The National Society Pershing Angels is a military-based drill sorority for women founded in 1965 as a Coed Affiliate drill unit of

Pershing Rifles The National Society of Pershing Rifles is a military-oriented honor society for college-level students founded in 1894 as a drill unit at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. It is the oldest continuously operating US college organization dedic ...

Morgan State University Morgan State University (Morgan State or MSU) is a public historically black research university in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the largest of Maryland's historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). In 1867, the university, then known a ...

. It is the oldest continuously operating U.S. national women's college organization dedicated to drill.

Vision

The National Society of Pershing Angels is charged to foster a spirit of friendship and cooperation among the women in the military department and to maintain a highly efficient drill company.

Motto

Drill, Service, Social

Symbols

The symbols of Pershing Angels are: * Official Colors – Royal Blue and white. * Mascot - Dove. * Official Flower – The White Rose.

History

In 1962, a group of 30 ladies started a society that would become Pershing Angels at Morgan State College now

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

. On February 9, 1965, The National Society of Pershing Angels were formally recognized as a university organization and as a sister unit to

Company J-8 (then H-15) at Morgan. Across the nation, other women's affiliates of Pershing Rifles formed during the early 1960’s. Pershing Angels was one of many similar coed affiliates with the same ideals and drill activities recognized by local Pershing Rifles Companies, but not officially sanctioned by Pershing Rifles National Headquarters. Pershing Angles became part of the

Coed Affiliates Pershing Rifles The Coed Affiliates Pershing Rifles (CAPER) was established in 1966 as the first officially recognized female auxiliary to the National Society of Pershing Rifles. It was disbanded in the early 1980s when women were fully integrated into Pershing ...

(CAPERS) in 1966 when CAPERS were formed as the first officially recognized nationwide female auxiliary to the National Society of

. Pershing Rifles began accepting women as members as early as 1971, but CAPERS continued on until the mid-1980s. Once CAPERS were disbanded, Pershing Angels units formerly affiliated with CAPERS chose to continue on as a separate organization. Over the years Pershing Angels have expanded to other Universities which included Company C-16, Florida A&M University, Company C-15, Norfolk State College (presently Co. R-4-5, Norfolk State University), Hampton (Institute) University, and Howard University.Old Dominion University Pershing Angels Website
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Units

Active undergraduate units

*U-8-5 - Coppin State University, Baltimore, MD (Established 2018) *H-4-5 - Alabama A&M University *N-4 - North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC *O-4 - Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA *P-4-5 - Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL *R-4-5 - Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA *U-4-5 - Hampton University, Hampton, VA *A-7-5 - Lincoln University of Missouri, Jefferson City, Missouri (Established 2008) *G-8-5 - Howard University, Washington, DC *J-8-5 - Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD (Established 1965) *A-16-5 - Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA *C-16 - Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL

Inactive undergraduate units

*T-1 - Central State University *A-4 - St. Augustine's (College) University *K-4-5 - South Carolina State University *O-4-5 - St. Paul’s College *N-8 - St. Peter's College

Alumnae units

*AA-4-5 - Central Virginia Alumnae *AA-8-5 - Greater Maryland Alumnae *AA-16-5 - Greater Atlanta Alumnae *AB-4-5 - North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University *AB-8-5 - Howard University Alumnae

References

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External links

Pershing Angels National Headquarters Website
Fraternities and sororities in the United States Women's organizations based in the United States Pershing Rifles Student organizations established in 1965 1965 establishments in Maryland Professional military fraternities and sororities in the United States History of women in Maryland