WIU Department of Military Science - Golden Saber Fund

Impact Future Leaders With the Golden Saber Fund

Since 1968, the Department of Military Science at Western Illinois University has developed leaders who are educated, trained, and inspired to be leaders of character. As alumni and supporters, you can ensure the ongoing success of our program by establishing the Golden Saber Fund with your financial support.

This fund will empower the department to apply funds toward three critical areas of leadership development not covered by appropriated dollars:

Training Enhancement

• Items to support the Ranger Challenge competition team. Items would include high-end rucksacks, boots, tactical vests, one rope bridge equipment (ropes, gloves, carabiners)
• Physical fitness equipment. Items include kettle-bell sets, roll-up turf mats for ACFT testing, power racks, new barbells, weighted sandbags, weighted sleds, physical therapy equipment
• Gel blaster training rifles and machine guns for more realistic tactical training
• Fund visits for VIP guest speaker/lecturers
• Fund staff rides to historic battlefields in the US, such as Gettysburg

Morale & Welfare Activities

• Team-building trips to participate in events such as the Army Ten-Miler
• Association of the United States Army Convention
• Trip to the WW I and WW II Museums
• Trip to Washington D.C., to visit various war memorials and museums
• Trip to Veterans Conference & Honors and National Youth Leadership Summit
• Trips to athletic competitions such as a Tough Mudder, Spartan Race
• Fund unit apparel such as t-shirts, hoodies, jackets
• Senior dinner (a special dinner to honor those senior cadets graduating/commissioning)

Military Ceremony & Community Outreach

• Offset the cost of the annual Military Ball
• Provide a trailer to transport the salute cannon to support ceremonies at off-campus locations. This would allow us to support more events with the cannon in Macomb and the surrounding area
• Provide a John Deere Gator vehicle or equivalent to move the cannon safely around campus. Currently, cadets push/pull the cannon to and from football games. Getting a dedicated vehicle to move it would provide a safe and efficient way to move the cannon on campus
• Offset the cost of dress uniforms for graduating seniors. Every senior must purchase their first Army dress uniform for commissioning. This uniform averages about $800 and can be a challenge for many of our cadets who are first-generation college students and come from families with financial constraints

Thank you in advance for your investment in The Department of Military Science and continued support and dedication to the program.