About the Program:

    The Gustavus Navy V-12 Program was a leadership program that trained and graduated                                     1,000 qualified men. Initially, on April 28, 1943, Gustavus voted against having the program on campus. The main reason the college had rejected the V-12 Unit was because they believed it would lower the ideals and standards of the College. They also believed it would bring new evils to the College, such as dancing and distribution of contraceptives. Two days after the original decision, the Gustavus board reversed itself. Gustavus would have the Navy V-12 Program after all (18). The program then began in 1943 and was “designed to produce officers for the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard through the training of students and recent graduates of high schools and preparatory schools, enlisted men of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, and college students” (17).