MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s Army ROTC program is celebrating 75 years of history this week… That was Retired Colonel Rickey Smith.  ROTC is an acronym for Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.

Much has changed over the years with the ROTC program on the university’s campus... One of the biggest changes over the years is the absence of an on-campus airport. Back then, it was known as the State College Airport. Flights regularly came and went from the school until 1952, when the Murfreesboro Municipal Airport was officially dedicated at 1930 Memorial Blvd in Murfreesboro.

Colonel Smith said the program has helped produce multiple senior-ranking officers who have had a positive impact on the military...

WGNS asked Lieutenant Colonel Arlin Wilshire how cadets in the ROTC program stack up when compared to cadets in similar programs at other universities… Wilshire is a Professor of Military Science and leads the program at MTSU.

The 75th anniversary will be celebrated on Thursday morning at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial site outside the Tom H. Jackson Building (628 Alma Mater Drive) on the MTSU campus. Retired Army Col. Smith noted in a release, “The 75th anniversary is the recognition of serving the nation.”

TIME CAPSULE: Two time capsules will be part of the ceremonies, one that was buried in 2005 and retrieved Wednesday, April 9, and the other that will be buried April 10.

• You can learn more about this weeks celebration by Clicking HERE.
• Hear our 13-minute podcast where we interviewed both Retired Colonel Rickey Smith and Lieutenant Colonel Arlin Wilsher HERE.