Horned Frog Battalion receives national recognition

Horned Frog Battalion receives MacArthur Award (photo from 2007 Mud Run)

Fort Worth, Texas

9/26/2011

By Rick Waters, TCU Magazine

For Lt. Col. Chris Talcott, it was like winning in Pasadena all over again.

The TCU Army ROTC program was presented yesterday with the 2011 Douglas MacArthur Award as one of the top eight cadet units in the nation. The award recognizes battalions that have achieved the standards that best represent the ideals of the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation — duty, honor and country — through excellence in training and performance.

"It's very competitive, very prestigious. For us, it's the equivalent of winning the Rose Bowl or BCS national championship," said Talcott, TCU's ranking ROTC professor and chair of the military science department.

The Horned Frog Battalion was selected as the best in the 5th Brigade, which includes all Army ROTC programs in an eight-state region: Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming Colorado and Arkansas. Selection criteria include outstanding accomplishments in cadet training, retention, commissioning officers and support of the program by its university. There are 273 ROTC programs in the nation.

Talcott credited the unit's commitment to leadership development, scholastic achievement, physical fitness and overall program performance.

While Talcott and the department received word in February of the honor, the battalion officially accepted the award from Col. Bridget Rourke, 5th ROTC Brigade Commander, during a ceremony yesterday attended by Chancellor Victor J. Boshcini, Jr. and Dr. Andrew Schoolmaster, dean of the AddRan College of Liberal Arts. 

The university's and college's assistance has enabled the battalion to finish on top, Talcott said.

"From the budget we have to our facilities and classroom space, we receive the highest level of support," he said. "That support has made the receipt of this award possible. It is truly a team effort reflective of the hard work, determination and total commitment exhibited daily by our cadets and outstanding cadre and staff."

The award will also help the program recruit future cadets, Talcott said.

"It shows them that they don't have to go to Texas A&M or West Point to get top-level military training and a first-class education," he said. "We can compete with any school in the country. Winning brings us much better visibility and raises the profile of our future cadets in terms of test scores and diversity."

In May, the Horned Frog Battalion commissioned a school-record 35 lieutenants, five of whom received distinguished military graduate honors, also a TCU record.

The 305-cadet unit, which includes students from Texas Wesleyan, Baylor, North Texas, Columbia College, Tarrant County College and Weatherford College, make it one of the country's largest. About 150 are from TCU.