History of Army ROTC at Georgia Tech
Following the establishment of the Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1916 by the National Defense Act, ROTC began at Georgia Tech in 1917. Participation in the ROTC basic course was initially required for graduation. While the original authorization for ROTC at Georgia Tech specified a Signal Corps and Coast Artillery Unit, the first affiliation was with the Infantry. Today's cadets are commissioned into all branches. In May of 1918, the first ROTC camp was established at Plattsburg, New york. In the summer of 1918, the Student Army Training Corps (SATC) was created. The program allowed students to attend the college of their choice and enlist as a regular member of any branch concurrently. Under this program, academics took a secondary role to military training. The War Department abolished the SATC program at the end of World War I leaving ROTC intact.
More than 7,000 lieutenants have received their commission from the Yellow Jacket Battalion, including two winners of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Alumni have served in every campaign from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, and more recent operations including Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom as well as Operation Iraqi Freedom. While Georgia Tech is the host institution for the battalion and the location of its headquarters, students at other distinguished colleges and universities are able to participate in ROTC through cross-enrollment agreements.
The Yellow Jacket Brigade is currently organized into two battalions:"Yellow Jacket Battalion"
Georgia Institute of TechnologyEmory University
Agnes Scott College
DeVry University
SCAD Atlanta
"Owl Battalion"
Kennesaw State UniversitySouthern Polytechnic State University