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