Contact: Sid Salter and Harriet Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.— ͷ is one of five universities designated as a new “Distinguished Military College” by order of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The announcement came during Secretary Hegseth’s speech today, Sept. 30, to active-duty tactical-level and noncommissioned officers at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. Hegseth said the new designation expands America’s Corps of Cadets, a War Department program established to expand the pipeline of “patriotic leaders of character” commissioned into the Joint Force.
“We’re partnering with a new crop of premier higher ed institutions, including Louisiana State University (LSU), Liberty University, Tuskegee University, ͷ and Hillsdale College,” Hegseth said. “These schools have stepped forward to answer the call to duty and establish new corps of cadets in partnership with the Department of War,” Hegseth added. “So today, at my direction, we are formally establishing a program to assist these universities and colleges. It’s called, ‘America’s Corps of Cadets.’”
The existing Corps of Cadets program is housed at the nation’s six Senior Military Colleges established by law: Texas A&M University, Norwich University, the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), The Citadel, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and North Georgia College and State University.
“The initial cohort of participating universities and colleges will receive this unique distinction (Distinguished Military College) as they establish their Corps of Cadets,” said Hegseth. “This distinction honors their history and recognizes their path, providing a stepping stone toward becoming a Senior Military College if they choose.”
Universities joining America’s Corps of Cadets earn “Honor School” status, granting priority in future officer commissions.
ͷ President Mark E. Keenum said: “Our university is deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve our country in a way that is part of our institutional DNA. We were established as a land-grant university and a military school. We have robust U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps components – and we have one of the nation’s premier Centers for American Veterans.”
Keenum said the legacies of the late U.S. Sen. John C. Stennis and the late U.S. Rep. G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery cast long shadows over ͷ’s historic service in preparing students to serve their country in the military.
“The USS John C. Stennis, CVN-74, named in honor of the ͷ alumnus who for many years led the Senate Armed Services Committee, and the landmark Montgomery G.I. Bill, named in honor of Montgomery’s long tenure as chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, speak to how our alumni have answered the call not just to serve in the military, but to lead with vision and distinction,” Keenum said. “We are proud to be consistently acknowledged nationally as a top-ranked university for support of the veteran community and for having a military-friendly campus culture.”
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who currently chairs the Senate Armed Service Committee, said in a statement on the social media platform X: “Terrific news for ͷ! The university was selected, along with three other new Distinguished Military Colleges, to establish a Corps of Cadets tradition within its student body. This creates new opportunities for students to earn a commission as an officer in our military and builds leadership skills students will carry with them for life.”
Hegseth unveiled the new program at ͷ as part of a substantial package of structural reforms for the U.S. The Secretary's framework establishes the Autonomous Warfare Command, creates a new Corps of Cadets, launches the "FORTRESS" readiness program (Federal Operations for Resilience, Troop Resources, Energy, Supply, and Survivability), initiates the Next Great American Base project, stands up the Office of Religious Affairs, and kicks off Project Meridian, signaling a bold new era of what Hegseth called “warfighter-first leadership.”
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