Longstanding Military Alliances
Park’s Complete Military History
As early as 1889, Park’s campus in Parkville was used as a training center for the Missouri Militia companies. Photographs show multiple rows of company members (many who were Park students) standing in formation on the campus grounds.
Park University and the U.S. Military enjoy an educational partnership which has stretched more than 90 years. During World War I, Park implemented the conditions outlined by the War Department which inducted college men into the army but allowed them to continue their studies until they were called to active service.
During World War II in 1943-45 the U.S. Navy selected the historic Parkville Campus as a Naval Cadet training center for its V-12 program during World War II. The Navy personnel enrollments more than doubled the student population and every dorm space was filled to capacity. In appreciation to Park, the U.S. Navy named and launched The S.S. Park Victory in April 1945 to commemorate and thank its host.
World War II also brought another connection to the U.S. military when Mildred McAfee Horton, the first female adjunct of the United States Navy was named the first director and subsequent commander of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) in 1942. Through her stellar leadership role with the U.S. Marines, previously unopened doors of opportunity became available for American women serving their country. She was the granddaughter of Dr. John A. McAfee, Park University co-founder and daughter of the second Park president, Dr. Cleland McAfee.
In the 1960's, Park again became an endorsed division of an officer's training program when U.S. military personnel participated in the Bootstrap Program during the Vietnam war. The program was hosted at the Parkville Campus for several years and at the conclusion of the program in the 1970s, the University became active with the Command and General Staff College which is located in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, just a few miles northwest of Park’s campus.
The U.S. Military remains a strong and vital element within the University’s educational system with 61 percent of Park’s 25,489 students worldwide representing active duty, retired military, military dependents and department of defense employees. Park is listed among a select number of higher learning institutions invited to provide a campus center at multiple military installations and Park currently has 42 campus Centers located in 21 States.
Park’s founding mission to provide access to academic excellence remains a core component for all learners including Park students serving in the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, United States Air Force and the United States Coast Guard.
Because of Park’s outstanding educational support to the men and women serving our country, the University was recognized when its College for Distance Learning was selected as a Top Military Friendly School in the December 2008 Military Advanced Education, a journal of higher learning for today’s service member.