The Citadel (Military College)

From Freepedia

The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, enrolls about 1,900 cadets and 1,700 civilian students. The college was established by South Carolina's legislature (along with a defunct school "The Arsenal" in 1842 to defend against slave insurrections; the first cadets were enrolled in 1845. Citadel students were enthusiastic supporters of South Carolina's rebellion against the United States in 1860/61, manning batteries around Charleston Harbor.

Having grudgingly accepted African-Americans and women into the Corps of Cadets, The Citadel offers Bachelor degrees and Master Degrees in over 20 subjects. Many freshmen go on to graduate, inspired by the wholesome mix of academia, physical challenges, and military discipline. Most graduates say they feel that the discipline had a profound effect on them.

Civilian undergraduate and graduate programs are offered through the Citadel's College of Graduate and Professional Studies, and some part-time undergraduate degrees are offered through the GGPS in conjunction with Charleston's Trident Technical Community College.

You are Citadel Men, you have no pension for failure, you wear the Ring, you never let a friend down, you will be good fathers, husbands, and leaders in the armed forces and industry, you are strong in heart, body, and mind. You protect such things as Honor and Fidelity. Your virtues will matter ... you are the last of the knights.

-late President Ronald Reagan

Contents 1 History 2 Athletics 3 Minority and female students 3.1 Admission of women 4 Student life 4.1 Knob year 4.2 Academic program 4.3 Class privileges 4.4 The Band of Gold 4.5 Honor Code 5 Military service 6 Notable graduates 7 Fictional depictions 8 Additional pictures

History

The college was established by South Carolina's legislature in 1842 and the first cadets were enrolled in 1845 at The Arsenal campus in Columbia, South Carolina. During this time, cadets spent one year in Columbia at The Arsenal, then transferred to The Academy, in Charleston, for the remainder of their cadetship. In 1910, the campus was combined and the Academy was renamed The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. In 1922, "The Citadel" was moved and reopened once again in its present location along the bank of the Ashley River in Charleston, South Carolina.

Enrollment in The South Carolina Military Academy increased from 34 students in 1843 to 296 in 1864. The $200 tuition in 1843 increased to $1,200 in 1864. When South Carolina rebelled against the United States in December 1860, Major Robert Anderson (USA) moved his garrison to Fort Sumter and requested reinforcements. On January 9, 1861, rebels, including Citadel cadets, unlawfully fired upon the civilian supply ship Star of the West, which was assigned to rotate staff and supply food at Fort Sumter. Citadel supporters often claim this as the first overt act of the American Civil War. By legislative act of January 28, 1861, the cadets at The Arsenal in Columbia and The Citadel in Charleston were made part of the military organization of the State of South Carolina as the Battalion of State Cadets. The Arsenal and The Citadel continued to operate as military academies, however classes were often disrupted when the governor called the cadets into military service. Mounting and manning heavy guns, guard duty and escorting prisoners were among the services performed by the cadets. The school was closed after the civil war for nearly 20 years.

Although they did not see action as a unit, members of the cadet corps served with various rebel units in South Carolina that participated in eight engagements from 1861 to 1865. As a result of these services, The Citadel is authorized by a legislative act of the state to carry nine battle streamers earned during rebellion against the United States Government:

• Star of the West, January 9, 1861
• Wappoo Cut, November 1861
• James Island, June 1862
• Charleston and Vicinity, July-October 1863
• James Island, June 1864
• Tulifinny, December 1864
• James Island, December 1864-February 1865
• Williamston, May 1865
• Confederate States Army streamer (larger gray)

On February 18, 1865, The Citadel was shut down as a college when United States troops restored order to Charleston. The Arsenal was burned by the United States Army under Sherman and never reopened. The Citadel was closed for 17 years between 1865 and 1882, when the academy was reopened by an act of the U.S. Congress and the South Carolina General Assembly. The original Citadel was on Marion Square in downtown Charleston. In 1922 the college moved to its present location, approximately 100 acres (0.4 km²) of marsh and high ground along the banks of the Ashley River.

The college opened the CGPS in 1968 to expand the school's academic program and give Low Country residents an opportunity to continue their educations on a part-time basis.

Athletics

Both civilians and cadets play on the Citadel's sports teams. The school's sports teams are called the Bulldogs. For the past two years, the Citadel's starting quarterbacks were civilians enrolled in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-AA, and the Southern Conference. Those cadets who participate in varsity athletics are required to report a month earlier prior to their freshman year for "athletic cadre," so that they can participate in their sport practices when normal cadre starts. During the athletic cadre, the military athletes are initiated into the Corps while completing first-week experiences, such as "Hell Week". Civilian students do not participate in the "Corps of Cadets."

Minority and female students

Image:Femalecadets.jpg After enrolling in 1966, Charles Foster became the first African-American cadet to graduate from the Citadel in 1970.

Admission of women

The Citadel excluded women until 1994. On January 20, 1994, Shannon Faulkner, by court order after a two-year legal fight, became the first female student to take day classes at The Citadel. After additional legal battles, Faulkner joined the Corps of Cadets on August 15, 1995. She spent almost the entire first week in the Infirmary before resigning, complaining of exhaustion and harassment. Prior to Ms. Faulkner, there was no male or female option on the application; it was simply assumed that all applicants were men.

On May 8, 1999, Nancy Mace became the first female cadet to graduate from The Citadel. Her father was Commandant of Cadets at the time. The first African-American women graduated on May 11, 2002. The Citadel, like the US military, has adopted gender norming for physical fitness tests. The Citadel's position is that, since the Citadel's regulations are based on those of the U.S. armed forces, the physical requirements should be, as well. [1][2] [3] [4] [5]

The admission of women was initially unpopular in the traditionally all-male Corps of Cadets portion of the school. Women had been attending graduate and undergraduate programs at the Citadel for many years previous to the court case involving the Corps of Cadets. Over the years, though, female cadets have gone on to excel in every area of Citadel life and have, on some occasions, proved themselves to be some of the best cadets on campus. Female cadets have held leadership positions alongside their male peers at all levels of the Corps and have proven many critics wrong in regards to their capacity to lead in such a male-dominated environment. The transition is not quite complete, though, and some last hold-outs still wish for a single gender education. This has led to some instances of harassment by some of the more stubborn male cadets. The environment for minority students has improved drastically over recent years, and cadets now rate each other on their respective performances, rather than their gender or race.

Student life

The heart of The Citadel is made up of its Corps of Cadets. Cadets govern and lead themselves on a daily basis and entrust Cadet NCO's and officers to conduct all training and activities. This situation provides for what The Citadel likes to call a "leadership laboratory," in that many cadets get the chance to lead numerous subordinates in a controlled environment. This valuable leadership experience, gained at a young age, typically puts cadets well beyond their peers upon graduation. The Corps of Cadets is organized into an infantry regiment of approximately 1,900 individuals. The regiment is commanded by one Cadet Colonel, who is responsible for all actions amongst the Corps. The Regimental Commander is aided by his staff of approximately 25 senior officers and NCO's, who specialize in running the unique aspects of cadet life. The Cadets are broken down further into four battalions, each consisting of just under 500 people, and commanded by one Cadet Lieutenant Colonel. Each Battalion consists of four rifle companies of just over 100 cadets. The Cadet Company, commanded by a Cadet Captain, is the most identifying unit for a cadet, as he is assigned to it for all four years, and usually becomes an extended family during and after the time spent at The Citadel.

Knob year

The Citadel earns its reputation for giving its corps of cadets students a mentally and physically exhausting experience and, some say, has the longest (at nearly nine months) freshmen year of all senior military colleges and academies. The incoming freshmen are fourth classmen in the cadet system and are referred to as "Knobs." These first-year cadets can be identified by their shaved heads (males only) and by the accelerated pace, nearly a jog, that they keep while walking around campus. Also, Knob Year is infamous for the act of "Bracing," which all knobs are required to do while inside their barracks and in their rooms when in the presence of an upper classmen. The Bracing pose requires cadets to drastically tuck in their chins while rolling their shoulders back and down, with their arms pinned to their sides and their hands closed along their trousers. While the knobs undergo basic training during what is called "Hell Week," the culminating ritual of "Hell Night" insures their placement as the lowly fourth-class cadets. While physical challenges, from endless pushups, flutter kicks, running, and other unique exercises, are a never ending part of knob year, the greatest challenge affects the mind. Freshmen are taught the art of time management, teamwork, self sacrifice, and the fact that they can survive any trial and succeed at any task put before them. Throughout the year, knobs are forced to test their mental capacity in many ways, from the classroom to numerous items requiring memorization (including their chains of command, the daily menus, school and military history, and current events), known as "knob knowledge."

All cadets have drill practice Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11am and noon. Weekends are the most relaxed time for cadets but are often filled with SMI's (Saturday Morning Inspection) and other military duties, including community service. Unlike other colleges, cadets, from knobs to seniors, are forced to stay in on Friday nights to ensure that their rooms and uniforms are prepared for inspection. It is further assumed that by Winter Break most of Knob-life has been well adjusted to and even mastered to a certain extent. Yet on the contrary, as Knobs report back after Christmas break, they are faced with new leadership: the Sophomore Class. With new leadership, comes more pressure and more "activities" to successfully occupy the hours. Knobs are always called by their last names and are not allowed to know or utter the first names of upperclassmen. All upperclassmen are referred to as "Mr." or "Miss," followed by their last names. Freshman are not allowed to speak in the first person except in a classroom settings; the proper way to describe oneself during freshman year is, "This Cadet Private." The culminating point of training is Recognition Day, which occurs a couple of days before the senior class graduates. Recognition Day is a brutal crucible of Military Drills, Cleanliness, Inspections, and Physical Training. Recognition Day ends in a final "Spirit Run," a number of pushups (called a class set) that indicates the year the cadet is graduating in (105 for the class of 2005), and finally the ceremony where all the upperclassmen (sophomores, juniors, seniors) shake the hands of the knobs, call them by their first names, and welcome them into the Corps of Cadets as upperclassmen. Some criticize the Citadel and call this "tradition" unprofessional. But it is through the process of surviving knob year, getting accepted and “recognized,” in which future graduates procure their greatest pride. It is also worth noting that almost no member of the corps would want to call to an end this tradition, as it is considered by many to be the most memorable and important night of their lives. To them it is merely surviving the tradition experienced by those before them and branding their past forever with the ring; the true life as none other than the Citadel cadet.

Academic program

For Corps of Cadet students, the average SAT scores for the Class of 2007 was 900-1100 and the average high school GPA was 2.8 to 3.31. Just under 95% of all matriculating freshmen at The Citadel had the combined qualifications of SAT scores nearly above 1000, GPA's nearly above 3.00, and a top 30% high school class ranking. Those considering attending this school should have at least these "average" qualifications, as the other challenges of being a cadet will only be made worse by poor academic performance. The Cadet's greatest challenge is managing daily cadet life and its many military requirements with their college academic load. While other academies receive their training prior to the academic sessions, knobs are faced with daily challenges imposed by upperclassmen that occupy most of their lives and help ensure that time management is practiced. The Citadel requires a demanding academic schedule of its cadets. The cadets average 18 credit hours per semester, with some taking as many as 24. The academic course load also requires "core" classes to be taken by all cadets, including: two years of English, two years of a foreign language, one year each of two laboratory sciences, a year of history, a year of upper level mathematics, and a year of health and exercise science. Upon graduation, most cadets have earned more credits than their U.S. college peers would have in five years.

Class privileges

Each class is bound by the tradition of progression; only receiving privileges as they rise in seniority and rank. At the direction of the Regimental Commander, such privileges are normally set forth at the beginning of the second semester:

• Freshman: Second Semester room phone and overnight leave privileges
• Sophomores: Second Semester Quad Cutting Privilege, which allows third class cadets the right to walk across the checkboard quadrangle in the middle of each barracks, which often is a more convenient route in the barracks.
• Juniors: Second Semester Parade Ground privilege, which allows second class cadets the right to walk across the centrally located parade ground; this is often a more convenient route around campus. Also, the Blazer Uniform, which allows the second class the right to wear the blazer uniform on periods of leave rather than the standard leave uniform of the day.
• Seniors: All year Television Privilege, which allows seniors to have a modest sized TV in their rooms, and the Ring Privilege, which honors first class cadets with their Band of Gold.

The Band of Gold

Image:Thebandofgold.jpg The Citadel and its graduates take pride in their school ring. Cadets earn their rings during the fall of their senior, or first class, year. The occasion is highly anticipated and is an emotional event for the soon-to-be alumni. Somce cadets say that "Ring Day" is more important in their minds than graduation, and is only matched by their own Recognition Day.

The design of the cadet ring has not changed since the early 1940's. The Citadel ring design contains 14 symbols, which fourth class cadets are required to memorize.

Enlisted Marines who attend The Citadel through the MECEP program may also receive a ring during their senior year. This ring, as well as the one that graduates of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies may purchase, are slightly different from the ring worn by cadets.

Honor Code

Foremost in a cadet's life is the Cadet Honor Code, which states that, "A Cadet will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do." These words provide the foundation of The Citadel and exemplify the great importance of honor to both the institution and the cadets that make up its base. All cadets abide by the code and elect representatives to form the Corps' Honor Court, which holds investigations and trials for those suspected of not living by the Honor Code. The punishment for a guilty verdict is a recommendation for expulsion made by the cadets to the president of the college. This is usually carried out, except in the extremely rare occurrence of leniency.

Military service

Image:Sunsetguard.jpg All cadets undergo four years of ROTC training in one of the four branches of the armed services, but they are not required to enter military service after graduation. Currently, just over 40 percent of graduates go into military service and about 10 percent make the military a career, while others go on to graduate or law school programs, or enter the civilian workforce. Over the years, 126 Citadel alumni have reached the top ranks in the military by becoming flag officers (generals, rear admirals or commodores) [1]. Alumni of the Citadel have served their country in all wars involving the United States. Citadel alumni have been killed in action during the Civil War (49), World War I (15), World War II (280), Korean War (32), Vietnam (68), Lebanon (1), Grenada (1), the Gulf War (1), and the current War on Terror (8). [2] [3]

Notable graduates

Military

• Lewis G. Merritt, 1917. U.S. Marine Corps major general, pioneer in Marine Corps aviation and honored with the renaming of the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, SC, in his memory.
• Edwin A. Pollock, 1921. U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant general, commander of the Pacific and Atlantic Fleet Marine Forces.
• Thomas D. Howie, 1929. U.S. Army major and World War II hero. Known as “The Major of St. Lo” and leader of the battalion that captured St. Lo, France. Howie was killed during the battle to take St. Lo.
• LTG George M. Seignious II, USA, Class of 1942. 14th President of The Citadel; Former Deputy Asst. Secretary of Defense; Director, Joint Staff, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Delegate-at-large to the SALT talks; Former President, Atlantic Council of the US.
• Major General James A. Grimsley, Jr., USA, Class of 1942. 16th President of The Citadel; served in various high-level staff positions in the Pentagon & NATO, including duty as Director of Security Assistance Plans & Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense; one of three presidents in the history of The Citadel to hold the designation of President Emeritus.
• LTG Claudius E. Watts III, USAF, Class of 1958. 17th President of The Citadel; Fullbright Scholar; Former Comptroller of the USAF.
• GEN William W. Hartzog, USA, –Former Commanding General, Army Training & Doctrine Command —Class of 1963
• LTG Frank C. Libutti, USMC, .—Former Commander, Marine Forces Pacific; Special Assistant for Homeland Security, New York, NY—Class of 1966
• LTG John B. Sams, Jr., USAF, .—Former Commander of 15th AF, Travis AFB—Class of 1967
• LTG William M. Steele, USA—Commanding General, USA/Pacific—Class of 1967
• LTG William P. Tangney, USA—Deputy Commander, Joint Special Operations Command—Class of 1967
• LTG John Costello, USA, .—Commanding General, USA Space & Missile Defense Command—Class of 1969
• LTG Colby M. Broadwater III, USA—Chief of Staff for the United States European Command in Germany—Class of 1972
• LTG John W. Rosa, USAF—Academy Superintendent, USAF Academy USAFA—Class of 1973

Citadel alumni have also distinguished themselves in business and government. Some examples are:

Government

• Ernest F. Hollings, Class of 1942. US Senator from South Carolina.
• John C. West, Class of 1942. Governor of South Carolina; Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
• W. Brantley Harvey, Class of 1951. Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina.
• Falcon B. Hawkins, Jr., Class of 1958. US District Judge/South Carolina.
• Steve Buyer, Class of 1980. US Congressman/Indiana District 5.
• Robert Poydasheff, Mayor of Columbus, Georgia

Sports

• Paul L. Maguire—ESPN sports analyst; former professional football player (one of only 12 players to play from the inception of the American Football League until its merger with the NFL).
• W. Calvin (Cal) McCombs—Football coach, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA.
• Michael L. Bozeman, USAR—Track Coach, Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1967

Other

• Arland D. Williams, Jr., Class of 1957. Died heroically following the Air Florida Flight 90 crash into the 14th Street Bridge and Potomac River in Washington, DC, in January 1982. Before he sank to his death in the icy water, he saved the lives of five others by passing to them the lifeline lowered for him by a rescue helicopter.
• James Oliver Rigney, Jr. - (Pseudonyms include Robert Jordan, Reagan O'Neal, and Jackson O'Reilly) Author of book series Fallon, Conan the Barbarian, The Wheel of Time, The Infinity of Heaven, and Cheyenne Riders.
• Pat Conroy author of many bestselling novels including The Water is Wide, The Lords of Discipline, The Great Santini, The Prince of Tides, Beach Music, and My Losing Season

Fictional depictions

Pat Conroy's 1980 novel The Lords of Discipline was based on Conroy's experience as a cadet at The Citadel during the 1960s. This book highlights the type hazing experienced by knobs at The Citadel, but also shows the closeness and brotherhood that develops between the knobs as they endure taunting by upper classmen. An interesting fact about Pat Conroy is that when this novel was published, the Board of Visitors decided to take away Conroy's ring due to the undeniable similarity between the portrayed military institution and The Citadel, as well as its portrayal of hazing and death. The ring was given back only after Pat Conroy had made a public announcement that his past experience as a cadet did not have any influence over the novel. The Lords of Discipline was made into a movie starring David Keith and Robert Prosky in 1983.

Additional pictures

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