U.S. Department of Defense recognizes three K-State administrators for superior support of ROTC programs

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Sources: Col. Thomas "Randy" O'Boyle, 785-532-6600, roboyle@k-state.edu;
Charles Reagan, 785-532-6221, reagan@k-state.edu; Bob Krause, 785-532-5942,
vpia@k-state.edu; Steve White, 785-532-6900, sew@k-state.edu;
and Lt. Col. George Beylin, 785-532-6754, gbelin@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Beth Bohn, 785-532-6415, bbohn@k-state.edu

Monday, October 2, 2006

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE RECOGNIZES THREE K-STATE ADMINISTRATORS FOR SUPERIOR SUPPORT OF ROTC PROGRAMS

MANHATTAN -- Three Kansas State University administrators are among 18 elite educators from across the nation being recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense for providing superior support to ROTC programs at their institutions.

K-State's Charles Reagan, associate to the president; Bob Krause, vice president for institutional advancement; and Steve White, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, have each received a letter from Donald Rumsfeld, secretary of defense, thanking them for their support of the U.S. Armed Forces through the Army and Air Force ROTC programs at K-State.

In his letters to Krause, Reagan and White, Rumsfeld wrote: "Please accept my personal thanks for your support of a great institution -- the U.S. Armed Forces, and in particular, its Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). Your support has been enormously constructive to the objectives of both of our institutions."

Rumsfeld also wrote: "Through your actions and unwavering support, you have provided every ROTC student with an important sense of belonging, and for that I am most grateful. Please accept my best wishes for every continued future success."

Reagan and Krause were nominated for the recognition by Col. Thomas "Randy" O'Boyle, commander of Air Force ROTC Detachment 270 and head of the department of aerospace studies at K-State. White was nominated by now retired Lt. Col. Art DeGroat, the former head of the Army ROTC program at K-State and now the university's director of military affairs. Nominations were solicited earlier this year by the office of the under secretary of defense.

O'Boyle said both Krause and Reagan have shown their support for ROTC programs at K-State in a variety of ways.

"When it was announced that President Bush would speak at K-State earlier this year, Dr. Reagan immediately called and told me he had special tickets for ROTC cadets," O'Boyle said.

"He also routinely nurtures a positive atmosphere throughout campus, resulting in wholesale support of these student airmen and soldiers. Our cadets receive thanks and smiles of appreciation when they wear their uniforms to class at K-State. Unfortunately, that doesn't always happen elsewhere, I'm sorry to say," O'Boyle said.

O'Boyle calls Krause "the premier silent warrior" for K-State's ROTC programs.

"He's never striving for the limelight; he is always working in the background to do the right thing," O'Boyle said. "At a time when the nation is at war, Bob Krause and his team pushed hard to get Kansas law amended, ensuring military personnel and their families were granted in-state residency at K-State.

"He also routinely promotes ROTC programs, working tirelessly to find ways to help enlisted soldiers and airmen pursue degrees and subsequent officer commissions by accommodating the special needs of military personnel. He recognizes their sacrifices and challenges, and has sought ways to make a difference for them," O'Boyle said.

Lt. Col. George Belin, the new head of K-State's Army ROTC program and the department of military science, said that although he is new to K-State, he has seen how White's leadership has benefited K-State's Army and Air Force ROTC programs.

"It is easy to see why the secretary of defense recognized Dean White for his superior support of ROTC," Belin said. Since my arrival at K-State this summer, Dean White has offered me his complete support, both personally and professionally. His encouragement and assistance have been exceptional and I look forward to many years of working with him to provide our Army the best lieutenants possible from K-State."

K-State's Army ROTC program is having a highly successful 2006. The program received the 2006 Outstanding Army ROTC Unit Award for the U.S. Army Cadet Command's Western Region; the honor also is given to a school in the eastern half of the United States. This fall, K-State became the first university in America to offer a hand-to-hand military combatives program for its ROTC students. Currently, Army ROTC cadets nationwide receive brief, familiarization training on combatives theory, skills and practice during their junior year leadership camp. K-State is enabling their cadets to go far beyond familiarization by providing a semester-long course that culminates in their being officially certified at the first level by the United States Army.

Reagan said K-State has a long and proud tradition of supporting ROTC programs.

"ROTC is essential to producing officers for our nation's defense, and Kansas State University has played an important role in this area," Reagan said. "Among K-State's many distinguished ROTC graduates include retired Gen. Richard Myers, who rose to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation's highest military position. Gen. Ron Keyes, the commander of all U.S. fighters and bombers, also is a K-State ROTC graduate."

"We all are so very proud of our K-State ROTC programs, our staff and our cadets, as well as all they have done to serve this great country of ours," Krause said. "It is a pleasure and a privilege to be part of such a great team effort."

The climate fostered at K-State by Jon Wefald, university president, and implemented by Reagan, Krause and others, has helped enrollments in the Air Force and Army ROTC programs at K-State grow rapidly, O'Boyle said.

"Not only are the programs getting bigger, but the quality of the cadets has soared," he said. "Our new Air Force cadets second lieutenants are doing great things. Just this year alone, two K-State Air Force ROTC grads won awards as the top graduates of their pilot training class."

"The same is true of K-State's Army ROTC program," White said. "Since 2000, federal scholarship support of the program has tripled to more than $366,600. In addition, K-State ranked first out of 272 schools with Army ROTC pre-professional programs in having the most graduating officers selected for advanced education and service in 2005."

O'Boyle said the support he has received from top to bottom at K-State has made his job easier.

"There are a number of universities with outstanding ROTC programs and great support, but I don't believe any of the other 144 Air Force ROTC programs nationwide receive better support from their administration, faculty, and most importantly, student body, than our K-State Air Force ROTC cadets. I think the same holds true for K-State Army ROTC cadets, too," he said.