The Citadel (Military College)
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The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, commonly known simply as The Citadel, is a
public In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the ''Öffentlichkei ...
senior military college In the United States, a senior military college (SMC) is one of six colleges that offer military Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) programs under , though many other schools offer military Reserve Officers' Training Corps under other secti ...
in
Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina, the county seat of Charleston County, and the principal city in the Charleston–North Charleston metropolitan area. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint o ...
. Established in 1842, it is one of six senior military colleges in the United States. It has 18
academic department An academic department is a division of a university or school faculty devoted to a particular academic discipline. This article covers United States usage at the university level. In the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries, univers ...
s divided into five schools offering 31 majors and 57 minors. The military program is made up of cadets pursuing
bachelor's degrees A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ye ...
who live on campus. The non-military programs offer 12 undergraduate degrees, 26 graduate degrees, as well as evening and online programs with seven online graduate degrees, three online undergraduate degrees, and three certificate programs. The
South Carolina Corps of Cadets The South Carolina Corps of Cadets is the military component of the student body at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. The Corps of Cadets is the only residential, full-time undergraduate program at The Citadel, focusing on educating the " ...
numbers 2,300 and is one of the largest uniformed bodies in the U.S. Approximately 1,350 non-cadet students are enrolled in Citadel Graduate College pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees. Women comprise approximately 9% of the Corps and 22% of the overall enrollment while racial minorities comprise 15% of the Corps and 23% of the total enrollment. Approximately half of The Citadel's cadet enrollment is from the state of South Carolina; cadets come from 45 states and 23 foreign countries. South Carolina residents receive a discount in tuition, as is common at state-sponsored schools. The Citadel receives 8% of its operating budget from the state. In 2019, the school's ROTC program commissioned 186 officers. The Corps of Cadets combines academics, physical challenges, and military discipline. While only about one-third of graduates each year go into the armed services, all members of the Corps are required to participate in
ROTC The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC ( or )) is a group of college- and university-based officer-training programs for training commissioned officers of the United States Armed Forces. Overview While ROTC graduate officers serve in all ...
. The academic program is divided into five schools – Business, Education, Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science and Mathematics. Bachelor's degrees are offered in 38 major programs of study with 55 minors. The Citadel Graduate College offers 26 master's degrees with 41 different concentrations, 25 graduate certificates and two educational specialist courses; a college transfer evening/online program also allows students with college credit to complete their bachelor's degree in 12 subjects. 94% of the faculty hold doctoral degrees and the majority are full-time professors; the ratio of cadets to faculty is 12:1 and the average class size is 20. While all programs make use of The Citadel's campus and professors, only cadets live on campus. (Cadets are required to live on campus while they are in the Corps. There are no on-campus housing options for the other student populations).Quick Facts
from the Citadel web site.
The veterans program, reinstated in the fall of 2007, allows veterans to attend classes with cadets and complete their degrees. Enlisted members from the Marine Corps and Navy also attend cadet classes as part of a program to commission highly qualified NCOs.
The Citadel Bulldogs The Citadel Bulldogs are the athletic teams that represent The Citadel. All sports participate in the NCAA Division I except football, which competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Since 1936, varsity sports have ...
compete at the
NCAA Division I NCAA Division I (D-I) is the highest level of College athletics, intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States, which accepts players globally. D-I schools include the major ...
level in 16 sports within the
Southern Conference The Southern Conference (SoCon) is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly ...
.


History

The Citadel traces its origins to an arsenal constructed by the state of South Carolina to defend white Charlestonians against possible slave uprisings following
Denmark Vesey Denmark Vesey (also Telemaque) ( July 2, 1822) was an early 19th century free Black and community leader in Charleston, South Carolina, who was accused and convicted of planning a major slave revolt in 1822. Although the alleged plot was dis ...
's thwarted rebellion of 1822. The school was founded by an act of the state legislature in 1842 as the
South Carolina Military Academy The South Carolina Military Academy was a predecessor, two-campus institution to The Citadel. It was established in 1842 by the South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina had constructed a series of arsenals around the state after the Denmark Vesey ...
it originally consisted of the Citadel Academy in Charleston and the
Arsenal Academy The Arsenal Academy was a military academy in Columbia, South Carolina, originally established in 1842 as an independent school by the state of South Carolina. In 1845, the academy became a component of the South Carolina Military Academy (now Th ...
in Columbia. The Arsenal was burned by General
Sherman Sherman most commonly refers to: *Sherman (name), a surname and given name (and list of persons with the name) ** William Tecumseh Sherman (1820–1891), American Civil War General *M4 Sherman, a tank Sherman may also refer to: Places United St ...
's forces during the American Civil War and never reopened. The Citadel Academy was occupied by Union troops in 1865 and reopened as an educational institution in 1882. During the Civil War, the SCMA Corps of Cadets was organized into a military unit known as the Battalion of State Cadets which took part in nine engagements. In January 1861, Citadel Academy cadets manning a battery on
Morris Island Morris Island is an 840-acre (3.4 km²) uninhabited island in Charleston Harbor in South Carolina, accessible only by boat. The island lies in the outer reaches of the harbor and was thus a strategic location in the American Civil War. The ...
fired the first shots of the conflict when they shelled the Union steamship ''
Star of the West ''Star of the West'' was an American merchant steamship that was launched in 1852 and scuttled by Confederate forces in 1863. In January 1861, the ship was hired by the government of the United States to transport military supplies and reinforc ...
'' which was attempting to resupply
Fort Sumter Fort Sumter is a sea fort built on an artificial island protecting Charleston, South Carolina from naval invasion. Its origin dates to the War of 1812 when the British invaded Washington by sea. It was still incomplete in 1861 when the Battl ...
. In December 1864, the cadet battalion made up more than a third of a Confederate force that defended a strategic rail line during the Battle of Tulifinny. The Citadel was awarded 9 battle streamers for service in the Civil War and is one of only 5 American colleges to receive a battle streamer for the participation of its student body in wartime service. The four other institutes are: VMI for the
Battle of New Market The Battle of New Market was fought on May 15, 1864, in Virginia during the Valley Campaigns of 1864 in the American Civil War. A makeshift Confederate army of 4,100 men defeated the larger Army of the Shenandoah under Major General Franz Si ...
,
Florida State Florida State University (FSU) is a public university, public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher e ...
for the
Battle of Natural Bridge The Battle of Natural Bridge was fought during the American Civil War in what is now Woodville, Florida near Tallahassee on March 6, 1865. A small group of Confederate troops and volunteers, which included teenagers from the nearby Florida Mil ...
,
William and Mary William and Mary often refers to: * The joint reign of William III of England (II of Scotland) and Mary II of England (and Scotland) * William and Mary style, a furniture design common from 1700 to 1725 named for the couple William and Mary may ...
for the
Siege of Yorktown The Siege of Yorktown, also known as the Battle of Yorktown, the surrender at Yorktown, or the German battle (from the presence of Germans in all three armies), beginning on September 28, 1781, and ending on October 19, 1781, at Yorktown, Virgi ...
, and the
University of Hawaii A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...
for the Hawaiian Islands Campaign. In 1922, the school moved from its original location on
Marion Square Marion Square is greenspace in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, spanning six and one half acres.Ashley River The Ashley River is a blackwater and tidal river in South Carolina, rising from the Wassamassaw and Great Cypress Swamps in western Berkeley County. It consolidates its main channel about five miles west of Summerville, widening into a ti ...
on the northwest side of the city. The Citadel has grown steadily from an enrollment of 460 to its present 3,500. During World War II, The Citadel had the highest percentage of any American college student body serving in the military and all but 346 of its living graduates were members of the armed forces. Alumni served as members of the
Flying Tigers The First American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Republic of China Air Force, nicknamed the Flying Tigers, was formed to help oppose the Japanese invasion of China. Operating in 1941–1942, it was composed of pilots from the United States Ar ...
and
Doolittle Raiders The Doolittle Raid, also known as the Tokyo Raid, was an air raid on 18 April 1942 by the United States on the Japanese capital Tokyo City, Tokyo and other places on Honshu during World War II. It was the first American air operation to stri ...
; 280 died in the service of their country. The first black cadet enrolled in 1966. The first woman admitted was
Shannon Faulkner Shannon Faulkner is an American teacher, best known for being the first female student to attend The Citadel in 1994, following a lawsuit. She currently teaches English in Greenville, South Carolina. Biography Faulkner was born in Powdersvill ...
after a two-and-a-half-year court battle. She matriculated into The Citadel in 1995 with an otherwise all-male corps of cadets on August 15, 1995, but soon withdrew after she and her family received dozens of death threats and her parents' home was vandalized.Bobrick, Elizabeth (June 2000). "Arms and the Woman". Women's Review of Books. 17 (9): 8 – via EBSCOhost. (Subscription required) In 2018, The Citadel appointed the first female, Sarah Zorn, to lead the entire South Carolina Corps of Cadets as Regimental Commander. A graduate program was started in 1968. A major capital improvement campaign started in 1989 saw the replacement or extensive renovation of a majority of the buildings on campus, academic offerings have been continuously expanded to offer in demand courses and degrees in fields such as Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Criminal Justice and Nursing. Citadel cadets and alumni have served in every United States military action from the Mexican War to the current
Global War on Terrorism The war on terror, officially the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), is an ongoing international counterterrorism military campaign initiated by the United States following the September 11 attacks. The main targets of the campaign are militant ...
.


Academics


Schools

During the 2002–03 academic year, The Citadel reorganized its existing departments into five schools, each headed by a dean. The schools comprise Business; Education; Engineering; Humanities and Social Sciences; and Science and Mathematics.


Business

The Baker School of Business consists of three departments: Accounting and Finance; Management and Entrepreneurship; and Marketing, Supply Chain Management, and Economics. The school offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Business Administration. Accredited by the
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, also known as AACSB International, is an American professional organization. It was founded as the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business in 1916 to provide accreditation to ...
since 1996, more cadets major in Business Administration than any other major. The MBA program is also the largest of The Citadel's graduate programs. On February 22, 2017, The Citadel announced that Tommy Baker, who attended as a veteran student after serving in the Marine Corps, and his wife, Victoria, had made a gift to endow business programs, and that the school would be named in their honor. In January 2021, the school relocated from Bond Hall to Bastin Hall, a newly constructed academic building named for Rick and Mary Lee Bastin. Bastin Hall is the first new academic building added to the campus since 1974.


Education

The Zucker Family School of Education houses undergraduate and graduate education programs in several specialties. On November 11, 2014, The Citadel named its School of Education for the Zucker Family, after
Anita Zucker Anita Zucker (born 1951/1952) is an American businesswoman and philanthropist. She was the chair at the Hudson's Bay Company. Taking over after her husband's death, she is now the chairperson and chief executive officer (CEO) of The Intertech Gro ...
made a $4 million donation to the school for its education programs. The school is currently located in Capers Hall, but will relocate to Bond Hall upon the completion of Bastin Hall.


Engineering

The
School of Engineering Engineering education is the activity of teaching knowledge and principles to the professional practice of engineering. It includes an initial education ( bachelor's and/or master's degree), and any advanced education and specializations tha ...
consists of four departments: Civil and Environmental Engineering; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Engineering Leadership and Program Management; and Mechanical Engineering. The school, which claims to be the fifth oldest such program in the nation, has long offered undergraduate degrees in both Civil and Electrical Engineering. In 2014, the school added a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering program and, in 2015, added 13 additional degree and certificate programs, including master's degrees in Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering. In 2018, the school added a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering program. The school is located in Letellier Hall (Civil and Mechanical Engineering) and Grimsley Hall (Electrical Engineering). In 2016, '' U.S. News & World Report'' ranked The Citadel's School of Engineering 13th among all undergraduate engineering programs without doctoral degrees in the United States making it the sixth straight year that the school has been in the Top 25.


Humanities and Social Sciences

The School of Humanities and Social Sciences consists of seven departments: Criminal Justice; English; History; Intelligence and Security Studies; Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures; Political Science; and Psychology. The school offers seven majors (with multiple concentrations) and 19 minors, and awards more than 50% of the credit hours earned at The Citadel. For graduate work, the school offers five degree programs and three certificates, including cybersecurity and intelligence analysis. These programs resulted in the school being named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the
National Security Agency The National Security Agency (NSA) is a national-level intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense, under the authority of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). The NSA is responsible for global monitoring, collecti ...
. The school is located in Capers Hall, which will soon be rebuilt and modernized.
David L. Preston David L. Preston is an American historian, writer, and professor. He is the author of two books on conflict between English colonists in North America and their French and Native American neighbors, which have won multiple awards. He currently s ...
, Westvaco Professor of National Security Studies in the History Department, in 2015 won the
Guggenheim-Lehrman Prize in Military History The New-York Historical Society gives three book prizes annually. From 2005 to 2012 there was one award for American history. A second award was added in 2013 for children's history. A third award was added in 2016 for military history. Barbara a ...
and the 2016 Distinguished Book Award from the
Society for Military History The Society for Military History is a United States–based international organization of scholars who research, write, and teach military history of all time periods and places. It includes naval history, air power history, and studies of technol ...
for his book, '' Braddock's Defeat: The Battle of the Monongahela and the Road to Revolution.''


Science and Mathematics

The Swain Family School of Science and Mathematics consists of seven departments: Biology; Chemistry; Cyber and Computer Sciences; Health and Human Performance; Mathematical Sciences; Physics; and the Swain Department of Nursing. The school, along with the Zucker Family School of Education and the School of Engineering, sponsor the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Center of Excellence, which hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including the annual Storm The Citadel week featuring a trebuchet competition. On June 1, 2018, The Citadel announced the naming of the school for the Swain Family, in recognition of major gifts provided by brothers David C. Swain, Jr., Class of 1980, and his wife, Mary, as well as Dr. Christopher C. Swain, Class of 1981, and his, wife Debora.


Academic programs

In addition to the Corps of Cadets residential day military program, The Citadel offers several degree options to non-cadets, such as targeting active duty military, veterans, and civilians in both classroom and distance-learning online settings.


Corps of Cadets

The
South Carolina Corps of Cadets The South Carolina Corps of Cadets is the military component of the student body at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. The Corps of Cadets is the only residential, full-time undergraduate program at The Citadel, focusing on educating the " ...
is a residential, full-time program in a military environment. Focusing on educating the "whole person," membership in the Corps of Cadets is for students who want a military environment while pursuing a full-time undergraduate degrees.


Graduate College

The Citadel offers evening and online programs under the banner of
The Citadel Graduate College The Citadel Graduate College is the non-residential academic program at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. Offering a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs in a non-military environment, the college targets residents of the South ...
(CGC),In 2007, The Citadel changed its graduate program's name from the College of Graduate and Professional Studies (CGPS) to The Citadel Graduate College (CGC). serving the
Lowcountry The Lowcountry (sometimes Low Country or just low country) is a geographic and cultural region along South Carolina's coast, including the Sea Islands. The region includes significant salt marshes and other coastal waterways, making it an impor ...
by offering regionally and professionally accredited bachelor's, master's and specialist degrees as well as certificate programs scheduled around the student's profession, family and lifestyle. The CGC offers over 25 graduate programs with over 15 concentration options, over 25 graduate certificate programs, and 12 college transfer programs. Some programs are offered through the
Lowcountry Graduate Center The Lowcountry Graduate Center (LGC) is a public higher education consortium located in North Charleston, South Carolina and established in 2001 to expand opportunities in graduate-level education to the Charleston, SC region. History In the ...
consortium in
North Charleston, South Carolina North Charleston is the third-largest city in the U.S. state, state of South Carolina.City Planning Department (2008-07)City of North Charleston boundary map. City of North Charleston. Retrieved January 21, 2011. On June 12, 1972, the city of No ...
.


College Transfer Programs

The Citadel Graduate College offers 12 majors within nine degree programs to anyone, regardless of military status within its College Transfer program. There are two different paths within the College Transfer Program structure: 2+2 transfer programs and degree completion programs. The 2+2 programs allow students to complete their first two years of study at an accredited college or university, then transfer those credits to The Citadel for the final two years to complete their degree through The Citadel's evening on-campus program. Six majors are offered in the 2+2 program: civil engineering (BSCE), computer engineering (BSCompE), construction engineering (BSConE), electrical engineering (BSEE), mechanical engineering (BSME), and nursing (BSN). The Degree Completion programs allow students to begin once they have earned a minimum of 24 academic credit hours in general education courses. A combination of evening on-campus and online formats are available and six majors are offered in the Degree Completion program: business administration (BSBA), criminal justice (BA), intelligence and security studies (BA), political science (BA), social studies education (BS), and tactical strength and conditioning (BS).


Enlisted Commissioning Programs

The Citadel is home to Enlisted Commissioning Programs for the Navy and Marine Corps. The first Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP) in the nation was established at The Citadel in 1973. Navy enlisted members attend as part of the Seaman to Admiral (STA-21) Program. Participants in these programs attend day classes with cadets in their service uniform, including ROTC, but are not required to live on campus.


Leadership training


ROTC

All cadets are required to undergo at least two years of
ROTC The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC ( or )) is a group of college- and university-based officer-training programs for training commissioned officers of the United States Armed Forces. Overview While ROTC graduate officers serve in all ...
training in one of the four branches of the armed services that offer ROTC programs (the
Coast Guard A coast guard or coastguard is a maritime security organization of a particular country. The term embraces wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to ...
does not have such a program), but they are not required to enter military service after graduation unless on ROTC scholarship or contract. Approximately 35% of Citadel Cadets are commissioned upon graduation.


U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary University Program

In addition to their required ROTC course, cadets interested in pursuing a career with the
United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mult ...
can join The Citadel's Coast Guard Auxiliary Unit Program (AUP). Originally established as The Citadel Coast Guard Society in 2007 and officially designated as Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 12-8a Citadel Detachment in 2008, The Citadel's Auxiliary Unit Program is one of the first Coast Guard Auxiliary University Programs in the nation. The purpose of the unit is to orient and educate cadets on service options within the United States Coast Guard, to include Direct Commissions, Officer Candidate School (OCS), active duty and reserve enlistments, and continued service with the auxiliary.


Krause Center for Leadership and Ethics

Established with a gift from L. William Krause '63, the
Krause Center for Leadership and Ethics The Krause Center for Leadership and Ethics coordinates the leadership and ethical programs at The Citadel in South Carolina. The Center, established in 2001, oversees the Four-Year Leader Development Model in which all cadets progress through lead ...
offers symposiums, classes and training seminars to help instill the principles of leadership, ethics, morals and service. A minor in leadership studies is also sponsored through this program. Training is conducted each year for freshmen and sophomores on honor and ethics. Leadership classes are also given to cadets in the senior chain of command. The institute also sponsors programs that offer cadets an opportunity to perform community service and instill a sense of commitment to one's fellow man.


Cadet Officer Leadership School

Selected members of
Air Force JROTC The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) is one of the three primary commissioning sources for officers in the United States Air Force and United States Space Force, the other two being the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) ...
units from the Southeastern United States cadets are eligible to spend a week at The Citadel for officer training for their home JROTC units. A routine day attending Cadet Officer Leadership School (COLS) begins with waking up to Reveille for morning PT, the remainder of the day is uniform wear and inspection, two classes and constant regulation drill. On the day of graduation from the school, cadets participate in a "pass in review" ceremony where awards and decorations are given to certain cadets who have gone above the normal standards.


Rankings

* In 2022, for the twelfth consecutive year, '' U.S. News & World Report'' ranked The Citadel highest among Master's Degree offering public institutions in the "Regional Universities – South" category and second out of all 136 universities (public and private) in the same category; the school was also ranked first in Best College for Veterans, sixth in Best Undergraduate Teaching, and tenth in Most Innovative Schools (all within the “Regional Universities – South” category). defined as those institutions offering "a full range of undergrad programs and some master's programs". ''U.S. News & World Report'' also ranked the undergraduate engineering program 16th nationally among schools offering up to a Masters Degree. * ''
Money Money is any item or verifiable record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts, such as taxes, in a particular country or socio-economic context. The primary functions which distinguish money are as ...
'' magazine's 2022 college ratings rank The Citadel 78th out of 744 U.S. colleges for affordability, scholarship availability, average student debt, graduation rate, and average graduate earnings. * In 2016 ''
The Economist ''The Economist'' is a British weekly newspaper printed in demitab format and published digitally. It focuses on current affairs, international business, politics, technology, and culture. Based in London, the newspaper is owned by The Econo ...
'' magazine ranked The Citadel 94th out of nearly 1,300 U.S. colleges for average earnings of graduates. * The Citadel in 2012 ranked 25th out of all U.S. public colleges in four-year graduation rate. As of 2015, the four-year graduation rate is 63% compared to a national average of 30%; the six-year rate is 72%.


Cadet life

Undergraduate students desiring to join the
South Carolina Corps of Cadets The South Carolina Corps of Cadets is the military component of the student body at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. The Corps of Cadets is the only residential, full-time undergraduate program at The Citadel, focusing on educating the " ...
must meet physical fitness and
SAT The SAT ( ) is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. Since its debut in 1926, its name and scoring have changed several times; originally called the Scholastic Aptitude Test, it was later called the Schol ...
/ ACT testing standards for acceptance. On occasion, waivers to height/weight standards can be granted upon successful completion of the physical training test. On most days, cadets have both morning and afternoon physical (fitness) training, called "PT", military instruction on leadership, weapons, drill, and discipline, in addition to their regular college classes. Most weekdays start with a formal muster and inspection of all personnel and their rooms. Cadets then march to structured military meals. After a day spent in classes, sports and other activities, the day usually ends with an evening muster formation and mandatory evening study period during which there is enforced quiet time and all cadets are required to be in the barracks, library or academic buildings. Cadets may not be married and must live on campus in the barracks with their assigned company for all four years. Cadets are restricted to campus during the week, but are allowed general leave on weekends and have limited but gradually escalating privileges for weekend and overnight passes. The Corps of Cadets employs a Fourth Class System in which first-year students have few rights on campus, must recite quotations and school facts to upperclassmen on command, and must obey any legal order from an upper-class cadet. The Citadel emphasizes a strict disciplinary and physical fitness indoctrination for fourth-class cadets, who are sometimes called "knobs" because of the shaved heads of the males, which they previously had to maintain until the spring when they were then recognized as fourth-class cadets. The haircut policy changed starting with the 2019–2020 academic year, where fourth-class male cadets only have to shave their heads during their initial week but can otherwise have hair as long as
Department of Defense Department of Defence or Department of Defense may refer to: Current departments of defence * Department of Defence (Australia) * Department of National Defence (Canada) * Department of Defence (Ireland) * Department of National Defense (Philipp ...
regulations allow it. First-year cadets arrive on campus before the start of the academic year for Challenge Week, a period of intense training and physical trials that is informally referred to as "Hell Week." According to The Citadel, the Fourth Class System "creates the discipline and instills the core values of Honor, Duty, and Respect which is expected of principled leaders in all walks of life. It is deliberately and appropriately stressful while always remaining positive, professional, and purposeful." Numerous first-year cadets have been abused and seriously injured under the Fourth Class System, and some faculty and alumni have called for the college to adopt a modern disciplinary system in line with the U.S. service academies. Cadets who accumulate too many demerits or breach regulations can be punished by serving confinements or tours. A tour is one hour spent marching in the barracks with a rifle at shoulder arms and is normally performed when a cadet would otherwise be permitted to leave campus. A confinement is one hour spent in a cadet's room when they would normally be permitted to leave campus. First-class cadets, veteran students, and active duty military students receive their class rings at a special ring presentation ceremony which was previously held in the college's
chapel A chapel is a Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. Firstly, smaller spaces inside a church that have their own altar are often called chapels; the Lady chapel is a common ty ...
, but which now takes place in the school's
field house Field house or fieldhouse is an American English term for an indoor sports arena or stadium, mostly used for college basketball, volleyball, or ice hockey, or a support building for various adjacent sports fields, e.g. locker room, team room, coac ...
. Non-cadet students may also purchase a ring which has a different design and does not say "Military College of South Carolina." The Citadel ring is 10
karat The fineness of a precious metal object (coin, bar, jewelry, etc.) represents the weight of ''fine metal'' therein, in proportion to the total weight which includes alloying base metals and any impurities. Alloy metals are added to increase hardne ...
gold with no gem stone; the design does not change with each class with the exception of the class year. One of the core values of The Citadel is an Honor Code that mandates that all students, both cadets and non-cadets, not lie, cheat, steal or tolerate those who do. A cadet-run Honor Court investigates all alleged violations and conducts trials for cadets. The penalty may result in expulsion, although recommendations for leniency may be forwarded to the President of the college for consideration. For non-cadets, a council of faculty and students enforces the code. While the codes are identical for cadets and non-cadets, they are administered separately and the range of sanctions for non-cadets varies from restitution to expulsion. Included in The Citadel Graduate College are active duty Navy and Marine Corps enlisted personnel attending The Citadel under the Seaman To Admiral program (STA-21) and the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP), which originated at The Citadel in 1973.


The Regimental Band and Pipes

Established in 1909, the Regimental Band is one of the twenty-one companies that comprise the current Corps and is a prominent feature at every formal parade. Prospective members must pass an audition. None of the band's members are music majors, as The Citadel does not offer such a major, yet the band and pipes enjoy an international reputation. The Band and Pipes made their inaugural appearance at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 1991 and were the only group from the United States to perform that year. Selected again by the Director of the
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an annual series of military tattoos performed by British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and international military bands, and artistic performance teams on the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle in the capital of S ...
in Scotland to represent the United States at the 2010 Silver Jubilee Tattoo, The Citadel Regimental Band and Pipes performed their own seven-minute segment of the Jubilee program in August 2010 as well as performing as part of the massed pipes and massed bands. Selected for a third time to represent the United States at the 2015 Tattoo, the Regimental Band performed the opening fanfare for the Tattoo's theme "East meets West" as well as the massed bands finale. Combined with the Citadel pipe band, their own seven-minute segment of the show featured musical numbers reflecting a wide variety of uniquely American music. The Band and Pipes will return to perform again at the Tattoo in 2020, broadcast on the BBC it is viewed by more than 100 Million people in 30 countries across Europe and Scandinavia. The Citadel Pipe Band, established by General Mark W. Clark in 1955, is one of the few college bagpipe bands in the country and it performs at the weekly parade at The Citadel, as well as at numerous other public events. The Citadel Regimental Band participated in the Presidential Inaugural parade in
1953 Events January * January 6 – The Asian Socialist Conference opens in Rangoon, Burma. * January 12 – Estonian émigrés found a Estonian government-in-exile, government-in-exile in Oslo. * January 14 ** Marshal Josip Broz Tito i ...
, and again combined with the pipe band in the inaugural parades of 1961, 1985 and 2017. In the summer of 2013, the Band and Pipes performed as the United States representative at the week-long
Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo is a show inspired by Military Tattoos given by military bands and display teams. It has taken place annually in Nova Scotia's capital, Halifax since 1979. It is currently held in the Halifax Scotiabank ...
in
Halifax, Canada Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348,634 people in its urban area. The ...
.


Summerall Guards

The Summerall Guards is a silent drill team consisting of 61 cadets chosen each spring from the junior class. Founded in 1932, the team performs a routine called The Citadel Series that has changed very little from its inception and has never been written down. The Guards have performed at numerous high-profile events around the United States, including four presidential inaugurations, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and at several NFL games.


Honors Program

An Honors Program is available for cadets with exceptional academic standing and includes a core curriculum of honors courses conducted by the most highly rated faculty members, small seminars, and classes conducted in a discussion-type forum that encourages intellectual advancement. The program accepts 25 cadets per year through a competitive process, and they are awarded scholarships. The program also assists the most highly qualified cadets in applying for scholarships, grants, and merit-based internships; since 1992 The Citadel has produced 21
Fulbright Scholars The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is one of several United States Cultural Exchange Programs with the goal of improving intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between the people of ...
and three
Truman Scholars The Harry S. Truman Scholarship is the premier graduate fellowship in the United States for public service leadership. It is a federally funded scholarship granted to U.S. undergraduate students for demonstrated leadership potential, academic ...
. A Fulbright Chair is set to be established in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences in the fall 2020 semester. The Honors Program also administers external study programs, including those abroad and in
Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
Each year, cadets participate in study abroad programs in numerous foreign countries, a semester-long internship program in Washington, D.C. allows cadets an opportunity to work at various government agencies and in the offices of congressmen and senators. Summer internship programs are available in many cities with major United States corporations.


Athletics

The Citadel competes in
NCAA Division I NCAA Division I (D-I) is the highest level of College athletics, intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States, which accepts players globally. D-I schools include the major ...
and has been a member of the
Southern Conference The Southern Conference (SoCon) is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly ...
since 1936; the school mascot is the
Bulldog The Bulldog is a British breed of dog of mastiff type. It may also be known as the English Bulldog or British Bulldog. It is of medium size, a muscular, hefty dog with a wrinkled face and a distinctive pushed-in nose.wrestling Wrestling is a series of combat sports involving grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. Wrestling techniques have been incorporated into martial arts, combat ...
, cross country, indoor and outdoor track, rifle, tennis, and golf; women's intercollegiate sports are volleyball, soccer, cross country, indoor and outdoor track, rifle, and golf. Numerous club sports include lacrosse, rugby, pistol, sailing, crew, ice hockey, and triathlon. The Citadel Bulldogs baseball team has won 20 Southern Conference regular season and
tournament A tournament is a competition involving at least three competitors, all participating in a sport or game. More specifically, the term may be used in either of two overlapping senses: # One or more competitions held at a single venue and concentr ...
championships, most recently in 2010; 43 players have been selected in the MLB draft The 1990 team won the Atlantic Regional, earning the school its first trip to the
College World Series The College World Series (CWS), officially the NCAA Men's College World Series (MCWS), is an annual baseball tournament held in June in Omaha, Nebraska. The MCWS is the culmination of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Divisi ...
(CWS) and finishing the season ranked sixth in the final
Collegiate Baseball ''Collegiate Baseball Newspaper'' (also known as ''Collegiate Baseball Magazine'' and ''Collegiate Baseball'') is an American publication based in Arizona that considers itself the "voice of amateur baseball" which has been published for over 40 ...
poll with a record of 46–14; they also became the first military school to play in the CWS. Numerous alumni have played in the major leagues in recent years, recently retired Head Coach Fred Jordan '79 is the school and conference's winningest with 831 victories. The
football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
team has won four Southern Conference Championships and appeared in the
Football Championship Subdivision The NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly known as Division I-AA, is the second-highest level of college football in the United States, after the Football Bowl Subdivision. Sponsored by the National Collegiate Athleti ...
playoffs five times; the 1960 team defeated 27–0 in the Tangerine Bowl. The
1992 File:1992 Events Collage V1.png, From left, clockwise: 1992 Los Angeles riots, Riots break out across Los Angeles, California after the Police brutality, police beating of Rodney King; El Al Flight 1862 crashes into a residential apartment buildi ...
squad went 11–2 and finished the regular season ranked #1 in the I-AA poll. The 2015 team recorded nine wins including a victory over
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and four players were named to All-America teams. The 2016 squad had a 10-game win streak and won the outright Conference Championship. As of 2010 the football program had a graduation success rate of 90% compared to the Division I average of 65% Several alumni have played in the professional ranks including wide receiver and All-Pro return specialist Andre Roberts of the
Los Angeles Chargers The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division, and ...
; cornerback
Cortez Allen Cortez Lequon Allen (born October 29, 1988) is a former American football cornerback. Allen grew up in Citra, Florida and played college football at The Citadel. Allen was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 2011 N ...
recently played five seasons with the
Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. Founded in , the Steel ...
. Fullback Nehemiah Broughton played with the
Washington Redskins The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) N ...
, Arizona Cardinals and
New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...
; fullback
Travis Jervey Travis Richard Jervey (born May 5, 1972) is a former American football running back. He played for the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, and Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). With the Packers, he won Super Bowl XXXI ...
was an All-Pro and member of the 1996 Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers; kicker Greg Davis (placekicker), Greg Davis had a 12-year career with several teams including Arizona and the Atlanta Falcons. ESPN color commentator Paul Maguire was a tight end and punter for three AFL champions with the Buffalo Bills and former St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals running back Stump Mitchell, Lyvonia "Stump" Mitchell has been a head coach at two Division I colleges and served as an NFL assistant for Seattle Seahawks, Seattle, Washington, Arizona and the New York Jets. Current NFL players also include cornerback Dee Delaney of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and wide receiver Raleigh Webb of the New England Patriots. The The Citadel Bulldogs wrestling, wrestling team has sent 68 members to the NCAA Tournament and produced four All-Americans. Completed in 2005, the Inouye Marksmanship Center is utilized by cadets, law enforcement and the South Carolina National Guard. The Citadel Bulldogs rifle team has won four national championships (two team and two individual); Cadet Stephen Bowden was the 2013 National Individual Pistol Champion For the 2018–19 school year seven of the 13 sports team had a perfect Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1,000; five of the remaining six were well above the multi year threshold score of 930.


Campus

The Citadel sits on a tract of land on the Ashley River just to the northwest of downtown Charleston. There are 27 buildings, built in a Moorish Revival architecture, Spanish Moorish style, grouped around a grass parade ground. The buildings around the parade ground include ten classroom buildings, an administration building, five barracks, mess hall, a student activities building, chapel, library, a yacht club, a marksmanship center, a field house, faculty/staff housing area, and various support facilities including a laundry, cadet store, tailor shop, and power plant. The campus is bounded to the west by the Ashley River, to the north by the Wagener Terrace neighborhood, to the east by Hampton Park (Charleston), Hampton Park and the Hampton Park Terrace neighborhood, and to the South by the Westside Neighborhood. Just off the main campus are Johnson Hagood Stadium, a baseball stadium, and an alumni center. Additionally, the college owns a large beach house facility located near the north end of the Isle of Palms, South Carolina, Isle of Palms.


Padgett-Thomas Barracks

Padgett-Thomas Barracks, the first building constructed on campus and completely rebuilt in 2004, faces the center of the parade ground and dominates the campus with its tower, distinguishing it from all other barracks and buildings on campus. Home to one of the five battalions of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets, the Regimental Band and Pipes, and Regimental Staff, the barracks has space to house up to 560 cadets.


Summerall Chapel

The Summerall Chapel, designed by C.R. MacDonald, was started on September 7, 1936, and dedicated on Palm Sunday, April 10, 1938. The first services, however, were held in the chapel on September 19, 1937. The chapel was named in honor of Citadel president General Charles Pelot Summerall. Inside, there is a set of 30 stained glass windows designed by H.G. Wilbert depicting the life of Jesus Christ which were executed by the Pittsburgh Stained Glass Studios in the 13th century Gothic style. A $1 million repair program was developed for the chapel in 1985. In June 2015, the school's Board of Visitors voted in favor of moving a Flags of the Confederate States of America#Naval flags, Confederate naval jack from the chapel to what was called "an appropriate location on campus." As of September 2017, the flag had not yet been removed, nor had an "appropriate location" been selected.


The Daniel Library

Originally named "The Memorial Library and Museum" and opened in 1960, it was renamed in 1972, "The Daniel Library" in honor of Charles E. Daniel, '18 and Robert Hugh Daniel, '29, both lifelong benefactors of the college. Major renovations were completed in the fall of 2010. It houses over 200,000 volumes of material as well as electronic access to thousands of journals. The third floor of the building houses the campus archives and museum. The Prioleau Room on the first floor houses special collections and is considered by many as one of the best places on campus to study with its dark wood paneling and fireplace. The Daniel Library website has information for locating items in the catalog, the Lowcountry Digital Library, and The Citadel's own Digital Collections.


Campus landmarks


Howie Bell Tower and Carillon

Standing next to Summerall Chapel and built in 1954, this structure honors one of the school's most revered alumni, US Army Major Thomas D. Howie, Class of 1929, who served as Commander of 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division (United States), 29th Infantry Division in the Normandy Campaign during World War II and was immortalized as "The Major of St Lo". Killed in action during the liberation of St. Lo, France, he was so respected that his flag draped body was carried on the hood of a Jeep at the head of the column of troops so he could be accorded the honor of being the first American to enter the city. A photo of his body placed in the rubble of the St. Croix Cathedral came to symbolize the courage and sacrifice of US forces in the European Theater. Containing 59 bronze bells cast at the Royal Bergen Foundry in the Netherlands, the tower carillon is one of the largest in the Western Hemisphere.


Seraph Monument

Located next to Mark Clark Hall at the northeast corner of Summerall Field, this uniquely shaped monument contains artifacts from the British submarine , which carried then Major General Mark Clark to a secret landing in Algeria prior to the Allied landings in the North African Campaign of World War II in order to negotiate a surrender of the Vichy French forces; the vessel was also involved in Operation Mincemeat, a clandestine operation which succeeded in convincing the Germans that the allies intended to Allied invasion of Sicily, invade Sardinia, not Sicily. The memorial honors Anglo-American friendship and cooperation during World War II and is the only shore location in the United States authorized by the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), UK Ministry of Defence to fly the Royal Navy Ensign.


General Mark Clark Gravesite

Lying between Mark Clark Hall and Summerall Chapel is the burial plot of US Army General Mark Wayne Clark who served as Citadel President from 1954 to 1965 and President Emeritus until his death in 1984. The youngest Lieutenant General in the United States Army during World War II (age 46), Clark served as General Dwight Eisenhower's deputy during the "Operation Torch" landings in North Africa, then commanded the 5th Army in the Italian campaign liberating Rome in June 1944. He later served as Commanding General of the 15th Army Group and in 1952 was appointed by Harry S. Truman, President Truman as Supreme Commander of UN forces in Korea.


The Citadel Ring Statue

Located at the southeast corner of the parade ground near Lesesne Gate, the main entrance to campus, is a giant replica of The Citadel ring, recognized as the most important and treasured symbol of a graduate. It was a gift to The Citadel Alumni Association from Palmetto Balfour, the current supplier of the official Citadel class rings.


Monuments to the armed forces

On the parade ground are monuments dedicated to each of the military services and honoring the contributions of Citadel alumni to the military. They include a Marine landing craft (LVT-H-6); an Army Sherman Tank (M4A3) and an Army Missile (Corporal); an Air Force fighter jet (F-4C Phantom II); an AH-1 "Cobra" helicopter gunship and an anchor from the aircraft carrier USS ''Coral Sea''. A United States Coast Guard Bell serves as a monument to Citadel graduates who have lost their lives upon the sea.


Alumni

The Citadel has produced distinguished alumni in a variety of career fields. Well known graduates include former U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Langhorne A. Motley, longtime U.S. Senator Ernest Hollings, Ernest "Fritz" Hollings, best-selling authors Pat Conroy and Robert Jordan, football commentator Paul Maguire, NFL player and coach Stump Mitchell, Space Shuttle astronaut and International Space Station Commander Randolph Bresnik, Colonel Randy Bresnik, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Andre Roberts and the Commander of U.S. Central Command General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. Notable alumni include 6 governors, 3 U.S. senators, 12 congressmen, the presidents of 47 colleges and universities, the Harvey Schiller, Director of the U.S. Olympic Committee and many professional athletes."Distinguished and Notable Citadel Alumni" at http://citadelalumni.org/dcal/ Approximately 35% of cadet graduates are commissioned as officers into the military, another 10% go directly to graduate programs; alumni currently serve in all five military services. Over the years, 299 Citadel alumni have reached the top ranks in the military by becoming flag officers (Generals, Admirals or Commodore), ten have served as a state Adjutant General. Nine alumni have served as pilots with the two U.S. military flight demonstration units, the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, Thunderbirds and Blue Angels; graduates have served as commanders of both squadrons. Alumni also serve in the military services of foreign countries including six 4 Star Generals from Thailand and the head of Jordan's Security Forces. Citadel alumni were killed in action during the Mexican–American War (6), American Civil War, Civil War (67), World War I (15), World War II (280), Korean War (32), Vietnam War (68), 1983 Beirut barracks bombing, Lebanon (1), Operation Urgent Fury, Grenada (1), the Gulf War (1), and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan (22).


In popular culture

* A thinly veiled depiction of The Citadel provides the background for Calder Willingham's novel ''End as a Man'' (1947) and the film adaptation, ''The Strange One'' (1957). * Pat Conroy's 1980 novel ''The Lords of Discipline'' was based on Conroy's experience as a cadet at The Citadel during the 1960s and on his research of other military schools. The novel outraged many of his fellow graduates of The Citadel, who felt that the book was a thinly veiled portrayal of campus life that was highly unflattering. The rift was not healed until 2000, when Conroy was awarded an honorary degree and asked to deliver the commencement address the following year. That year Conroy spearheaded fundraising to renovate the banquet hall in The Citadel Alumni Association building. ''The Lords of Discipline'' was made into The Lords of Discipline (film), a movie of the same name starring David L. Keith, David Keith and Robert Prosky in 1983. Conroy also wrote about his experiences at the Citadel in his memoir ''My Losing Season'' (2002).


Notes


References


External links

* *
Citadel Athletics website

Bibliography of the Citadel
(The Daniel Library) {{DEFAULTSORT:Citadel, The Military College Of South Carolina The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, * Educational institutions established in 1842 Military academies of the United States Military education and training in the United States Education in Charleston, South Carolina Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Public universities and colleges in South Carolina United States senior military colleges Education in Charleston County, South Carolina Buildings and structures in Charleston, South Carolina 1842 establishments in South Carolina