New Mexico State University

New Mexico State's Bataan Battalion carries one of the most meaningful names in ROTC — honoring the New Mexican soldiers who suffered and died in the Bataan Death March, many of whom trained at NMSU. The battalion formally changed its name from "Desperado Battalion" to "Bataan Battalion" in 1989 to serve as a living memorial to those survivors. The program maintains close ties with White Sands Missile Range, the Army's premier test and evaluation installation, with WSMR's garrison commander regularly participating in commissioning ceremonies. Cadets participate in the Bataan Memorial Death March, a 26-mile ruck march sponsored by WSMR and the New Mexico National Guard held annually at White Sands, which is both a physical and cultural touchstone for the program. Las Cruces's border region location and bilingual demographics give some cadets a natural cultural and linguistic edge for branches like Civil Affairs and Military Intelligence. The New Mexico Army National Guard pipeline is active and cadets regularly commission into state units.