(Walnut Ridge, Ark.) – Williams Baptist College has announced that students wishing to participate in the Williams-Arkansas State University ROTC partnership will now be able to take introductory ROTC courses on the campus of WBC. The courses will be taught by members of the ASU ROTC faculty and will be available beginning the fall semester of 2014.
Participation in these preliminary classes will provide Williams students the opportunity to consider possible enrollment in the larger ROTC program, which can lead to a military commission. Students may also be eligible to participate in the ROTC scholarship program if they decide to further their commitment to the ROTC and eventual military service.
“We think this is an ideal opportunity for our students to learn more about the ROTC program and to consider military service as part of their post-graduate plans,†said Kenneth Startup, academic dean at WBC.
“We have had this partnership with the ASU ROTC program for years, but this direct instruction on our campus takes us to a new level ofengagement with this outstanding program.â€
Students who wish to take the introductory program may use those courses as general elective hours in other degree programs.
Startup also said that while enrolling in the introductory courses could lead to future military service, students are not required tomake any commitment to military service.
Currently, students wishing to participate in the Williams-ASU ROTC partnership program have to take all of their courses in Jonesboro.
Startup added that he hopes more advanced ROTC courses will be available on the WBC campus in the near future. “We’ll have to see the level of participation in the introductory courses before we can commit to offering more advanced ROTC courses in Walnut Ridge,†he noted.
Williams is a four-year, liberal arts college at Walnut Ridge.