Where I Stand: Army says ROTC alive at CCSN

Friday, July 19, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

AMERICANS HAVE come to accept the use of doublespeak in some segments of our society. The disease is often associated with politicians and the media but seldom is it linked to the military.

Our military people did a quick and clean job when driving Saddam Hussein's Iraqi forces from Kuwait five years ago. The entire nation was thrilled with the efficiency of our troops and the modern weapons delivered by both the ground and air forces. It was an awesome display of power.

Now, if we can only get Col. John E. Alley and his boss Maj. Gen. J.M. Lyle to communicate with each other. Even better would be the opening of communications between Alley, Lyle and John P. McLaurin III, deputy assistant secretary of the Army. There's no need to tamper with the phone lines between McLaurin and Lt. Col. George T. Greiling, the Army's legislative liaison with Congress. They are on the same line with no static interrupting their thoughts or hearing.

According to McLaurin and Greiling, the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) at CCSN isn't dead, as declared by Alley in a letter to Chancellor Richard Jarvis and quoted in this column last Monday. You may recall that Alley wrote Jarvis: "In earlier conversations with you and President Joseph N. Crowley, University of Nevada, Reno, I informed you that the ROTC program at Community College of Southern Nevada was established without proper authority and, if this authority had been solicited, it would have been denied. Additionally, I informed you that on 19 January 1996, Major General Lyle, Cadet Command Commander, made the final decision to end Army ROTC's association with CCSN. Despite the cost advantages, it is our carefully assessed position that this program is not in the Army's best interest."

This first paragraph of Alley's letter was a reminder that the decision had been made in January, and this letter was reaffirming that decision. In the following paragraph, he told Jarvis how the program would be phased out. He ended that paragraph when concluding: "Training will continue for the contracted cadets (who will advance to MS IV next school year) but instruction will be provided by University of Nevada, Reno, ROTC personnel. Moreover, when the contracted students graduate and receive their commission, Army ROTC will cease to exist at CCSN."

So that ends ROTC at CCSN. Well, not if we are to believe later letters sent to Sen. Harry Reid and Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren. Lt. Col. Greiling wrote Reid: "I am pleased to inform you that the assistant secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) has directed that the ROTC program be continued at the Community College of Southern Nevada (CCSN) on a limited test basis.

"The ROTC program at CCSN will continue to operate under current arrangements without permanent active-duty presence. Although this test will continue to provide opportunities for students in Southern Nevada, the primary purpose is to determine whether the Army can make more efficient use of professors of Military Science in isolated areas through the use of Operational Support Airlift aircraft and Individual Ready Reserve personnel. The test at CCSN is contingent upon the current level of support.

"The professor of Military Science at the University of Nevada, Reno, will provide program oversight. He will continue to make monthly trips to CCSN to oversee the staff that will be supplemented by six instructors from the Individual Ready Reserve. The Army will evaluate the test over the next two school years and render an appropriate determination at the conclusion of school year 1997-1998."

Deputy Assistant Secretary McLaurin wrote Hammargren: "The assistant secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) decided on June 17 that the ROTC unit at CCSN will be continued on a limited, test basis without a permanent active duty presence. The purpose of the test is to determine whether the Army can make more efficient use of professors of Military Science in isolated areas through the use of Operational Support Airlift aircraft and Individual Ready Reserve personnel. The test is contingent upon continuation of the current level of support."

Now if somebody can get the message through to Alley and Lyle, there's a good possibility our young people won't have to attend UNR or go out of state to join the ROTC.

What bothers me, in addition to the negative tone of Alley's letter to Jarvis, it transmitted a sound of glee.

Remember, it was Alley who wrote a memo and justified killing ROTC in Southern Nevada with the following nonsense: "According to the director of admissions at UNR, however, the population growth Nevada is experiencing is largely from the Southern California area and is comprised mostly of immigrants seeking employment at the minimum wage/unskilled level. This type of growth poses unique challenges to Nevada education at all levels and does not appear to increase the senior ROTC market potential. Junior ROTC should experience continued growth throughout the state."

Well, that letter was denied and ripped apart by UNR President Joe Crowley. Now, if only Alley can bring himself to write something that sounds like the policy of the secretary's office, the ROTC people can continue working with hope.

Hello, are Lyle and Alley listening?