Scabbard and Blade
Scabbard and Blade | |
---|---|
Founded | 1904 University of Wisconsin |
Type | Honorary |
Affiliation | ACHS |
Former Affiliation | PIC |
Status | Defunct |
Defunct Date | 2019? |
Emphasis | ROTC, JROTC and midshipmen leadership |
Scope | National |
Pillars | Honor, leadership, professionalism, officership, unity |
Colors | Red,white,andblue |
Symbol | 5 stars |
Publication | Scabbard & Blade Today |
Chapters | 59 |
Members | 449 (2012) collegiate 137,000 (2014) lifetime |
Headquarters | 1018 S. Lewis Street Stillwater,Oklahoma74074 United States |
Website | www |
Scabbard and Blade(S&B) was a college military honor society founded at theUniversity of Wisconsinin 1904. Although membership was open toReserve Officers' Training Corps(ROTC) cadets and midshipmen of all military services, the society was modeled after theU.S. Army,calling its chapters companies
It was founded as a men's organization and later became a co-educational society. The Junior Program opened membership toJunior Reserve Officers' Training Corps(JROTC) cadets and midshipmen as well.
S&B was a member of theAssociation of College Honor Societies.Around 2021, the national organization closed, with some chapters continuing to operate as location organizations.
History
[edit]Scabbard and Blade was founded during the 1904-1905 academic year at theUniversity of Wisconsinin Madison, Wisconsin.[1][2]Its founders were five senior officers in theReserve Officers' Training Corps(ROTC): Leo M. Cook, Albert W. Foster, Victor R. Griggs, Charles A. Taylor, and Harold K. Weld.[3][1][4]The society's mission was "developing aspiring and current military officers that emulate the Five Star qualities while fostering strong joint-service relationships".
Although membership was open toReserve Officers' Training Corps(ROTC) cadets and midshipmen of all military services, the society was modeled after theU.S. Army.
Its first national convention was held in Madison, Wisconsin on May 11, 1906, and included representatives of the society's four companies.[1][5]Conventions were annual until April 1916, until disrupted byWorld War Iuntil February 1920.[1]After the 1920 meeting, conventions were held biannually until 1940 when all companies were directed by general order to bring their affairs to a close because ofWorld War II.[1]According to its 1940 directory, S&B had 31,980 members.[6]
The society was inactive during World War I and World War II when there were no courses of military training in universities and colleges because all able-bodied men were in the service.[1][5]After 70 companies had been reactivated, a national convention was held in November 1947.[7][1]The society had grown 150 active chapters or companies active companies, 20 inactive companies, and 89,154 total members in 1962.[6]
Scabbard and Blade was founded as a men's organization and became a co-educational society. Before going coed, it sponsored auxiliaries and support organizations for women, including Guidon, Blades, and the National Organization of L'Esprit de Corps, founded in 1971.[5]
S&B became a member of theAssociation of College Honor Societiesin 2010.[8]In February 2012, it had 59 collegiate chapters and 449 members.[8]In 2014, there were some 137,000 cadet officers.[9]
Around 2021, the national society closed its operations, although a few chapters operate as locate organizations. Its last national headquarters was located atStillwater, Oklahoma.[7][5]
Symbols
[edit]The society's badge was a gold American eagle, holding a shield over its breast, crossed with two swords.[6]The scabbard featured small jewels that represented five stars.[6]
Scabbard and Blade's colors were red, white, and blue.[6]The society's five stars or pillars were honor, leadership, professionalism, officership, and unity.[1]Its quarterly publication was originally calledScabbard & Blade Journaland was later calledScabbard & Blade Today.[7][5]
Membership
[edit]ROTC
[edit]Members had to be an ROTC student in at least their second semester, preferably in their junior or senior year. They had to rank in the top 20% of their unit commander's Order of Merit Listing or have a 3.5GPA.Candidates also had to receive a letter of nomination from their ROTC unit's commander and take a pledge to become a commissioned officer in theUnited States Armed Forces.
JROTC
[edit]There were two membership levels for a JROTC Company: Junior Membership and Distinguished Junior Membership. Junior Membership was open to active JROTC students who were juniors or seniors in high school and were in the top 20% of their class with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Distinguished Junior Membership was only open to JROTC students who were active Junior Members in S&B.
Chapters
[edit]Governance
[edit]Scabbard and Blade consisted of three organizations: The National Society of Scabbard and Blade, The National Honor Society of Scabbard and Blade, and Scabbard and Blade Endowment Resources.[3]The latter was a nonprofit corporation that raised funds and endowments to support the ROTC principles.[5]
Officers
[edit]Scabbard and Blade called its chapters companies. Companies were organized into regiments in order of their establishment. Each Scabbard and Blade company had a faculty or school staff member who served as the company advisor. In addition, each company was required to have the following officers:
- Company captain (commander)
- Company 1st lieutenant (vice commander)
- Company 2nd lieutenant (finance officer)
- Company first sergeant (executive officer)
Notable members
[edit]- James E. Beasley Sr.,trial lawyer
- Marcus B. Bell,United States Armybrigadier general
- Joseph Bondy,New York State Assembly
- Warren E. Bow,second president ofWayne University
- Gene Cernan,astronautand lunar explorer[9]
- John F. Christhilf,collegelacrosseplayer, inducted into theNational Lacrosse Hall of Fame
- Edward M. Coffman,military historianandprofessor emeritusat theUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison
- John P. Coursey,United States Armybrigadier general
- John A. Dabney,United States Armygeneral
- John E. Davis,25th Governor of North Dakotaand director of theDefense Civil Preparedness Agency
- Hugh Aloysius Drum,United States Armygeneral
- Geary Eppley,University of Marylandathletic directorandprofessorofagronomy
- Gwynn Garnett,administrator of theForeign Agricultural Service
- Gaylord Harnwell,president of theUniversity of Pennsylvania
- Phil Harris,musician[9]
- Dennis Hightower,United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce
- Herbert Hoover,President of the United States[9]
- James Earl Jones,actor
- William Thornton Kemper Jr.,banker andphilanthropist
- Thomas J. Lynch,United States Army Air Forcespilot
- Franklin Matthias,nuclear engineer
- Robert Claude Maze,military officer and aviator
- Wendell Nedderman,president of theUniversity of Texas at Arlington
- Edward J. O'Neill,United States Armygeneral
- Jerome O'Neill,United States Attorneyfor Vermont
- John C. Persons,United States Armygeneral
- Kenneth R. Powell,United States Air Forcegeneral
- Conrad Prebys,property developer andphilanthropist
- Jerry Richardson,former professionalfootballplayera and owner in theNational Football League
- Thomas L. Ridge,United States Marine Corpsofficer
- Dean Rusk,U.S. Secretary of State[9]
- R. Tom Sawyer,inventor known as the "Father of the Diesel Locomotive"
- David M. Shoup,United States Marine Corpsgeneral
- Norwood Sothoron,National Lacrosse Hall of Fameinductee
- Terry Spear,novelist
- Robert L. Stewart,NASAastronautandUnited States Armybrigadier general
- Jeffrey W. Talley,chief ofArmy Reserveand commanding general of theUnited States Army Reserve Command
- Bobby Towns,professionalfootball player
- Lewis William Walt,United States Marine Corpsgeneral
- Sam Walton,founding the retailersWalmartandSam's Club
- Lester J. Whitlock,United States Armymajor general
- Kenneth W. Winters,Kentucky State Senateand president ofCampbellsville University
- John Young,astronautand lunar explorer[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcdefgh"Air Force ROTC | Department of Aerospace Studies".Fresno State.May 17, 2023.Retrieved2024-05-27.
- ^Robson, John, ed. (1963).Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities(17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. pp. 690-691.
- ^ab"Home".Military Leader / Scabbard & Blade.Retrieved2024-05-27.
- ^Robson, John, ed. (1963).Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities(17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. pp. 690-691.
- ^abcdef"National Society of Scabbard & Blade Records".Oklahoma State University Archives.RetrievedMay 26,2024.
- ^abcdeRobson, John, ed. (1963).Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities(17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. pp. 690-691.
- ^abcAnson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879].Baird's Manual of American Fraternities(20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VII-45–48.ISBN978-0963715906.
- ^ab"National Society of Scabbard and Blade Honor Society- Reserve Officer Training Corps".Association of College Honor Societies.February 12, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-04-14.Retrieved2024-05-27– via web.archive.org.
- ^abcdef"Scabbard and Blade Fraternity. Company E (Purdue University) | Archives and Special Collections".Purdue University.Retrieved2024-05-27.
External links
[edit]- Student organizations established in 1904
- ROTC programs in the United States
- University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Former members of Professional Fraternity Association
- 1904 establishments in Wisconsin
- Professional military fraternities and sororities in the United States
- Defunct fraternities and sororities
- Former members of Association of College Honor Societies