For the City Times

Competing against 42 programs stretching from Northern Michigan to Southern Missouri, the Northwoods Battalion was awarded the 2015 Overall Top Program by the 3rd Army ROTC Brigade on Nov. 19.

This is the first time in history the Northwoods Battalion, which is comprised of UW-Stevens Point and its partner ROTC programs at UW-Stout, UW-River Falls and UW-Eau Claire, won the award.

The Overall Top Program award is decided by metrics in four areas: logistics, administration, recruiting and retention, and operations. The Northwoods Battalion also won Best in the Brigade for the recruiting and retention category.

The categories of logistics, administration, recruiting and retention rate the program’s administration, while the operations category assess the student cadets in terms of GPA, physical fitness and leadership as measured by their placement on the nationwide Order of Merit List.

“I can’t begin to tell you what an honor it is to receive this award,” said LTC Gary Thompson, professor of military science at UW-Stevens Point. “We have an amazing team, and this is validation of their efforts. Taking care of the cadets as we recruit them, supply them and administer their program are all critical steps in giving them the best possible training.”