When I arrived at the main gate at Fort Benning I was told to follow the signs that would lead me to the reception station for the ROTC candidates. Instead I was directed by sign to a huge parking lot where I was told to park my car, get my belongings and stand behind my vehicle until a bus picked me up. I was not alone, there were many cars already parked, there were about a hundred waiting for a bus, and the cars kept coming.
The army realized in the middle 60's that they were running out of officers, especially young lieutenants. West Point could not keep up with demand, most draftees were not interested in going to officer candidate school, and the college ROTC programs were dwindling fast. The army decided to offer incentives to colleges and universities if they would establish ROTC programs, which is what CMSC did. The new programs needed senior cadre so they developed a two year program where by you went to basic training at a specialized facility which gave you credit for the first two years of ROTC training and you spent your junior and senior year attending military classes while completing your college degree. After that you only owed the government two years of active duty, the same as being drafted. Seemed like a deal to me, besides they paid you during the school year a small amount. I think it was $50 a month.
It was a popular program. Not only did you get paid to go to school you put off the inevitable draft and when you finally did go into the army, which back then was only a matter of time, you went in as an officer. I really thought to myself that if I was going to have to go in the army any way I might as well make more money than a private to be shot at.
A bus came by and about 50 of us were herded on and taken to the receptions station. We were told to go sit under "that tent over there" where they had all sorts of food and drink. This isn't bad I thought to myself. Eventually I and 25 others were told to get in line and we started being processed. Name, date of births, family contacts, sign forms, it went on and on.
The 25 were then taken to a small assembly area where this scare crow looking captain welcomed us to Fort Benning Basic Training Detachment. He told us that this is where "we train you to be soldiers" and he hoped we would enjoy are stay. Seemed like a pretty nice guy I thought.
As soon as he finished some guy started yelling at us to get up, stand in line, do not get out of order, don't lose the foleder we were given and he marched us single file into a giant warehouse yelling at us all the way to keep in step and not get out of order. The warehouse contained all the military clothing and other items we would need immediately. We were given quick exams and then shots via air guns by guys who had probably gotten there the day before. Some times the air guns would not be flush with the skin and the pressure would blow away part of the skin. There was many an arm dripping with blood by the time we got out side where another bus awaited.
We all filed on and I was the last one to get a seat. I heard the guy behind me who seemed to be in charge tell the driver, "Sand Hill, C-8-2." Off we went.
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