As the September 20 date for implementation of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010 nears—prompting universities that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation to welcome U.S. military-training programs back to their campuses—Yale has signed an agreement to establish an Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) detachment there. The agreement, executed by Yale president Richard Levin and Air Force secretary Michael B. Donley, will bring Air Force cadet classes to the campus next fall; it will enroll both Yale undergraduates and students from other campuses. It joins a Yale Naval ROTC program announced last May. Previously, Yale students had to travel to the program at the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, more than an hour away; UConn’s program will remain in operation.
Levin noted, “For those Yale students interested in serving their country, ROTC will now be a more attractive option. Similarly, as other colleges and universities become affiliated with the Yale Detachment, ROTC will become a more practical choice for students throughout western and southern Connecticut.”
As reported when Harvard officially recognized the Navy ROTC program last March, Harvard undergraduates will still be pursuing their military studies primarily at MIT. Although Harvard facilities are available for military exercises, the College is not establishing a full-fledged ROTC detachment on campus. The military has grouped training programs for clusters of nearby campuses to save funds, particularly where the number of enrolled cadets is small.
