Mines Military--One of the Oldest Departments on Campus As early as Sept. 3, 1873, students of the "University Schools at Golden," which included Jarvis Hall, Matthews Hall, and the School of Mines received military training from George West, who had served as a Captain in the Civil War. In 1909, Mines men were recruited for Company M, 1st Infantry, Colorado National Guard, and the unit at Mines has remained Corps of Engineers Branch Material since that time. In 1911, Dr. Victor C. Alderson, president of Mines, granted credit toward graduation on completing a satisfactory course of military training. Nearly all students who enlisted with Company A were commissioned in the U.S. Army at the outbreak of World War I. The first call to action was on June 19, 1916, for Mexican Border service. On Sept. 8, 1917, the first Battalion of Engineers left for training, and this group became the nucleus for the 115th Engineers, 40th Division, which served in France during World War I. The colors of this outfit are on display in the Military Department. In 1919, Colorado School of Mines became one of the first four colleges in the United States to establish a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. During the summer of 1921, students attended the first Advanced Course at Fort Lewis, Wash.; in 1922 the students went to camp at Fort Sam Houston. From 1923 through 1940, ROTC students attended summer camp at nearby Fort Logan. Because of the high quality officers produced, the ROTC unit at Mines was referred to in the 1930s as "The West Point of the Rockies." Hundreds of Mines men served their country in World War II, and General Reybold referred to these men as "the backbone of the Corps of Engineers." Following the war when the veterans returned to Mines to complete their schooling, many enrolled in ROTC to obtain their commissions, and these officers served in Korea. Again, during the recent conflict in Southeast Asia, Mines ROTC officers served with distinction in the best tradition of the school. Since its beginning in 1919, the Mines ROTC unit has commissioned over 1900 officers, and its 1974th officer may very possibly be commissioned during the Mines Centennial year. The Military Department presently has eight Regular Army officers and five enlisted men, all on active duty. In addition to the required freshman course and the elective sophomore, junior, and senior courses, ROTC students also participate in the extracurricular organizations of Scabbard and Blade, Perishing Rifles, Elective Rifle, and the Society of American Military Engineers. A recent organization on the campus is Pathfinders with over 100 ROTC members enrolled in a physically demanding course. The Pathfinders provide the community with a well-trained rescue team capable of responding to any mountaineering or water-related emergency. Over the years, many honors have been bestowed to Mines men in the ROTC program. Perhaps one of the most coveted awards is the Dwight D. "Ike" Eisenhower Award presented annually by Mr. And Mrs. R. B. "Ike" Downing, who initiated this award in 1971. Mr. and Mrs. Downing have been keenly interested in Mines its students, and the development of their citizenship responsibility to the nation. The recipient of this annual award must have demonstrated exemplary leadership within the Corps of Cadets at Mines and academic excellence in the pursuit of studies in Military Science. From The Mines Magazine February 1974