A Military Junior College (MJC) allows Cadets to become commissioned Officers in two years, instead of the usual four, through the ROTC/Early Commissioning Program. The new Second Lieutenants must complete a Bachelor's degree within three years. Begun in 1966, the Early Commissioning Program (ECP) plays a major role in officer production. In some years, ECP Officers have accounted for over 60 percent of all ROTC Second Lieutenants in the United States Army. The program is a major financial incentive for students who receive their commissions early and serve as Officers while still attending college and gaining service time for promotions and retirement.
In 1911 the first cadets to receive commissions as second lieutenants in the Army at NMMI were Eugene Lohman of Las Cruces, New Mexico and Mord P. Short of Como, Mississippi. Five years later, Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps was established at New Mexico Military Institute on December 3, 1916.
In 1965 the Military Science Department commissioned the first second lieutenant under the Army's Early Commissioning Program, 2LT Patrick H. Orell. New Mexico Military Institute ROTC continued to make history in 1997 when the battalion was named the best ROTC battalion in 4th Region ROTC, by winning the Macarthur Award. In 2007 US Army Cadet Command recognized the NMMI Army ROTC ECP as the most improved military school ROTC program in the country.
Over the decades, NMMI ROTC has produced thousands of Army Officers and the battalion is consistently one of the top producers of second lieutenants in US Army Cadet Command. Soldiers and Officers that have passed through NMMI ROTC and JROTC have been recognized for their valor and rising to flag rank.
On November 1, 1988 New Mexico Military Institute ROTC took on the regimental linage of 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry through the decree of its commander, LTC Emil K. Kluever and command sergeant major, CSM Alzalkia C. Jones. Since that day, we have been proud to be the Garry Owen Battalion.
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1st Squadron - 7th Cavalry Regiment "Garryowen"
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