Every year the Virginia State University Military Alumni Association inducts senior military leaders into their distinguished ROTC Hall of Fame.

Twelve soldiers were inducted into the VSU Alumni ROTC Hall of Fame Oct. 19. Among them was Brig. Gen. James S. Moore, 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command commanding general.

"I have a true love and appreciation of Virginia State University," said Moore, a native of Philadelphia. "It is the foundation and building block of my entire adult life. When I first got the call about being inducted into the hall of fame, I had to check to see if they got the right person."

The VSU ROTC Hall of Fame was established in June 1961 to honor those officers who exhibited the will to compete and successfully graduate in the upper 10 percent of their class while attending the school. As a testament to the quality of this program, 12 cadets, whom graduated from the VSU ROTC program, have risen to the general officer ranks in the Army.

"The young men and women who have passed through the door of this battalion during the last 71 years have benefitted greatly from the leadership, structure, discipline and positive environment that this ROTC program provides," Moore said.

Moore was nominated by retired Col. Cortez K. Dial, who is also in the VSU ROTC Hall of Fame. The vote to elect Moore for the hall of fame was unanimous.

"One of the greatest aspects of the ROTC programs is the network of officers above you that work to mentor and provide a caring, nurturing, living and learning environment to help ensure each officer is able to fulfill and reach their highest potential," Dial said.

Since the ROTC program began in 1947, it has commissioned more than 1,700 officers, who have served the Army from second lieutenant to general.

"ROTC changed my life," Moore said. "It taught me discipline. It brought me standards.

It taught me compassion and caring, and it taught me all the great attributes that we are known for today as an Army."