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Coed Affiliates Pershing Rifles

The Coed Affiliates Pershing Rifles (CAPER) was established in 1966 as the first officially recognized female auxiliary to the National Society of Pershing Rifles. It was disbanded in the early 1980s when women were fully integrated into Pershing Rifles. The organization has also been called the Coed Affiliates of Pershing Rifles and CAPERS over the years.

Coed Affiliates Pershing Rifles
Patch of the Coed Affiliates Pershing Rifles
FoundedJanuary 1, 1966; 58 years ago (1966-01-01)
University of Oklahoma
TypeMilitary
AffiliationIndependent
StatusDefunct
Defunct Date1981
EmphasisDrill
ScopeNational
Colors  Blue and   White
FlowerWhite Rose
Chapters68
NicknameCAPERS
Headquarters
United States

Mission

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Like Pershing Rifles, the Coed Affiliates Pershing Rifles (CAPER) was focused on drill and ceremony and CAPER teams competed in local and national drill meets.

History

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Over the years, various women's auxiliaries to Pershing Rifles were formed at the local level. One of the earliest coed groups known to be associated with Pershing Rifles was the Cadence Countesses established at the University of Nebraska in 1959.

In 1963, women at the University of Oklahoma asked to start a female drill group affiliated with Pershing Rifles Company H-7. This led to the formation of the Kaydettes drill team. By the fall of 1965, the Kaydettes members thought that there should be a national-level organization for coed groups affiliated with Pershing Rifles. They petitioned the National Headquarters of Pershing Rifles in Lincoln, Nebraska, and were permitted to establish such an organization. They then contacted existing coed groups across the country to start the foundation for a nationwide organization.

On January 1, 1966, the Kaydettes were established as the national female auxiliary for Pershing Rifles under the supervision of the Seventh Regimental Headquarters. However, the Kaydettes' name was not acceptable because it would cause already established coed groups to change the unique names of their local units. So on November 26, 1966, at the Pershing Rifles Fall Little National Convention the organization's name was changed to the Coed Affiliates Pershing Rifles (CAPER) and came under the direct supervision of Pershing Rifles National Headquarters.

The first CAPER National Convention was held in Washington DC in the spring of 1967 in conjunction with the Pershing Rifles National Convention and Drill Meet. Five CAPER Companies were present, as well as observers from universities considering charting with CAPER. By the end of the 1967 school year, seven companies had been chartered with CAPER. By 1968 the number of chartered companies had doubled to 14.

In 1969, several CAPER Regiments were established and they aligned with existing Pershing Rifles Regiments which provided some oversight. The establishment of CAPER Regiments allowed for more concentration on unit expansion and better support to local CAPER Companies. That same year, Colonel Iris Rodriguez was promoted to CAPER Brigadier General to elevate her to a rank above that of the regimental commanders.

On February 5, 1972, CAPER Headquarters moved to the Kansas State University. At this time the National Staff consisted of 17 officers who had oversight for 4 Regiments and 35 Companies. At the 1973 National Convention CAPER held a separate drill meet for the first time.

Around 1976 CAPER National Headquarters moved to Auburn University, In 1978 it moved to Appalachian State University, and in 1979 when it again moved to Seton Hall University.

The U.S. Armed Force's move towards fully integrating women signaled the beginning of the end of the CAPER organization. By the mid-1970s, female students were able to take Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) classes at their universities and soon were able to join Pershing Rifles. Around that same time Pershing Rifles units started allowing non-ROTC cadets to join. Eventually Pershing Rifles Companies integrated CAPER members into their organization. Although the exact date is unknown the CAPER was disbanded in the early 1980s.

Some CAPER Companies chose not to join Pershing Rifles and established a new national organization called Pershing Angels that still exists today.

Chapters

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CAPER companies or chapters were predominantly on the East Coast and in the South. Many CAPER companies shared the same numbering as their affiliated Pershing Rifles Company. The units were divided into regiments in 1970.[1]

Following is a list of known Coed Affiliates Pershing Rifles companies and other female auxiliaries to Pershing Rifles.[2]

Company Regiment Charter date and range Institution Location Nickname Status References
A-1 January 1965 Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio Inactive [3][a]
A-5 5th 1966–1977 Penn State Altoona Altoona, Pennsylvania Inactive
B-4 4th 1966 ? Tennessee Tech Crossville, Tennessee Inactive [b]
B-9 9th 1966 University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado Inactive
C-15 4th 1966–1981 Norfolk State University Norfolk, Virginia Withdrew [c]
E-2 1966 University of Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota Inactive [d]
N-4 4th 1966–1981 North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, North Carolina Withdrew [e]
O-5 1966 Penn State Ogontz Abington, Pennsylvania Kaydettes Inactive
T-1 1st 1966–1970 Central State College Wilberforce, Ohio Inactive [f]
C-10 1967 New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico Kaydettes Inactive [g]
D-4 4th 1967 Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, North Carolina Inactive
D-6 1967–1970 Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, Louisiana Inactive [h]
F-1 1st 1967 Ohio University Athens, Ohio Inactive
M-16 1967 Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida Les Bleus Berets Inactive [i]
P-4 4th 1967–1981 Tuskegee University Tuskegee, Alabama Withdrew [j]
A-3 1968 Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana Crimson Cadettes Inactive [k]
C-4 4th 1968 Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina Inactive [l]
C-16 May 8, 1968 – 1981 Florida A & M University Tallahassee, Florida Withdrew [m][i]
D-15 4th 1968–1981 Hampton University Hampton, Virginia Withdrew [n]
H-1 1st 1968 West Virginia State University Institute, West Virginia Kaydettes Inactive
K-5 5th 1968 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Inactive
L-17 1968 Hardin-Simmons University Abilene, Texas Inactive [o]
N-1 1st 1968 Marshall University Huntington, West Virginia Inactive [p]
Q-15 1968 Pennsylvania Military College Chester, Pennsylvania Inactive
B-5 5th 1969 Pennsylvania State University University Park, Pennsylvania Inactive [q]
G-4 4th 1969 Auburn University Auburn, Georgia Inactive
I-6 1969 Loyola University New Orleans, Louisiana Inactive [h]
L-4 4th 1969 North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina Inactive
P-1 1969 Youngstown State University Youngstown, Ohio Inactive
Q-8 1969 Hofstra University Hempstead, New York Inactive [r]
Q-17 1969 Prairie View A&M University Prairie View, Texas Drillets Inactive [o]
H-15 1970–1981 Morgan State University Baltimore, Maryland Withdrew [4][3][s][r]
K-4 4th 1970–1981 South Carolina State University Orangeburg, South Carolina Withdrew [t]
K-8 1970 Seton Hall University South Orange, New Jersey Inactive [r]
R-17 c. 1970 Trinity University San Antonio, Texas Inactive [u]
C-7 c. 1974 Oklahoma State University Stillwater, Oklahoma Inactive
E-7 c. 1974 University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas E-Co Berets Inactive [v]
O-4 4th 1974–1981 Virginia State University Petersburg, Virginia Withdrew [w]
T-8 c. 1974 University of Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico Inactive
G-7 1970s Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas Inactive [x]
M-4 4th 1970s Appalachian State University Boone, North Carolina Inactive
N-8 1970s–1981 St. Peters College Jersey City, New Jersey Withdrew [r][y]
B-1 1977 University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio Inactive
G-2 1977 Iowa State University Ames, Iowa Inactive
H-4 1977–1981 Alabama A&M University Normal, Alabama Withdrew [z]
R-8 1977 St. John's University Jamaica, New York Inactive
C-1 1st University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky Kentucky Babes Inactive [aa]
I-1 Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, Ohio The Royal Green Inactive
A-2 University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska Cadence Countesses Inactive [ab]
H-2 Saint John's University Collegeville, Minnesota Petticoat Platoon Inactive [ac]
I-2 Marquette University Milwaukee, Wisconsin Marcadettes Inactive
K-2 South Dakota State College Brookings, South Dakota Pershingettes Inactive [ad]
V-2 Spring Hill College Mobile, Alabama Kadettes Inactive
B-2 Western Kentucky State College Bowling Green, Kentucky Rebelettes Inactive
J-4 Florence State University Florence, Alabama Inactive [ae]
Q-4 University of Georgia Athens, Georgia Inactive [ae]
V-6 University of South Alabama Mobile, Alabama Kadettes Inactive
G-10 University of California at Los Angeles Los Angeles, California Saber Inactive
F-12 University of Connecticut Storrs, Connecticut Inactive [af]
M-12 University of Maine Orono, Maine Pershingettes Inactive
A-15 University of Maryland College Park, Maryland Kaydettes Inactive
S-16 Stetson University DeLand, Florida Inactive [ae]
F-12 University of Connecticut Storrs, Connecticut Withdrew [ag][ae]
H-17 University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, Texas Inactive [ah]
V-4 4th Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee Kaydettes Inactive [ai]
H-7 University of Oklahoma Norman, Oklahoma Kaydettes Inactive [x]
B-16 Alcorn State University Lorman, Mississippi Inactive [i]
R-17 Trinity University San Antonio, Texas Inactive [o]

Notes

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  1. ^ This group was originally called the Coed Cadet Drill Team.
  2. ^ The chapter formed from an early group called Golden Nuggets. Although it started using the name CAPER once that group was officially established, it may have only existed as a colony as it charter date has yet to be confirmed.
  3. ^ This company because Pershing Angels Company R-4-5.
  4. ^ Company was affiliated with 2nd Regiment Pershing Rifles.
  5. ^ This company became the Pershing Angels Company N-4.
  6. ^ The company formed from Pershing Angels Company T-1.
  7. ^ Company was affiliated with the 10th Regiment Pershing Rifles
  8. ^ a b Company was affiliated with 6th Regiment Pershing Rifles.
  9. ^ a b c Company was affiliated with 16th Regiment Pershing Rifles.
  10. ^ This company became the Pershing Angels Company P-4-5.
  11. ^ Company was affiliated with 3rd Regiment Pershing Rifles.
  12. ^ This company was also the 4th Regimental Headquarters.
  13. ^ This chapter became the Pershing Angels Company C-16.
  14. ^ This company became the Pershing Angels Company U-4-5.
  15. ^ a b c Company was affiliated with 17th Regiment Pershing Rifles.
  16. ^ This company was also the 1st Regimental Headquarters.
  17. ^ This company was also the 5th Regimental Headquarters.
  18. ^ a b c d Company was affiliated with the 8th Regiment of Pershing Rifles.
  19. ^ Company formed from the National Society of Pershing Angels, a sister unit to the Pershing Rifles, that was established on February 9, 1965.This company became the Pershing Angels Company J-8 when CAPERS went dormant.
  20. ^ This company became the Pershing Angels Company K-4.
  21. ^ This group existed as a colony in December 1969. It is assumed to have been chartered the next year.
  22. ^ This company was affiliated with 7th Regiment Pershing Rifles Company E-7.
  23. ^ This company became Pershing Angels Company O-4.
  24. ^ a b Company was affiliated with 7th Regiment Pershing Rifles.
  25. ^ Company became the Pershing Angels Company N-8
  26. ^ This company became Pershing Angels Company H-4-5.
  27. ^ This company was affiliated with Pershing Rifles Company C-1.
  28. ^ This company was affiliated with 2nd Regiment Pershing Rifles Company A-2.
  29. ^ This unit was affiliated with 2nd Regiment Pershing Rifles Company H-2.
  30. ^ This company was affiliated with 2nd Regiment Pershing Rifles Company K-2
  31. ^ a b c d This company formed as a colony and may not have been chartered.
  32. ^ Company was affiliated with 12th Regiment Pershing Rifles.
  33. ^ This company merged into its affiliated Pershing Rifles Company.
  34. ^ This company was previously known as the ROTC Sponsor Corp.
  35. ^ This was a coed group at the University of South Alabama, "Kaydettes", affiliated with Pershing Rifles Company V-4

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "CAPER Main page". CAPER National Alumni Association. 2011-02-01. Archived from the original on 2011-02-01. Retrieved 2023-12-07 – via web.archive.org.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ^ "CAPER Companies". CAPER National Alumni Association. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Other coed groups". CAPER National Alumni Association. 2012-04-01. Archived from the original on 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2023-12-07 – via web.archive.org.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ "National Society of Pershing Angels | NHQ - History". www.pershingangels.org. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
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