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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970
""Iowa '70: Riot, Rhetoric, Responsibility?"" Page 31
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[photo] management, inter-personal relationships, leadership skills, and communication skills. The academic level of ant second semester course in the University, thus students should receive academic credit for it," he stated. Seamans feels the course substance is so non-military that there could be course substitution with other departments because they teach the same basic skills. Seamans explained that instructors may lack the educational background for the course content they teach but that this is compensated for by their " real world experience" which makes them extremely effective in presenting their information. The problem will apparently be alleviated soon however, as Colonel Spiva explained that beginning in 1971 all officers assigned to have an AFROTC detachment will be required to have at least a master's degree. He went on to explain that this is being implemented to alleviate any question of the academic quality or background knowledge of the instructors teaching the courses. " I feel that the leadership training offered through ROTC cannot be found in any other course offered through the University," Spiva added. The removal of academic credit would significantly detract from student interest in the program, according to Schockey. Schockey admitted that the removal of ROTC completely, would have an impact on the officer supply. About 70 per cent of the army's new lieutenants came from ROTC programs. The impact would be only temporary, though " Congress is going to get the required leadership someway. The Officers Candidate School could be made more attractive by meand of monetary incentives," said Schockey. " The fact that we're having trouble at Iowa is pretty inconsequential. There are 300 other universities with Army ROTC and 175 with Air Force ROTC. The army is used to operating with as much as a 25 per cent shortage officers. The loss of 1000 officers isn't going to stop the war", he said. When asked if ROTC should be taken off campus allowing students to join voluntarily if they wish to do so. Spiva feels the fate of ROTC on this campus ultimately he left up to Boyd's recommendations, the public opinion of the residents of Iowa, and the final decisions made by the Board of Regents. Wilkinson feels the decision shouldn't be based on the current situations in Vietnam and Cambodia," The military is doing what the politicians are telling them to do. If ROTC is kicked off campus, or demonstrated against so should they take place against Political Science department because the politicians are making the decisions." According to Seamans, ROTC shouldn't be removed from the campus because it would be a further concession to the demonstrators adding to the snowball effect witnessed this fall. " Since it isn't mandatory, it should be available for those that wish it. Without any question, the material learned for ROTC courses, and abilities developed in ROTC classes were more beneficial to me than anything in my four years at the University of Iowa," he said. Colonel Schockey added, the military in this country only take order from the civilian branch of the government. The military in Vietnam is only obeying those civilian orders. People dissatisfied with the war should take action against the political branch of the government instead of against the military." What lies ahead for the military profession? No one knows, one can only surmize as many have that the main input of people into the military will be conducted on a voluntary basis. " When this happens." Wilkinson state " the move towards a professional military will be more desirous. It will mean putting professional military men in a position which is equal to the status of other professional vocations." [photo] 27
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[photo] management, inter-personal relationships, leadership skills, and communication skills. The academic level of ant second semester course in the University, thus students should receive academic credit for it," he stated. Seamans feels the course substance is so non-military that there could be course substitution with other departments because they teach the same basic skills. Seamans explained that instructors may lack the educational background for the course content they teach but that this is compensated for by their " real world experience" which makes them extremely effective in presenting their information. The problem will apparently be alleviated soon however, as Colonel Spiva explained that beginning in 1971 all officers assigned to have an AFROTC detachment will be required to have at least a master's degree. He went on to explain that this is being implemented to alleviate any question of the academic quality or background knowledge of the instructors teaching the courses. " I feel that the leadership training offered through ROTC cannot be found in any other course offered through the University," Spiva added. The removal of academic credit would significantly detract from student interest in the program, according to Schockey. Schockey admitted that the removal of ROTC completely, would have an impact on the officer supply. About 70 per cent of the army's new lieutenants came from ROTC programs. The impact would be only temporary, though " Congress is going to get the required leadership someway. The Officers Candidate School could be made more attractive by meand of monetary incentives," said Schockey. " The fact that we're having trouble at Iowa is pretty inconsequential. There are 300 other universities with Army ROTC and 175 with Air Force ROTC. The army is used to operating with as much as a 25 per cent shortage officers. The loss of 1000 officers isn't going to stop the war", he said. When asked if ROTC should be taken off campus allowing students to join voluntarily if they wish to do so. Spiva feels the fate of ROTC on this campus ultimately he left up to Boyd's recommendations, the public opinion of the residents of Iowa, and the final decisions made by the Board of Regents. Wilkinson feels the decision shouldn't be based on the current situations in Vietnam and Cambodia," The military is doing what the politicians are telling them to do. If ROTC is kicked off campus, or demonstrated against so should they take place against Political Science department because the politicians are making the decisions." According to Seamans, ROTC shouldn't be removed from the campus because it would be a further concession to the demonstrators adding to the snowball effect witnessed this fall. " Since it isn't mandatory, it should be available for those that wish it. Without any question, the material learned for ROTC courses, and abilities developed in ROTC classes were more beneficial to me than anything in my four years at the University of Iowa," he said. Colonel Schockey added, the military in this country only take order from the civilian branch of the government. The military in Vietnam is only obeying those civilian orders. People dissatisfied with the war should take action against the political branch of the government instead of against the military." What lies ahead for the military profession? No one knows, one can only surmize as many have that the main input of people into the military will be conducted on a voluntary basis. " When this happens." Wilkinson state " the move towards a professional military will be more desirous. It will mean putting professional military men in a position which is equal to the status of other professional vocations." [photo] 27
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