On March 11, 1878 eight young Negro men became the first of their race to enroll in a state supported college in the state of Texas. Establishing a strong tradition in excellence as well as pioneering, that college has evolved into one of the most prestigious Historically Black Colleges (HBC) in the country today. Prairie View A&M University has given young black students the opportunities to do what has never been done since the day of its establishment. And no organization’s past, present and future better embodies that tradition of excellence and ground-breaking than the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corp (N.R.O.T.C.).In the summer of 1967, the office of the Secretary of the Navy formulated plans for the establishment of an N.R.O.T.C. unit at a historically black college. Dr. Alvin I. Thomas, president of Prairie View A&M University at the time, submitted an application requesting that the N.R.O.T.C. program be established at Prairie View. On December 15, 1967, the Secretary of Defense announced that the Navy had selected Prairie View A&M University, and official documentation, dated March 12, 1968, established the first NROTC program at a HBC at Prairie View A&M University. On April 14, 1968, Captain Francis X. Brady, USN, reported as the first Commanding Officer and Professor of Naval Science.
The first group of 13 Navy and Marine Corps Officers was commissioned on May 17, 1970. Of those first commissioned is Vice Admiral David L. Brewer III, USN, commander, Military Sealift Command. Vice Admiral Brewer has held a number of prestigious commands in his career, including commander, Amphibious Group THREE (1997), and vice chief of Naval Education and Training in Pensacola, Florida (1999-2001).
Yet, Vice Admiral Brewer’s current billet as commander, Military Sealift Command, is a true testament of the nature of Naval Officers commissioned at Prairie View A&M University. Success and excellence are not only goals for these young students, but they are also obligations to the 285 outstanding men and women that have gpne before them to serve or nation with honor, courage and commitment.
Today, the N.R.O.T.C. unit at Prairie View A&M University still has the same mission as the day it was established to develop midshipmen (MIDN) morally, mentally, and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor, and loyalty in order to commission college graduates as officers who possess a basic professional background, are motivated toward careers in the Naval Service and have a potential for future development in mind and character so as to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship, and government.
The N.R.O.T.C. aggressively seeks qualified candidates for its program and offers them full tuition and academic benefits. Students are trained through academics, physical fitness programs, leadership challenges, and active duty fleet experience. If you have any questions about joining the elite and prestigious organization, please contact the N.R.O.T.C. recruiter at Prairie View A&M University at (936)857-2524 or visit the web site at http://www.pvamu.edu/gridold/nrotc/NROTCWEB2003/nrotcpvamu.htm.