05-03-2025
UVM Army ROTC named best program in the Northeast: What schools they beat out to win
BURLINGTON ― The University of Vermont's Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program has been recognized as the best in the Northeast, according to a community announcement.
The program has won the 2023-2024 General Douglas MacArthur Award for Leadership. This marks the third time in the last decade that UVM ROTC has received this honor.
'This is a great honor for this program and our cadets,' said Lt. Col. Travis McCracken, professor of military science at UVM ROTC. 'They are exceptional young adults that will undoubtedly go on to achieve great success in the U.S. Army.'
The award is given to the top ROTC program in the Northeast region of the U.S. Army Cadet Command, which is divided into nine regions with 275 host programs nationwide. The Northeast region includes 42 host universities, among them all Ivy League schools and other elite institutions.
'I'm so proud of these cadets. They work tirelessly to perfect their craft as Army leaders,' said Master Sgt. Aaron Peters, senior military science instructor at UVM ROTC. 'They will be second lieutenants soon enough, and I'm proud to say that we have some of the best.'
Selection for the award is based on several factors, including the school's commissioning mission, cadet grade-point average, standing on the command's National Order of Merit List, retention rates, Ranger Challenge competitions, Army training and fitness, and the brigade commander's assessment and evaluation of the overall program.
UVM ROTC is now a finalist among the other eight regional winners for the best program in the United States.
Col. Allen Kehoe, 2nd Brigade Commander of the U.S. Army Cadet Command, will present the award to UVM Interim President Patricia Prelock at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 3, at the University of Vermont's Alumni House, Silver Pavilion, 61 Summit St., Burlington.
RSVPs are not required but appreciated. To RSVP, contact Valerie Pallotta at
This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: University of Vermont's Army ROTC named best program in Northeast
