(WFRV) – On June 27, 2025, the United States Army Cadet Command announced that the Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (commonly referred to as ROTC) program will see some major changes at schools nationwide, including a trio of Wisconsin colleges.
According to the release, the Department of Defense’s Deferred Resignation Program saw the Cadet Command cut 168 positions, or about 12% of its authorized workforce. The reduction resulted in a deeper look at the ROTC footprint to ensure success despite lower personnel.
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As a result, several ROTC host units, extension units and crosstown units will shut down, be reclassified or merged starting in 2026.
The following unit definitions were provided in the release:
“Host unit: A Senior ROTC program located at an institution with a formal agreement with the Secretary of the Army. Cadets attend training and classes on their home campus, and the institution is staffed with full-time ROTC personnel.
Extension unit: A Senior ROTC program linked to a host institution but located at a separate campus. Cadets take ROTC courses at their own institution with full-time cadre assigned to their campus.
Crosstown: An institution that allows students to enroll in ROTC courses hosted at a host or extension unit. Cadets travel for their training rather than having full-time ROTC cadre at their home institution”
According to the release, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, listed as a host unit, will no longer be affiliated with the Army ROTC program. St. Norbert College’s extension unit will also shut down and no longer be affiliated with the Army ROTC.
The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is a host unit, but will be reclassified into an extension unit, where members will still receive training and education on campus; however, the program will merge its administrative and support with another host unit.
A total of 19 units will become inactive; however, the release clarified that the changes will not impact Junior ROTC programs at high schools nationwide.
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