Lt. Col. Zachary Buettner, University of Iowa Army ROTC Mighty Hawkeye Battalion professor of military science, administers the oath of enlistment to three new cadets during intermission at the wrestling meet between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Indiana Hoo...
Lt. Col. Zachary Buettner, University of Iowa Army ROTC Mighty Hawkeye Battalion professor of military science, rappels from the peak of Carver-Hawkeye Arena during intermission at the wrestling meet between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Indiana Hoosiers Feb...
ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, ILLINOIS -- The University of Iowa Mighty Hawkeye Battalion marked 100 years of the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps with a special event in conjunction with the school's No. #2 ranked wrestling team in Iowa City, Iowa, Feb. 5.
Although the University of Iowa has been training officers since the 1860s, Army ROTC wasn't formalized until the National Defense Act of 1916 was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson.
"I've seen Cadet Command from both sides -- as a cadet and as a professor of military science," said Lt. Col. Zachary Buettner, University of Iowa Army ROTC professor of military science and a 1997 graduate of the program. "I think it's a great opportunity to celebrate the organization that's produced most of the Army's commissioned officers since its inception."
The dual meet between the Hawkeyes and Big Ten conference foe Indiana, drew a crowd of 8,521 spectators to Carver-Hawkeye Arena on campus. The wrestling program welcomed active-duty, National Guard and Reserve Soldiers and retirees into the meet for free.
The wrestling program distributed 500 Army ROTC/Hawkeye Wrestling t-shirts as fans arrived and the ROTC Program provided the color guard for the playing of the national anthem.
During intermission, program cadre conducted a rappelling demonstration from the arena's catwalks nearly 70 feet above the floor.
Buettner then administered the oath of enlistment to three new cadets: Jessica Elder, a sophomore from Sullivan, Ill., who is a member of the Iowa Army National Guard; Emily Jefferson, a sophomore from Bettendorf, Iowa; and Lucas Roach, a junior from Altoona, Iowa, who also serves in the Iowa Army National Guard. Upon completing their degree requirements and the Army ROTC program, they will be awarded commissions as a second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.
"The University of Iowa Wrestling Program, Facilities Management, and Risk Control Departments were great to work with when planning this event," Buettner said. "I think everything went off very well."
The battalion has a long-standing relationship with the school's wrestling team. Cadet Lou Banach won a gold medal in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and went on to coach at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Cadet Stefan Banach, brother of Lou, earned the "Sport of Lincoln Award" as a member of the 1982 Iowa National Wrestling Championship Team. In 2002, Banach was recognized by the International Wrestling Institute and Museum for outstanding service to the nation.
He was promoted to the rank of colonel in the U.S. Army after commanding from company to brigade level with six combat deployments. He retired with 27-plus years of service.
Cadet Kenneth Leuer had a perfect season in 1956 and received two All-American honors. He went on to establish the modern day Army Ranger Regiments in 1974 and retired as a major general after more than 30 years in the Army.
The Iowa grapplers, who wore singlets featuring camo patches in honor of the anniversary, clinched at least a share of the Big Ten regular season championship with a 45-0 win over No. 20 Indiana. Iowa has won 21 consecutive conference dual meets, and has won or shared eight of the last nine Big Ten regular season titles.
Related Links:
University of Iowa Mighty Hawkeye Battalion - Army ROTC
University of Iowa Department of Military Science - Army ROTC
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