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The Cramer's Saber Battalion |
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| The Army ROTC Battalion on the URI campus originated from
the military training unit established in 1894 by Captain William W.
Wetherspoon, later Chief of Staff of the United States Army. Under the
provisions of the Morrill Act of 1862, more familiarly known as the Land
Grant Act, State Colleges set up military training units to prepare the
college students for leadership in the event of a national emergency. In
1920, the unit was re-designated as the Reserve Officers Training Corps in
compliance with the National Defense Act of 1920.
Starting with a unit consisting of fourteen men in 1894, the unit grew to approximately 1500 cadets during the time ROTC was mandatory for freshman and sophomore students. The unit was organized into a brigade of three battalions consisting of three companies each and one provisional battalion consisting of the junior training company, Kingston Rangers, the ROTC Band and the Drill Team. An Infantry Branch material unit was instituted with military instruction in 1894. Subsequently, Quartermaster and Engineer branch units were incorporated into the program in 1943 and 1951 respectively. Presently, all branch training has been terminated and replaced by General Military Science instruction. Full college credit is received for ROTC courses by all students enrolled. Since 1919, over 1600 cadets have been awarded commissions in the Active and Reserve Components of the United States Army. Approximately 25,000 students have taken basic ROTC courses at the University of Rhode Island during the same period. Beginning with the academic year 1965-1966, Military Science has been on a voluntary basis. In 1986 the University of Rhode Island cadet battalion was named "CRAMER'S SABERS" in honor of First Lieutenant, Parker Dresser Cramer, Infantry Corps, University of Rhode Island, Class of 1959. First Lieutenant Cramer is remembered for his dedication to the service of his fellow citizens, for his exemplary integrity, and for his military service in combat. The cadet battalion motto "Knowledge, Dedication, and Integrity" summarizes his attitude, his actions and his contributions. First Lieutenant Cramer fell in combat in 1963 in Vietnam. |
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1976 Henry Herbert 1977 Kevin E. Mikula 1978 William G. Gessner Jr. 1979 Steven G. Schmith 1980 Timothy Shea 1981 Thomas Heaney 1982 Keith Long 1983 John Thompson 1984 Eric J. Hague 1985 Richard C. Ryan 1986 Robert J. Hehl 1987 Mark C. Horoho 1988 William P. LaChance 1989 Duane Severa 1990 Patrick T. Lee 1991 Andrew B. Feick 1992 P. Drake Jackson 1993 Dwight Weber 1994 Michael P. Siravo 1995 Jason C. Glick 1996 Michael J. Carney 1997 Kevin S. Fracassa 1998 Peter J. Mandeville 1999 Rebecca Meeker 2000 Michael Ceprano 2001 Michael G. Mannix 2002 Nathan T. Seidell 2003 John M. Chiappone
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