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The Pershing Rifles Company was organized in 1957 on this campus by Sgt. Jobie K. Boggs and interested students. It was one of the largest units in the regiment and participated in and sponsored regimental drill meets. In 1965 a contingent traveled to Washington, D.C. to march in the Presidential Inauguration Parade. In 1979 the PR color guard presented the colors at the inaugural for Governor William Janklow. They also present the colors at the athletic events on campus. In 1979-80 the group changed its name and affiliation to become Plains Riflemen, due to certain rulings by the regimental organization.
The Pershingettes (auxiliary of coeds) was established in 1967 by Sgt E. W. Lindsey and interested students. In their roya1 blue outfits and white boots and white gloves and scarves they rated No. 1 at a national drill competition. They sponsor an annual high school coed drill meet and performed at various functions, to include the Vikings game in Bloomington, Minnesota in October 1974 which was nationally televised.
There has been a Rifle Club since the early part of the Century, although it was formerly known as the Rifle and Pistol Club. The pistol portion was discontinued in 1974. Membership is open to all college students with membership running over 100 most of the time. Girls were allowed to shoot on the team for the first time in 1965 and all members have been exceptionally successful in competition, winning many trophies. They host various matches on their range and travel to those in states in the Midwest. Several students from Army ROTC have been members of the ROTC Region competitive shooting team.
The Cateau Ranger Company, organized on campus in 1967-68 by Captain Dean Knox and interested students is still functioning. The president is usually a cadet who has completed Ranger training during the summer prior to his holding that office. Strike Force was a freshman ROTC cadet counter-guerrilla unit in operation during 1969-70 ; now they are included in the Cateau Ranger group. The Rangers often serve as aggressors during field training exercises.
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