Jose A. Camuñas
Director – Ejecutivo
PO Box 644
Puerto Real, PR 00740-0644
Tel. (787) 889-6408
Rafael C. Quiñones
Secretario
PO Box 395
Loiza, PR 00772-0395
Tel. (787) 876-1305

January 28, 2004



Honorable George Bush
President
United States of America

Dear Mr. President:

The purpose of this letter is to express our concern about the future of the Army and Air Force ROTC Programs at the University of Puerto Rico.

The steering committee of the 1952 ROTC Class University of Puerto Rico has authorized me, as Executive Director, to address your office to express our genuine concern for the situation which the ROTC Program is presently facing at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus.

The program is being conducted in very inadequate and sub-standard temporary facilities (trailers) set up in 1998 after the hurricane George. Although funds were allocated for the construction of new facilities, nothing has been done to provide the faculty and students of the ROTC Program with such adequate facilities.

Members of the Steering Committee of our class, in our effort to assist such important program, have visited the temporary facilities and based upon their observation have vowed to exert our utmost efforts with the local authorities in the University of Puerto Rico Campus to try to obtain their commitment to provide the needed adequate physical facilities. Meetings with university officials have been fruitless.

The development of future military leadership is of paramount importance for the protection of democratic principles throughout the world and the maintenance of the strength of our national defense.

As Commander in Chief of all the Armed Forces of the United States, we respectfully request your intervention to assure that the ROTC Program in Puerto Rico obtains the support it deserves in adequate physical facilities to conduct its program.

Sincerely,


José A. Camuñas, LTC, US Army (Retired)
Executive Director
1952 ROTC Class, UPR

Cc:
DOD
DA
Army Chief of Staff
DAF
Air Force Chief of Staff
HQ AFOATS
Under Secretary of the Navy
USA CC
Headquarters Eastern Region US Army Cadet Command
CASA-PR
Governor of Puerto Rico
TAG-PR
UPR-President
UPR-RP Chancellor
UPR-RUM Chancellor