In recent years, colleges and universities in the United States have had an on-again, off-again relationship with Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) units on their campuses. This article discusses the history of how these units came into being and the benefits of having ROTC to the students, the institution, and the nation. While there is little or no possibility of ROTC being eliminated completely from college campuses, such an eventuality would not diminish the need for military personnel, including the many officers who enter service from ROTC units at civilian colleges. Without ROTC, the vast majority of military officers would come directly from service academies. Although the quality of education at service academies is excellent in every way, the idea of the nation's military leadership coming entirely from such institutions could lead to the further alienation of military personnel from their civilian counterparts. Suspicion and lack of trust likely would increase, to the clear detriment of the nation's interest.