Battalion History

The Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Program at Georgia Southern College (GSC) was established in 1980 following a petition by the student body and subsequent approval by Dr. Lick, the College President. The first ROTC classes began in the Fall Quarter of 1980 as an extension program of the Department of Military Science, Mercer University. In October of 1981, the GSC Army ROTC Program achieved Host status, and LTC James C. Hare, Jr. became its first Professor of Military Science.

The program began to expand when a cross-enrolled agreement was signed with Emanuel County Junior College in 1983 (which was later cancelled in 1985). Further expansion occurred in 1984 when the GSC Department of Military Science assumed responsibility for the Army ROTC Program at Armstrong State College and Savannah State College.

Today, the Eagle Battalion ROTC Program is comprised of Georgia Southern University (Statesboro) as the host, Georgia Southern University – Armstrong Campus (formerly Armstrong State University), Savannah State University, and East Georgia State College-Statesboro as cross-town schools.

From its infancy until today, the Georgia Southern University Army ROTC Program has only one mission; to commission the future officer leadership of the United States Army. Across all three campuses, only the highest quality students are recruited and retained as ROTC Cadets. By graduation, only the best of these Cadets receive a degree as well as a gold bar.

The Eagle Battalion has won the prestigious MacArthur Award four times (2009, 2010, 2015, and 2016), recognizing it as one of the country’s top ROTC programs.  Additionally, the Eagle Battalion is home to one of the nation’s largest producers of Army Nurses.

Duty, Honor, Country, Eagles!

Last updated: 5/27/2021