National Defense Act, the restructuring of the National Guard units was also a part of the act. The act provided funding for weekend drilling and for 15 days of training for these National Guard troops. Additionally, the president was given authority to mobilize these National Guard units during wartime.

During the American Civil War, military units chose their own leaders. So the amount of regular army officers at the start of the ...