History of BYU-Idaho ROTC | Military Science | BYU-Idaho

# History BYU-Idaho ROTC

## Creation of ROTC

The Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), as it exists today, began with President Woodrow Wilson when he signed the National Defense Act of 1916. Although military training had been taking place in civilian colleges and universities as early as 1819, the signing of the National Defense Act brought this training under single, federally controlled entity: The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC).

Army ROTC is the largest officer-producing organization within the U.S. military, having commissioned more than half a million 2nd Lieutenants since its inception.

## ROTC and Ricks College

The BYU-Idaho Army ROTC's roots go back to the 1970's with Ricks College. It was a two-year program with only a few cadets. When President Henry B. Eyring was president of Rick's College, he said, "[The] ROTC was brought onto the campus in the last few years. I have been surprised at the reception of this large program. We began as a satellite program of Idaho State University; now we are almost as large as the Idaho State University program, because our young people have a feeling about their country. . . . I think that in a country moving away from what might be called old-fashioned patriotism, Ricks is moving the other way."

## BYU-Idaho "Viking Battalion"

Because Ricks College only offered two-year degrees, cadets in the Army ROTC would have to move on to finish their degrees and be commissioned at a different institution. This all changed in 2000 when Ricks College became BYU-Idaho. During this transition, BYU-Idaho saw its first students graduate and become officers in the U.S Army. Today, the BYU-Idaho Viking Battalion boasts more than 80 cadets with more joining every semester, making it one of the largest programs in the state.

## Alumni of the Program

## Class of 2024

****2nd Row:**** Payton Dela-Cruz, Michael Buzan, Wolfgang Benion, SSG Joshua Racus, Nathan Adams, Zachary Bush, Gregory Lachaga, Austin Williams, 2LT Brayden Dotson

****1st Row:**** SFC Tyson Abrams, Branden Rauch, Olivia Irish, Charlotte Walker, Greg Wilson, Carter Baumgartner, Regen Esplin, Richard Zuchlewski, Maya Kenley

****Not in photo:**** Craig Dulop

Fall '23 Commissioning Program 
Winter '24 Commissioning Program 
Spring '24 Commissioning Program

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## Class of 2023

****3rd Row:**** MAJ Adam Rios, CPT Sean Quinn, MAJ Gregory Wilson, Jason Lloyd, Brennan Cotts, Jonathan Leach, Tyson Crowther, George Howlett, Tyler Henshaw

****2nd Row:**** Joseph Pingel, 2LT Stockton Heiner, Ryan Foote, Adam Gregerson, Everton Checketts, Winston Wu, MSG Charles Meecham

****1st Row:**** Cameron Muncy, Riley Grimshaw, Seth Gohnert, Kenneth Berger

****Not in photo:**** Andrew Bailey, Colton Bell, Nathan Rands, Aaron Stephens

Fall '22 Commissioning Program 
Winter '23 Commissioning Program 
Spring '23 Commissioning Program 
End of Camp '23 Commissioning Program

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## Class of 2021

****2nd Row:**** Darren Holm, Justin Steele, Joshua Zoller, Aaron Schmid, Sister Clifford Missing: Joshua Hawkins, Sephilons Vo, Sean Goettsche, Boyd Blackwood

****1st Row:**** Mr. Wilson, CPT Hamilton, McKay McLelland, Nathan Hiener, Alisha Anderson, Spencer White, Michael Bradley, MSG Meecham, CPT Trickey

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## Class of 2020

****3rd Row:**** Daniel Wilson, Hunter Williams

****2nd Row:**** Mitchell Ormsby, Brennan Kemp, Austin Silva

****1st Row:**** Seth Henry, Seth Barton, Aaron Schmidt, Sunny Tran, Beth Horan

****Not in photo:**** Chaskiel Beher

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## Class of 2019

****2nd Row:**** Jake Roberts, Nephi Carter, Devin Davis, Jackson Steele, Alex Homer

****1st Row:**** 1LT Brian Becktel, CPT Cory Chatingy, Geoff Call, Stephen Malloy, Daniel Irvine, Sarah Kuhn, Briana Inestroza, Brian Weigel, Bear Hatfield, Tyler Kelly, MSG Drew Kimmey, Ret. MAJ Greg Wilson

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## Class of 2016

****1st Row****: Schumacher, Schoorl, Empey, Rickenbach, Aldes, Larsen, Richins, Fackrell, Moak, Burke, Cardinet, and Pressgrove

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## Class of 2014

****2nd Row:**** Parker Johnson, Travis Comstock, Justin Sierkowski, Travis Seaman, Shane Lusk, Benjamin Zvirzden, Daniel Kohagen, David Vogan, Brain Becktel, SFC Alston, CW2 Grover

****1st Row:**** CPT Herrmann, MAJ Esplin, Michael Muse, Kyle Hoggan, Brain Jones, Kenneth Hendricks, MAJ Wilson

****Not in photo:**** Jared Miles

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## Class of 2013

****1st Row:**** MAJ Esplin, CW2 Grover, Brain Robertson, Dustin Allen, Justin Sierkowski, Austin Jones, Derek Bohman, Colton Hyer, Devin Forbes, Benjamin Call, MAJ Wilson, SFC Alsto

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## Class of 2012

****1st Row:**** MAJ Esplin, Michael Tripp, Tyler Wallock, Colton Hyer, Steven Trickey, SFC Alston, A.J. Edwards, Dru Woolston, MAJ Wilson, Matthew Judkins

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## Class of 2011

****2nd Row****: SFC Alston, Dillon Dance, Max Dummar, Brandon Schlecht, Bryce Papke, Sean Scrimshaw, Marcus Norton, Josh Anderson, MAJ Wilson

****1st Row:**** Janine Clifford, MAJ Esplin, Brian Royer, Sean Quinn, SPC Baker

****Not in photo:**** Skyler Onken, Justin Hill

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## Class of 2010

****2nd Row:**** Janine Clifford, SSG Mathews, MAJ Wilson, SFC Alston, SPC Baker, MAJ Esplin

****1st Row:**** Peter Nyugen, Cliff Johnson, Mike, Fahlmann, Kyle Yates, Zane Willams

****Not in photo:**** Ian Wilstead, Jordan Lamkin, Elisabeth Walker

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## Class of 2009

****1st Row:**** Jared Fulcher, Christina Gahley, Jeff Baldridge, Devin Richter

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## Class of 2008

****1st Row:**** MAJ Esplin, Vaughn Ellsworth, Chris Stoker, Matt Hargrave, Thomas Smith, James Comish, SSG Mathews, MAJ Wilson

****Not in photo:**** Dave Chapman

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## Class of 2006

****1st Row:**** Russell Lehman, Greg Fetterman, B.J. Olsen

****Not in photo:**** Joshua Toy, Jared Young

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## Class of 2004

****1st Row:**** President Bednar, LTC Mikitish, Keith Grover, Kyle Kirkpatrick, Doug Shong, SFC Hartley, CPT Harris

****Not in photo:**** Isacc Jones, Dave Demille, Eric Kraus