CLASS’s Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program was recently awarded a $50,000 grant from the Ed Rachal Foundation to support their activities and help students finance their education.

“The University of Houston requested assistance from the Ed Rachal Foundation for student scholarships and ROTC activities.  The Foundation recently approved a $50,000 grant to be utilized by the UH ROTC program,” says COL Neil T. Chaffee, professor of military science.

CLASS’s ROTC program has a long-standing relationship with the Ed Rachal Foundation. Each year, they conduct adventure training and at least two field exercises for over 100 cadets at the La Copa Leadership Training Center (LCLTC) located on a 600 acre ranch by Falfurrias, Texas.  The ranch is owned, operated and supported by the foundation.

“The Ed Rachal Foundation is completely dedicated to benefitting charitable, scientific, literary or educational programs within the State of Texas.  We are honored to be recognized as a program which merits such a gracious grant.  This grant will help Texans in their pursuit of earning a college degree,” says COL Chaffee.

ROTC is a cadet-led, educational and training program that is designed to provide college students in the greater Houston area with an opportunity to join the nation’s oldest armed service, the United States Army, as a leader, a mentor, and as an officer.

The mission of the Ed Rachal Foundation was established by the last will and testament of the Foundation’s benefactor. In his will, the late Ed Rachal decreed, “…I devise and bequeath the rest and residue of my estate of every kind and wheresoever situated real, personal and mixed, to such corporation to be used exclusively for the benefit of charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes within the State of Texas.”

-Monica Byars