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 2025, 1,070 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, MG 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
The battalion coin tradition was established when the first Monarch Battalion Second Lieutenants were commissioned in 1971. Upon commissioning, each newly appointed Second Lieutenant receives a special engraved battalion coin as a symbol into the officer corps. Each coin is uniquely personalized with the Second Lieutenant’s sequence number, which signifies their official order in the lineage of Monarch Battalion officers. This tradition serves as a tangible reminder of their achievement, the responsibilities they now carry, and their place in Monarch Battalion history.