Which act officially created the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)?

The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) was officially created by the National Defense Act. This act, passed in 1916, aimed to provide training to college students in military science and leadership, thereby establishing a reserve officer program aligned with the needs of the United States military. The act recognized the necessity for a well-prepared and trained officer corps, which ROTC programs were designed to fulfill by granting scholarships and promoting military training as part of the college experience.

In this context, the National Security Act primarily focuses on the reorganization of military institutions and the establishment of the Department of Defense, while the Military Training Act and the Cadet Leadership Act, though related to military training, do not specifically pertain to the foundational establishment of ROTC. Thus, the National Defense Act stands out as the pivotal legislation that formally established the ROTC structure for training future military leaders.