Ohio National Guard News

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio University Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Program received the first ever Abraham Award as the top ROTC program in Ohio in a April 25 presentation at the battalions annual Military Ball in Athens.

The Brig. Gen. James M. Abraham Outstanding Ohio ROTC Battalion Award recognizes the top ROTC Program among the 13 host battalions in the state of Ohio. Four categories were used to rank the battalions; the number of Cadets using a Dedicated Army National Guard Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty Contract; the number of Cadets serving in the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP); the number of Cadets who commission in the Ohio Army National Guard; and the greatest overall contribution to the readiness of the OHARNG.

The award is named after Brig. Gen. Jim Abraham, former assistant adjutant general for the Ohio Army National Guard and an Ohio University alumnus. Abraham, a Gahanna, Ohio resident, is widely recognized as the man who single handedly saved ROTC amidst severely declining enrollment in the 1970’s when he founded the SMP.

Prior to Abraham’s initiative, members of the National Guard were prohibited from serving in the Guard and attending ROTC to obtain their commission. By allowing “simultaneous membership” in both entities, Abraham sought to capitalize on the leadership and training opportunities Cadets could realize while serving in Guard units.

The result was a dramatic increase in ROTC’s sagging membership. Today, more than 150 SMP Cadets serve statewide as thanks to Abraham.

Abraham was on hand with Maj. Gen. Matt Kambic, assistant adjutant general for Army, to present the award to Lt. Col. William Hauschild, Professor of Military Science and commander of the “Bobcat Battalion.” Upon accepting the award Hauschild highlighted the close relationship between the OHARNG and OU, saying “Ohio University Army ROTC has a long-standing positive relationship with the OHARNG, as attested by the fact that the SMP was born here at OU, under the direction of General Abraham. We plan on building upon this strong relationship by continuing to produce outstanding young motivated leaders for the Ohio Guard in the years to come.”

According to Kambic, “The Bobcat battalion personifies the excellence we strive for in the National Guard, and it is only fitting that in this first year of the award, Ohio University, the birthplace of the SMP, the university General Abraham holds in such high esteem, is our first recipient.”

Members of the Ohio Army National Guard enrolled in ROTC can combine their Ohio National Guard Scholarship and a Guaranteed National Guard Reserve Forces Duty Scholarship to pay for 100% of their tuition at one of Ohio’s public universities and up to $10,000 for room and board in addition to an ROTC stipend and monthly drill check.

-30-