(https://gmpg.org/xfn/11) (https://fonts.googleapis.com) (https://fonts.gstatic.com)  (../../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@family=Oswald%253Awght@200..700&display=swap.css) (../../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@family=Oswald%253Awght@200..700&display=swap.css)  (../../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@family=Noto+Sans%253A300,400,400i,700%257CNoto+Serif%253A400,700%257COpen+Sans%253A300,300i,400,400i,500,700&display=swap.css) (../../../cdn.jsdelivr.net/jquery.slick/1.6.0/slick-theme.css) (../../../cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/7.0.0/css/all.min.css) (../../../cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/7.0.0/css/all.min.css)   MSU earns new military designation, priority for officer commissions - The Dispatch  (index.html)                  (https://static.addtoany.com/)  (https://e4sh3cjh5t7.exactdn.com/)  (https://e4sh3cjh5t7.exactdn.com/)  (The Dispatch » Feed) (https://cdispatch.com/feed/)  (The Dispatch » iCal Feed) (https://cdispatch.com/events/?ical=1)  (../../wp-content/plugins/leaky-paywall/css/lp-list-builder.css@ver=5.2.0.css)  (../../wp-content/plugins/leaky-paywall/css/issuem-leaky-paywall.css@ver=5.2.0.css)  (../../wp-content/plugins/leaky-paywall-trials/css/style.css@ver=1.9.8.css)  (../../wp-content/themes/commercial_dispatch_v3/css/theme.min.css@ver=.1767201025.css)  (../../wp-content/themes/commercial_dispatch_v3/css/style.css@ver=1788273202.css)  (../../wp-content/plugins/add-to-any/addtoany.min.css@ver=1.16.css)  (https://cdispatch.com/wp-json/tribe/events/v1/)  (../../../e4sh3cjh5t7.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cropped-dispatch-red-d-logo-2.png@strip=all&resize=32,32)  (../../../e4sh3cjh5t7.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cropped-dispatch-red-d-logo-2.png@strip=all&resize=192,192)  (https://e4sh3cjh5t7.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cropped-dispatch-red-d-logo-2.png?strip=all&resize=180%2C180)      (index.html#content) Skip to content (Site search)  (index.html#) Sections    (https://cdispatch.com/obituaries/) Obituaries  (https://cdispatch.com/eedition/) eEdition  (https://ads.cdispatch.com) Classifieds  (https://cdispatch.com/events/) Events  (https://donate.cdispatch.com) Donate     (https://cdispatch.com/) (Dispatch Mobile Logo)   (https://cdispatch.com/subscribe/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=offer_button&utm_content=top) Subscribe  (https://cdispatch.com/login-page) Login      (search...)    October 3, 2026     QUICK LINKS (https://cdispatch.com/obituaries/) Obituaries  (https://cdispatch.com/eedition/) eEdition  (https://ads.cdispatch.com) Classifieds  (https://cdispatch.com/events/) Events  (https://donate.cdispatch.com) Donate   (https://cdispatch.com/news/) News  (https://cdispatch.com/news/columbus-lowndes-county/) Columbus & Lowndes County  (https://cdispatch.com/news/starkville-oktibbeha-county/) Starkville & Oktibbeha County  (https://cdispatch.com/news/west-point-clay-county/) West Point & Clay County  (https://cdispatch.com/news/area/) Area  (https://cdispatch.com/news/state/) State  (https://cdispatch.com/news/national/) National  (https://cdispatch.com/news/business/) Business   (https://cdispatch.com/sports/) Sports  (https://cdispatch.com/sports/high-school-sports/) High School Sports  (https://cdispatch.com/sports/college-sports/) College Sports  (https://cdispatch.com/sports/local-columns-sports/) Local Columns   (https://cdispatch.com/eedition/) eEdition   (https://cdispatch.com/events/) Events   (https://cdispatch.com/opinions/) Opinions  (https://cdispatch.com/opinions/local-columns/) Local Columns  (https://cdispatch.com/opinions/letters-to-the-editor/) Letters to the Editor  (https://cdispatch.com/opinions/roses-thorns/) Roses & Thorns  (https://cdispatch.com/opinions/dispatch-editorials/) Dispatch Editorials   (https://cdispatch.com/obituaries/) Obituaries   (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/) Lifestyles  (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/columns-lifestyle/) Columns  (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/entertainment/) Entertainment  (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/food/) Food  (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/transitions-announcements/) Transitions & Announcements  (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/community/) Community  (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/religion/) Religion   (http://ads.cdispatch.com/) Classifieds   (https://cdispatch.com/gallery/) Photo Galleries   (https://cdispatch.com/public-records/) Public Records  (https://cdispatch.com/public-records/building-permits/) Building Permits  (https://cdispatch.com/public-records/marriages-divorces/) Marriages & Divorces   (https://cdispatch.com/subscriber-profile/) My Account        October 3, 2026   (https://cdispatch.com/) (Dispatch Logo) Open eyes, open minds.     Serving Columbus & Starkville, Mississippi        (https://cdstg1922.wpenginepowered.com/) Home  » (https://cdstg1922.wpenginepowered.com/news/) News  » MSU earns new military designation, priority for officer commissions   (https://cdispatch.com/news/) News   MSU earns new military designation, priority for officer commissions By (https://cdispatch.com/author/emcraecdispatch-com/) Emma McRae  • 14 hours ago  • 3 mins to read   (MSU earns new military designation, priority for officer commissions)   Sid Salter, left, and Mark Keenum  STARKVILLE – Mississippi State University joined a new tier of military-affiliated colleges Wednesday after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth designated it a “Distinguished Military College” while announcing plans for the new America’s Corps of Cadets program. With the designation, MSU, and the other four universities designated Wednesday, will earn “Honor School” status, which grants priority in future officer commissions. “What that does for our (Reserve Officer Training Corps) personnel, it will fast-track their commissioning. They will actually be able to step to the head of the line,” Sid Salter, vice president for strategic communications and director of public affairs at MSU, told The Dispatch on Thursday. “We think that is going to be a real boost in terms of enrollment. There is a percentage of students who look very closely at the ROTC program and the commissioning opportunities that go with it. So, obviously, that will, we think, be a real positive for the university.” Hegseth announced the program and five other strategic initiatives Wednesday during a speech to active-duty tactical-level and noncommissioned officers at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. The designation creates a tier below the nation’s six Senior Military Colleges – Texas A&M University, Norwich University, the Virginia Military Institute, The Citadel, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and North Georgia College and State University – where the existing Corps of Cadets program is housed. “By embedding continuous military discipline and leadership development into these new partner schools, America’s Corps of Cadets aims to grow the number of officers who are patriotic, rigorous and prepared to lead and defend the Republic,” a (https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4615424/secretary-hegseth-announces-six-major-initiatives-at-quantico-speech/) Defense Department press release reads. America’s Corps of Cadets expands that program to include MSU, Louisiana State University, Liberty University, Tuskegee University and Hillsdale College. To be designated a “Distinguished Military College,” the press release said the institutions demonstrate exceptionally high standards of cadet discipline, tactical instruction and military organization. Hegseth described the distinction as a “stepping stone” toward Senior Military College status, which MSU and the other four schools can pursue if they choose. “Our university is deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve our country in a way that is part of our institutional DNA,” MSU President Mark E. Keenum said in a (https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2026/09/msu-designated-distinguished-military-college-sec-hegseth-war-dept-unveils) press release issued Wednesday. “We were established as a land-grant university and a military school. We have robust U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force (ROTC) components – and we have one of the nation’s premier Centers for American Veterans.” While Hegseth didn’t detail specifics for how America’s Corps of Cadets will function at MSU and the other four campuses, (https://media.defense.gov/2026/Sep/30/2004009286/-1/-1/1/AMERICAS-CORPS-OF-CADETS.PDF) a memo issued by the Defense Department following his speech said his office will begin implementation within 30 days. Then within 120 days, the under secretary of war for personnel and readiness will transition to become the office responsible for the program “We must be postured to meet the demands of a complex, modern battlefield and beyond by ensuring we have produced leaders prepared for every challenge,” the memo reads. “Growing America’s Corps of Cadets puts our Nation on a path to achieve it.” (https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/copy_link?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fcdispatch.com%2Fnews%2Fmsu-earns-new-military-designation-priority-for-officer-commissions%2F&linkname=MSU%20earns%20new%20military%20designation%2C%20priority%20for%20officer%20commissions) (Copy Link)  (https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fcdispatch.com%2Fnews%2Fmsu-earns-new-military-designation-priority-for-officer-commissions%2F&linkname=MSU%20earns%20new%20military%20designation%2C%20priority%20for%20officer%20commissions) (Email)  (https://www.addtoany.com/share)    McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.  You can help your community Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.   (https://cdispatch.com/subscribe/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=offer_button&utm_content=below-article-cta) Subscribe     READER FAVORITES (https://cdispatch.com/news/trotter-use-comes-up-gets-heatedagain/) (Trotter use comes up, gets heated…again) (Trotter use comes up, gets heated…again)    (https://cdispatch.com/news/trotter-use-comes-up-gets-heatedagain/) (Trotter use comes up, gets heated…again) Trotter use comes up, gets heated…again  By (https://cdispatch.com/author/zack-plair/) Zack Plair  • 2 days ago    (https://cdispatch.com/news/lowndes-to-pull-1-2m-from-hospital-trust-to-pay-down-debt/) (Lowndes to pull $1.2M from hospital trust to pay down debt) (Lowndes to pull $1.2M from hospital trust to pay down debt)    (https://cdispatch.com/news/lowndes-to-pull-1-2m-from-hospital-trust-to-pay-down-debt/) (Lowndes to pull $1.2M from hospital trust to pay down debt) Lowndes to pull $1.2M from hospital trust to pay down debt  By (https://cdispatch.com/author/emcraecdispatch-com/) Emma McRae  • 2 days ago    (https://cdispatch.com/news/colom-hyde-smith-too-chicken-to-debate-him/) (Colom: Hyde-Smith too ‘chicken’ to debate him) (Colom: Hyde-Smith too ‘chicken’ to debate him)    (https://cdispatch.com/news/colom-hyde-smith-too-chicken-to-debate-him/) (Colom: Hyde-Smith too ‘chicken’ to debate him) Colom: Hyde-Smith too ‘chicken’ to debate him  By (https://cdispatch.com/author/pgreencdispatch-com/) Paloma Green  • 14 hours ago    (https://cdispatch.com/news/ask-the-dispatch-how-will-my-property-tax-bill-change-this-year/) (Ask The Dispatch: How will my property tax bill change this year?) (Ask The Dispatch: How will my property tax bill change this year?)    (https://cdispatch.com/news/ask-the-dispatch-how-will-my-property-tax-bill-change-this-year/) (Ask The Dispatch: How will my property tax bill change this year?) Ask The Dispatch: How will my property tax bill change this year?  By (https://cdispatch.com/author/zack-plair/) Zack Plair  • 2 days ago              (https://cdispatch.com/popular-content/) Popular  (https://cdispatch.com/news/mary-means-business-hallberg-does-it-again-new-starkville-restaurant-on-the-way/) Mary Means Business: Hallberg does it again: New Starkville restaurant on the way  October 1, 2026     (https://cdispatch.com/news/trotter-use-comes-up-gets-heatedagain/) Trotter use comes up, gets heated…again  October 1, 2026     (https://cdispatch.com/opinions/keith-gaskin-the-common-good-means-more-than-moving-msms/) Keith Gaskin: The Common Good means more than moving MSMS  October 1, 2026     (https://cdispatch.com/news/acceleratems-pushes-earlier-start-to-workforce-development/) AccelerateMS pushes earlier start to workforce development  September 30, 2026         On This Day in 2025  (https://cdispatch.com/news/hosemann-sets-sights-on-jackson-economic-development-and-housing/)    (https://cdispatch.com/news/hosemann-sets-sights-on-jackson-economic-development-and-housing/) Hosemann sets sights on Jackson economic development and housing  October 3, 2025 By Molly Minta/Mississippi Today          Featured Podcasts  (https://www.buzzsprout.com/645052) (The C Dispatch Podcast)   (https://cdispatch.com/podcast/) (Between The Headlines Podcast)        (https://cdispatch.com/) (The Dispatch)   Serving Columbus & Starkville, Mississippi. (https://www.facebook.com/TheDispatch/)   (https://www.instagram.com/cdispatch/)   (https://x.com/cdispatch)    (https://cdispatch.com/about/) About  (https://cdispatch.com/tips/) Submit a Tip    Newsletter Our headlines, delivered to your inbox. Sign up for Morning Shot , our flagship daily briefing of the day's news.  (1)  Email address (you@example.com)  Sign up  ()   (https://cdispatch.com/newsletters/) See all newsletters → Free. Unsubscribe anytime.       Info (https://ads.cdispatch.com) Classifieds  (https://progressmag.com) Progress Magazine  (https://lowndesil.org) Free Books for Kids  (https://donate.cdispatch.com) Donate for Journalism     Contact (tel:6623282424) (662) 328-2424  Newsroom 516 Main Street Columbus, MS 39701 Mailing PO Box 511 Columbus, MS 39703       Copyright © 2026 Commercial Dispatch Publishing Co., Inc.  (https://cdispatch.com/terms/) Terms (https://cdispatch.com/privacy/) Privacy       Unlock this article. Just sign in. Have an account? Sign in. New here? Get more access in seconds. Email Address () (Enter your email)    Continue  Yes! I would like to receive content in my inbox.       Keep reading - subscribe today You're one step away from unlimited access to the most in-depth Golden Triangle reporting available. (https://cdispatch.com/subscribe/) Get Unlimited Access      (index.html#top) (ToTop)