For nearly three decades, this Association has had as its mission to support the young men and women comprising our USC NROTC Gamecock Battalion. To that end, we conduct fund raising activities, such as our annual Golf Tournament, to fund scholarships for out-of-state students which allows them to qualify for the near-in-state tuition rate. This funding also allows our Midshipmen to attend national leadership and professional development conferences. Finally, we support a host of unit activities such as national drill team meets and by providing financial support to fund those items needed that are beyond the Department of the Navy’s Budget. More information on these and other activities follow:
The Gamecock Battalion
Our 2021 Fall semester Gamecock Battalion has 82 Midshipmen (71 males and 11 females) including 18 incoming freshmen. Annually, your USC NROTC Alumni Association presents unit Golf Shirts to each of the new incoming Midshipmen.
Tangible/Direct Support
Over the past several years, your Alumni Association purchased a podium incorporating a sound system to be used at unit ceremonies and events, financed trips for our Drill Team to compete at Tulane University, and provided funds for three Midshipmen to attend a Special Warfare (Seal Team) indoctrination weekend and three others to attend an advanced leadership seminar at Notre Dame University. Most recently, we collaborated with the Air Force ROTC in purchasing a Flight Simulator to be used jointly by both units.
Golf Tournament
In March, 2021, we held our annual fund raiser at Fort Jackson. We had over 60 participants and raised just over $7,000 for our Gamecock Battalion. We added those funds to our war chest. We utilize the interest from the corpus to fund scholarships and leadership training opportunities for our Midshipmen. Be on the lookout for information about our 2022 Tournament which will again be held at Fort Jackson on Friday, March 25, 2022.
Scholarships
Our program to award scholarships to out-of-state students has been highly successful. Each $250 scholarship allows the student to qualify for near-in-state tuition which saves them or their parents approximately $14,000 annually. Each Spring, we also award $1,000 scholarships to two outstanding graduating seniors who undergo a rigorous selection process. Our heartfelt thanks go out to the generous individuals who make this possible.
Come Aboard
If you would like to join in our efforts to support our Gamecock Battalion, a contribution of $250 will fund a complete scholarship. Of course, any amount is greatly appreciated. You will become a lifetime member of our Admiral’s Club with a contribution of $250 or more, and will receive a certificate from the Association in recognition thereof. Please make your check payable to USC NROTC Alumni Association and mail it to Post Office Box 24677, Columbia, SC 29224.
Special Recognition
Recently the University of South Carolina and our Unit were recognized by the Secretary of Defense with the Department of Defense ROTC and Educational Institution Partnership Excellence Award as the Department of the Navy’s most outstanding ROTC Unit and host educational institution as determined by performance, host institution support, and other noteworthy achievements. One ROTC Unit and host educational institution is selected annually among the 78 NROTC Units with a footprint on 168 colleges/universities (consortiums and cross-town agreements) across the country so this was a significant accomplishment. Bravo Zulu to our Gamecock Battalion!
Please contact us if you would be interested in serving on our board of directors.
As always, thank you for your support and cooperation, and GO GAMECOCKS!
Very respectfully,
John H. Talbot, Jr.
CAPT(Ret) U.S. Navy
USC NROTC, Class of 1964
803-917-8549