Former Taft HS ROTC rifle range now used for archery, batting cages, golf simulator

by BRIAN NADIG

The space housing the former ROTC rifle range at Taft High School had been underutilized for 50 years until it was recently converted into an archery range that also will be home to two new batting cages and one golf simulator.

ROTC programs across the country became increasingly unpopular in the late 1960s due to opposition to the Vietnam War. ROTC programs themselves, including facilities and cadets, sometimes became the object of protests.

The rifle range at Taft was located in the basement.

Taft class of 1971 graduate Rich Lindberg, who has written 15 books on Chicago, said, “It was the ROTC rifle range and in use until 1967 when it was deactivated due to fear of anti-war protests and confrontations. This was true of all the ROTC schools. The MI rifles’ firing pins were removed and the rifles thereafter were used for formation drills and marching.”

Lindberg, who served 4 years in the ROTC, added, “We were ridiculed and mocked when we wore our uniforms on Fridays” due mostly to the anti-war sentiment.

It is believed the last time the rifles were actually fired was part of a memorial ceremony honoring former President John Kennedy outside the school during the fall of 1967, said Lindberg, an inductee into the Taft Alumni Association’s “hall of fame.” Shots were fired into the air during the gun salute, he said.

“Each year (Taft’s ROTC program) kind of diminished a little more,” Lindberg, said. “It was formally disbanded in 1975.”

The indoor rifle range was used for marching and other drills until the program shut down, and then mostly for storage for the next five decades.

The former ROTC program at times resembled the TV show “Hogan’s Heroes,” as some ROTC instructors took a hands-off approach and upperclass cadets were running the drills and other activities, Lindberg said.

Nevertheless Lindberg said that he has fond memories of the program and still communicates with several of the other cadets. Taft played a significant role in his decision to go to college, he added.
Taft resurrected its ROTC program in the late 1990s, although a shooting range was not part of its curriculum.

ROTC programs are viewed as an effective way to teach leadership, teamwork and discipline to students in large cities and help provide them with college scholarship opportunities. At Taft the vast majority of ROTC participants go on to college.

Taft principal Dr. Ryan Glowacz said that the Baseball Boosters and Friends of Taft are contributing to the cost of the basement’s conversion to a multi-use sports facility and providing volunteers to help with the clean up and renovations.

There will be two batting cages in the basement, where players will have year-round access, Glowacz said. Taft also will continue to have batting cage in its second-floor gym, but access to those cages is restricted when the gym is used for wresting.

In addition, Taft’s U.S. Naval Junior ROTC Program is providing funds for the archery range. One of the program’s new instructors led an archery program at another school
and is starting one here at Taft, Glowacz said.

Golf simulators are becoming increasingly popular, allowing players to study their own golf swings and to virtually play famous golf courses.

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