Oregon State University Army ROTC

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Oregon State University Army ROTC is the ROTC battalion at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. Its mission is to train cadets in basic military leadership and to commission them as 2nd lieutenants after they earn a bachelor’s degree.

A brief history
- 1873: The program at Corvallis College (now OSU) begins, with military science taught by professors and cadet drills resuming and evolving over the years.
- Late 1800s–early 1900s: The battalion grows, uniforms and training improve, and the armory is built.
- 1919: After World War I, ROTC is restored nationwide under the National Defense Act, expanding officer training across the country.
- World War II era: OSU ROTC earns the nickname “The West Point of the West” for producing a large number of commissioned officers.
- Postwar: Navy and Marine officer training programs are added; in 1948, Air Force ROTC begins; the OSU programs share the McAlexander Fieldhouse.
- 1973: Women are admitted to Army ROTC.
- Today: The program emphasizes leadership, scholarship, technical and scientific training, and physical fitness. It operates as the Beaver Battalion, serving OSU and partner schools, with cadets trained to become commissioned officers.

Today’s program
- The Army ROTC at OSU focuses on developing leadership, critical thinking, and military skills in cadets who will become officers in the U.S. Army after graduation.
- The battalion works alongside Western Oregon University and the OSU Cascades Campus, providing joint training and labs.
- It remains a long-standing part of OSU’s tradition, with the historic McAlexander Fieldhouse as a key training facility.