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The Land Grant or
Morrill Act of 1862 and 1890
provided for military training
at state colleges in return for
federally controlled lands and
funds. The concept of military
training on North Carolina A&T
campus actually began in 1919
when the Department of the Army
established an Infantry Branch
of the Senior Reserve Officers’
Training Corps at the
University.
LT Robert L.
Campbell, holder of the
Distinguished Service Cross),
was appointed as the first
Professor of Military Science
(PMS) with Sergeant Wilburn
Green as his assistant. LT
Campbell departed North Carolina
A&T State University in November
of that year for other military
services and the position was
filled by a civilian. Sergeant
Green remained at the university
until 1926, working with
students. In 1936, CPT Campbell
returned to North Carolina A&T
to serve as the PMS; once again
the program was under military
control and obtained a Junior
ROTC designation and was
identified as 55 Charlie. ROTC
remained a Junior unit until
Sept 1942 when it received
Senior status and was designated
as a Branch Specific Unit
(Infantry). In 1947, eight
second lieutenants were
commissioned and branched
Infantry.
In 1954, the
Branch Specific Unit (Infantry)
was converted to a General
Military Science (GMS) unit. At
the discretion of the
university, ROTC became an
elective course in September
1968. The ROTC unit at North
Carolina A&T State University is
currently designated as First
ROTC Region Instructor Group,
Senior Division, and branch
affiliated with the
Transportation Corps.
Since inception,
the University’s Army ROTC
program has become a partnership
in Nursing School. It has also
expanded its program to bring
students from the University of
North Carolina at Greensboro,
Bennett College, Elon
University, Greensboro College,
Guilford College, and High Point
College.
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