Army ROTC Battalion at RIT Wins National MacArthur Award

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RIT Tiger Battalion

The RIT Army ROTC cadre was named best battalion in the 2nd Brigade and was awarded the prestigious MacArthur Award named after Gen. Douglas MacArthur and given for exceptional military service.

The Army ROTC cadet unit at Rochester Institute of Technology was named a MacArthur Award winner as the top battalion in the 2nd Brigade by the United States Department of the Army. The award, given to one ROTC unit in each of the eight brigades across the country, recognizes outstanding performance by the company in military exercises, academics and competitions over the previous year.

“It is quite an honor for us to receive this award because it not only speaks to the program’s ability to produce lieutenants for the Army, it speaks to the quality of lieutenant that we are producing,” says Lt. Col. Lynn Lubiak, commander of the RIT Army ROTC Tiger Battalion. “The cadre and staff of this unit are passionate about what they do and invest much of their time ensuring our cadets are trained well and prepared to lead America’s sons and daughters.”

RIT is one of eight university's selected as a MacArthur Award winner over 273 other colleges and universities across the U.S. Each year the U.S. Army Cadet Command, the parent organization of all the Army ROTC programs nationwide, in conjunction with the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation, presents the MacArthur Award to honor the top Army ROTC units from around the country. This is the second time RIT was honored by the organizations with a MacArthur Award; the first recognition came in 2006.

“The Tiger Battalion, along with Lubiak, the staff and cadets have shown that they have exceeded the standards that best represent the ideals of the watch words of “duty, honor, country” as practiced by General Douglas MacArthur,” says Col. Glenn Goldman, field artillery, commanding 2nd Brigade, U.S. Army Cadet Command. “As their brigade commander overseeing 41 ROTC programs throughout the northeastern states, I am very pleased and extremely proud of this program's many successes and achievements.”

In the past year, the Tiger Battalion and individual members of the group have been recognized for service excellence and academic achievement. In January 2009, the RIT Battalion was awarded the Eastern Region’s Outstanding ROTC Unit Award, given annually by the Order of the Founders and Patriots of America. The award is given to an Army ROTC unit for exceptional, overall military training and academic achievement, retaining and graduating 90 percent or better of the cadets enrolled in its campus program, achieving high ratings in command inspections, and leading all battalions at the premier ROTC event, the Leader Development Assessment Course held annually at Fort Lewis, Wash.

“RIT and it's Tiger Battalion traditionally have produced high quality Army officers and together enjoy a tremendous reputation of excellence,” Goldman adds. “Our cadre at RIT is leading by example. A lot of hard work, effort and dedication went into earning this award. The RIT ROTC commander, the cadre, the cadets and RIT itself can be justly proud of this achievement and well-earned recognition.”