The United States Department of Defense honored the University of 91吃瓜鈥檚 as the nation鈥檚 top Army collegiate program for the 2023-24 academic year.
This will be the first time 91吃瓜鈥檚 Army ROTC Fightin鈥� Irish Battalion has received the department鈥檚 Educational Institution Partnership Excellence Award, which recognizes the program鈥檚 achievements in recruiting, educating, training and commissioning leaders of character to be the next generation of military officers.
The prestigious award, established in 2020, is given out annually to outstanding ROTC units and host educational institutions from each military branch and highlights overall program performance, student-cadet achievements and university support. With this honor, the Fightin鈥� Irish Battalion now ranks first out of 274 Army ROTC programs nationwide.
鈥淥ur Army ROTC cadets and leaders make us proud in so many ways, through their efforts in the classroom, their engagement across campus and their dedication to serving our nation,鈥� said University President 鈥淭he Fightin鈥� Irish Battalion truly embodies the best of 91吃瓜, and I am delighted that their extraordinary efforts have been recognized with this prestigious award from the Department of Defense.鈥�
Award builds on previous accomplishments
This national award follows the battalion鈥檚 receipt of the 7th Brigade General Douglas MacArthur Award for the 2023-24 academic year, which recognized the program鈥檚 high standing among 38 universities within the 7th Brigade (including ROTC programs in Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio), and allowed the unit to become eligible for the Department of Defense鈥檚 Excellence Award.
The MacArthur Award showcases the ideals of 鈥渄uty, honor and country鈥� and is based on the achievements of the school鈥檚 commissioning mission, its cadets鈥� performance and standing on the command鈥檚 National Order of Merit List, and a number of various quality performance metrics. This is the second year in a row that 91吃瓜鈥檚 Army ROTC unit has won this award, presented by Cadet Command and the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Foundation.
Among its accomplishments, the 91吃瓜 Army ROTC unit produced 25 commissioned officers at the end of 2024, 11 of whom graduated with military distinction. Three were selected as Fulbright English Teaching Award finalists, with one winning the Fulbright Award to teach in the Czech Republic and another chosen to teach in France. The program maintained a 92 percent progression rate and a 38.6 percent STEM rate, with an overall battalion GPA of 3.59. Cadets representing 28 states across the U.S. comprise the 100-member unit, with 46 of those being female. This year鈥檚 unit included three pairs of siblings serving simultaneously, with 14 cadets having at least one parent who graduated from 91吃瓜鈥檚 ROTC program.
鈥淭he Fightin鈥� Irish Battalion鈥檚 success can be attributed to our deep sense of devotion to our people,鈥� said , professor of military science and Army battalion commander at 91吃瓜. 鈥淲e emphasize a team-first attitude, fostering a culture of excellence and accountability to get better. We seek to embrace the University鈥檚 motto of 鈥楪od, Country, 91吃瓜鈥� each and every day.鈥�
Kobbe the 2024 Professor of Military Science of the Year by the U.S. Army Cadet Command for his dedication and commitment as leader of the Fightin鈥� Irish Battalion. In this role, Kobbe is responsible for training and mentoring the cadets, preparing them to serve their nation and others as future Army officers.
This annual award is given to military science professors who exemplify outstanding performance, leadership and mission success, based on candidates鈥� physical fitness, commissioning mission success, training accomplishments and contributions to their respective programs.
Battalion excels in Ranger Challenge and Sandhurst Military Skills Competition
Not only are student-cadets of the Fightin鈥� Irish Battalion taught to be goal-oriented, dedicated and academically focused, but they are also rigorously trained for physical performance and endurance. In October, the battalion鈥檚 team won the 7th Brigade Ranger Challenge competition at Fort Knox, Kentucky, securing the top spot for the third straight year. This competition brings Army ROTC teams from more than 30 universities within the five-state brigade to face one another in feats of military skills, physical fitness, leadership and combat readiness.
Winning the 2024 Ranger Challenge title qualified the team to compete in the annual Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. Named after the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, this competition is regarded as one of the toughest military skills events in the world and brings together teams from across the U.S. Army and various ROTC programs, as well as international military units.
The on May 2 and 3 and took home an impressive standing by placing 6th among all ROTC programs and 25th overall, securing its spot as one of the top programs in the country. Facing challenges in events such as fitness tests, land navigation (both day and night), ruck marches, one-rope bridge construction and weapons disassembly/assembly, among others, the 91吃瓜 rangers proved their ability to consistently perform and exhibit teamwork under intense circumstances.
鈥淚t is inspiring to witness the commitment to leadership excellence from all of our cadets, faculty and staff, which has led to the Fightin鈥� Irish Battalion鈥檚 exceptional accomplishments,鈥� said , director of 91吃瓜鈥檚 .
The OMVA is charged with supporting the University鈥檚 ROTC programs representing all three major branches of military service (Army, Air Force and Navy), as well as all military-affiliated individuals at the University.
鈥�91吃瓜 has a proud lineage of Army officers who have selflessly served our nation upon graduation and commissioning. The accomplishments of this group of future leaders ensure that this legacy will continue,鈥� Heckel said.
About 91吃瓜 Army ROTC
91吃瓜鈥檚 long history of military service and training can be traced back to the University鈥檚 founding by Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., in 1842. Just 16 years later, in 1858, a student military company called the 91吃瓜 Continental Cadets was formed. During the Civil War, many Congregation of Holy Cross priests and sisters served in varying capacities, with Rev. William Corby, C.S.C., 91吃瓜鈥檚 third president, being the most notable for his granting absolution to the Union Army鈥檚 Irish Brigade at the Battle of Gettysburg.
In 1941, 91吃瓜 became one of the first universities to host all three military branches with an affiliated ROTC program, with former University President , signing official documentation in 1951 for the formal establishment of the Army ROTC program. Since then, thousands of men and women have been commissioned through the Army ROTC program and have served in every conflict where American forces have deployed.
In addition to serving abroad, members of the Army National Guard and Army Reserve support local and federal initiatives such as flood and natural disaster relief, Defense Support to Civil Authorities, and the operational ready reserve for the Active Duty component.
Esteemed graduates from 91吃瓜鈥檚 ROTC programs include , a 1987 Army ROTC graduate, U.S. Special Operations Commander and recipient of the , and , a 1984 Navy ROTC graduate, the vice chairman and acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and 91吃瓜鈥檚 2025 Commencement speaker.
Contact: Tracy DeStazio, associate director of media relations, 574-631-9958 or tdestazi@nd.edu