History of the Monarch Battalion
Army ROTC was established at Old Dominion University in September 1969 as part of the Darden School of Education. Since its inception, the program has grown in quality and scope as seen in the establishment in the 1974-75 school year of a Military Science curriculum fully recognized by the University for academic credit.
That milestone was followed in 2003 by the Faculty Senate's approval of an academic minor in Military Leadership Studies. The first commissioning ceremony was held on 4 July 1971 with six Cadets receiving their appointments as Second Lieutenants.
As of May 2023, 1,027 young men and women have joined a distinguished formation of Army ROTC graduates from Old Dominion University and have served their country with pride and honor.
There are currently eight general officers, retired and active, who earned their commission through Army ROTC at Old Dominion University: LTG Donna W. Martin, LTG Kathleen M. Gainey, LTG John M. Bednarek, MG Brian P. Cummings, MG Mark W. Perrin, BG Joseph A. DiNonno, BG Lisa L. Doumont, and BG Martin P. Schweitzer.
The Department of Military Science and Leadership is part of the Office of Military Activities and is academically aligned under the Strome College of Business and Public Administration.
Battalion Coin Tradition
A battalion tradition established by a former Professor of Military Science is the presentation of a battalion coin to a newly commissioned Second Lieutenant. This coin is unique in that it is engraved with the commissionee's sequence number in the roll of ROTC commissions at Old Dominion University. Because of this tradition, we do not give unit coins as is customary in many Army units. There have been three individuals who have been inducted as Honorary Members of the Monarch Battalion and given coins inscribed with H1, H2, and H3.
History of the Old Dominion ROTC Patch
The patch of Old Dominion University Army ROTC was designed by the original cadre and staff of the Army ROTC department in the summer of 1969 and approved by the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry on 25 November 1969. The design consists of an inner light blue disc, representing the color of the Infantry; a yellow enflamed torch representing knowledge, tradition, and military leadership; and a yellow quill representing academic excellence and scholarship. In the center is a representation of the City of Norfolk's historic Mace. Around the inner disc is a white band edged with a light blue border and inscribed with "Old Dominion" at the top and "University" around the bottom in light blue letters.