The Wilmington morning star., 1947-03-16
Ru R0RERT MILLER

COIll6 d lllO41A6SA
High Schools Reserve Officers
Training Corps. The student has
onlv to be an American citizen
not less than IA years of age ano
not more than 26 and meet the
physical requirements each year
Wilmington has the only high
school ROTC unit in the Carollnas
and much praise has been received
for its splendid work and accom-
plishments.
New Hanover Highs unit is ir
it's 10th year and has maintained
an average enrolment of $50 ca
diets each year since 1887. Thai
year Hamilton Hicks, secretary o.
the Wilmington district United
States Army Reserves. went to
James C. Roe, a member of the
county board of education, and
pointed out the advantages in
sponsoring a ROTC unit in the high
school.
Roe then carried Hicks idea tc
the county Board of Education.
and that group appropriated a
small sum of money and au'
thorized him to choose a com
mittee to go to Washington, D.. c..
and see if he could obtain a ROTC
unit.
Before Roe and his committee
went to Washington, H. M. Roland.
superintendent of schools, went tc
the Fourth Corps Area Headquar.
ters in Atlanta, Georgia, to investi'
gate the possibilities of getting a
unit. He was successful in having
Wilmington placed on the list q
applications, but because of the
large number of schools in North
Carolina which did not have ROTC
units and wanted them, he did not
receive an immediate answer.
Roland returned to Wilmington
and with a committee, composed
of Wilbur Dosher, Charles Par
mele. John Bright Hill, and L. T.
Landon, later went to Washington.
They were granted an interview
with the Chief of Staff, Meyland
through the efforts of Con-
gresham J. Bayard Clark only to
be told that he could not give
Wilmington a unit because no
space vas available.
The committee returned to
Washington a second time. This
time a United States Congress
man accompanied the committee
to Harry H. Woodring, secretary
of war, and after a brief confer
ence the secretary approved the
request for a junior unit in New
Hanover High School.
The year 1887 was a late date
for a New Hanover County school
to become the only county in two
to have an ROTC unit.
Military training in a civil and
educational institution was insti-
tuted September 4, 1920, in the
Literary Scientific and
Military academy, then at Nor.
wich, Vermont.
ENROLMENT
The enrolment of the unit has
not increased much throughout the
years as it had an enrolment OF
36l cadets originally. This year
ofO cadets are enrolled with
practically the same average for
the past years.
The unit first consisted of three
companies and a cadet majors
staff. The officers of the battalion
were a major, three company com
manders, n band captain who
was a member of the majors
staff, five first lieutenants, and
SIX second lieutenants. These Of
flcers were selected from their
scholarship for their first three
years in high school, because non~
trained in military affairs.
The staff increased in later
years and the unit now has a
lieutenant colonel, one major, one
flrst lieutenant, four COMPANY
commanders, nine second lieuten-
ants. and one band captain.
STAFF
The staff of the ROTC consisted
o two members until 1915 when
three members were assigned TO
the staff. In 1916 the staff rose
four members, which is the
largest ROTC staff ever connected
with the local unit. A large staff
is necessary to comply with the
revised war department schedule
Of instruction. The staff is select.
and assigned by the United
States var department.
ROTC BAND
A % piece band was organized
in the fall Of 1887, with MANY of
the instruments being furnished
by students.
The band started under the d..
rectlon of 1t. Jack Harrison with
80 cadets and through the wears
mas increased to 46 boys and 16
girls for a total of 81 members.
Male and female students are
enrolled in the band and both re.
celve one-half unit credit for The
Term OF one year. The boys are
connected as ROTC cadets and re.
celve some army training and
wear the army uniforms the same
ROTC cadets. The girls also
junction as part of the unit but
are not required to study ROTC
subjects and have training ex.
cept preliminary drills.
SPONSORS
Electlng sponsors is not a legal
practice for some units, but the
majority have sponsors elected by
he cadets in the battalion. Be.
ing a sponsor in the ROTC is con-
sldered one of the more popular
honors in the school, but the spon-
sors do not receive school credit.
n sponsors r trained to march
on the left of the company com.
manders and beside the Lieuten.
ant colonel, or battalion com.
mander. All the sponsors with the
exception of the battalion spon'