Norwich has maintained a kinship with its cavalry heritage through the years, even though the University was first established to train officers for the Artillery. It was not until 1909 that cavalry training was first introduced and conducted informally by Capt. Leslie A. I. Chapman, Professor of Military Science and Tactics. Capt. Chapman was the first cavalry office assigned to Norwich University by the War Department.
photo by Jay Ericson A member of Cavalry Troop prepares a horse for riding. Read Leadership from Horsemanship article, video on page 5 »
It did not take much time before this informal training developed a troop of cavalry at Norwich. Under Capt. Frank Tompkins, Capt. Chapman’s successor, cavalry training was instituted as a part of the military training program at Norwich and within the Corps of Cadets. But cavalry training was not the only formal military training conducted. By 1910, training in Infantry and the Signal Corps (communications) were also a part of the military training program at Norwich.
Archive photoHistoric Norwich Cavalry Unit photo.
The Corps of Cadets remained a cavalry unit from 1911 to 1950. On Sept. 2, 1950, due to the growing size of the Corps, the Commandant of Cadets, Col. Briard F. Johnson, reorganized the Corps into the regular Army regiment. However, to this day Norwich has remained true to the cavalry traditions. This link to the past can be seen in the crossed sabers worn on the Norwich gray and blue uniform tunics. The dress blue uniform that is worn by all Norwich Cadets is similar in design to the uniform worn by cavalry officers in 1898.
