The future of UNA’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program is uncertain, after university officials learned on Wednesday, Oct. 2 that the program will shut down by May 2015, said UNA Communications Director Terry Pace.

“The Department of Defense has told us that the United States Army Cadet Command (USACC) is closing 13 of 273 ROTC programs nationwide,” Pace said. “Communication we received from the Department of the Army indicates that this action is not a reflection on either the quality of the program or the caliber of cadets UNA ROTC has produced. They are describing this move as an effort to restructure and realign their programs using fewer resources.”

The news came early on Wednesday afternoon, and Pace said university officials were shocked. However, an article from Inside Higher Ed claimed the reductions were ordered last month before the government shutdown.

“My perception of the situation is that no one at UNA knew about this until yesterday (Wednesday, Oct. 2),” he said.

The ROTC program has been part of UNA for 65 years, said university President William Cale in an email statement.

“We were shocked to learn of this decision, which was made without consultation and came without warning,” he said. “ROTC has been a proud part of the tradition of UNA for 65 years, and has produced many fine officers, including general officers. Our understanding, very limited at this point, is that the Army conducted a national review to assess how to best meet its current and future manpower needs. We do intend to seek advice through our elected federal officials and determine what our best course of action might be.”

For now, the cadets will continue training under their current regimen, said LTC Michael Snyder.

“In the past, recruiting has been a huge priority,” Snyder said. “Now we will adjust recruiting and focus on counseling the cadets on a one-on-one basis for a plan to move forward.”

The scholarships awarded will follow each cadet as they move forward, he said.

“After 2015, the scholarships will follow them,” Snyder said. “It’s an individual decision.”

Developing a commissioning plan and academic plan will be a focus for the remainder of the program, Snyder said.

“We’ll work to maintain routine and consistent counseling and advising sessions,” he said. “We will address and facilitate the opportunities for cadets to commission as members of the Army.”

The absence of the program will change the dynamic of the university, said sophomore Cadet Graem Cook.

“I absolutely believe (UNA) will suffer without the program,” he said.

The cadets are not only part of the university, but they also aid with programs in the community, such as the local fire department, said Cadet Alyssa Primeau.

“It’s huge in the community,” she said. “(The absence of this program) is going to affect the entire community, not just UNA.”

 Eliminating the program does take away from the university’s environment, said Vagn Hansen, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, which houses the ROTC program and Military Science department.

“It takes away an important component of our college atmosphere,” he said. “(The program) contributes a presence of the sense of the importance of our country that’s not always present on college campuses.”

The university is planning to look at their options for the student program, said Vice President for Academic Affairs John Thornell.

“Rest assured, we’re all very concerned,” he said. “Right now we have to look at what our options are and move forward from there.”