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Army ROTC Preserves Rich, Military History
From the day it opened its doors in 1860, LSU has been producing successful Army officers. But over the years, the life of the cadet has changed. Captain Warren E. Byrd, commissioned through LSU ROTC in 1973, remembers back to his LSU days."There was constant marching and drill exercises, with nearly everyone in uniform." Captain Byrd speaks of an LSU where it was more common to see students in military uniforms than civilian clothes, where every cadet was issued his own weapon, and when the South Stadium parking lot was the drill practice field.
His story is one of great interest, not only because he tells of military exercises no longer seen on our campus, but also because he tells his story alongside the stories of his father, Captain H.W. Byrd, who was commissioned in 1938, and his son, Cadet Matthew W. Byrd, a current LSU student. In the 1930s when Matthew's grandfather attended LSU, cadets were required to live in the Pentagon."The University was more like a military base back then," remembers Matthew's grandmother who was also an LSU student at the time.
This was an era when war and military training were seen as a necessity and a reality."We all knew it was only a matter of time before they were shipped out," explains Matthew's grandmother. And while military participation was mandatory for all University students at this time, they embraced it. It wasn't a burden, but rather a prestigious requirement and simply part of their life as a student. Marching practices, drill exercises and physical fitness were all part of the standard curriculum for Matthew's grandfather. "Physical training has changed significantly for cadets," notes Major Glenn Nunez, LSU Army ROTC enrollment officer. The physical fitness training is much more rigorous now and cadets are held personally responsible for continuous training during the summer. Traditional push-ups, sit-ups, and running are still part of the training, but there is a new emphasis on flexibility and swimming. However, Matthew's father reminds us that PT wasn't a breeze during his days at LSU."Not only did we do 'run-dodge-jump,' but we did it with our boots on and rifle in hand!"
LSU Army ROTC carries on the deep-rooted traditions of the Ole War Skule that is still so prominent on our campus today. From visible monuments to our infamous mascot, LSU's military heritage is rich and plays an invaluable role in our institution's academic excellence. However, even as a nation at war, today's ROTC program is not just about training to become a soldier. It's about leadership and academic excellence. As Linda Warmsley, assistant director of recruiting and enrollment, explains,"No matter whether you're a cadet or a civilian, the two things you have to learn are how to deal with people and how to make decisions. That's what we teach in Army ROTC." Contact Rebecca Acosta | LSU
University Relations Related Links LSU Department of Military Science |
The evolution of ROTC training revolves heavily around new technology. Battle conduct has changed, information transmission has greatly improved, and state-of-the-art weaponry is heavily utilized. Technology has truly revolutionized the military world and changed even the most recognizable traditions such as marching."When Matthew's grandfather was here, we emphasized marching and shoulder-to-shoulder combat techniques. Today, we train our cadets to be independent thinkers, work in smaller groups, and utilize technology," says LTC Mark Caruso, Chair of the Department of Military Science.
While Matthew's grandfather and father trained with signal flags and compasses, today Matthew learns about satellite communication and GPS navigation. Still, some things have not changed in Army ROTC, reminds LTC Caruso,"The pride instilled in our cadets is just as strong today as it was a 100 years ago." 
