The National Society Pershing Angels is a military-based drill sorority for women founded in 1965 as a Coed Affiliate drill unit of

Pershing Rifles The National Society of Pershing Rifles is a U.S. military-oriented honor society for college-level students founded in 1894 as a drill unit at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. It is the oldest continuously operating U.S. college organizatio ...

Morgan State University Morgan State University (Morgan State or MSU) is a Public university, public historically black colleges and universities, historically black research university in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland. It is the largest of Maryland's historically bla ...

. It is the oldest continuously operating U.S. national women's college organization dedicated to drill.

History

In 1962, thirty ladies at Morgan State College in

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the List of United States ...

started a society that would become Pershing Angels. Its mission is to foster a spirit of friendship and cooperation among the women in the military department and to maintain a highly efficient drill company. On February 9, 1965, the National Society of Pershing Angels were formally recognized as a university organization and as a sister unit to

Company J-8 (then H-15) at Morgan. Across the nation, other women's affiliates of Pershing Rifles formed during the early 1960’s. Pershing Angels was one of many similar coed affiliates with the same ideals and drill activities recognized by local Pershing Rifles Companies, but not officially sanctioned by Pershing Rifles National Headquarters. Pershing Angles became part of the Coed Affiliates Pershing Rifles (CAPERS) in 1966 when CAPERS were formed as the first officially recognized nationwide female auxiliary to the National Society of

. Pershing Rifles began accepting women as members as early as 1971, but CAPERS continued on until the mid-1980s. Once CAPERS were disbanded, Pershing Angels units formerly affiliated with CAPERS chose to continue on as a separate organization. Over the years, Pershing Angels have expanded to other Universities which included Company C-16, Florida A&M University, Company C-15, Norfolk State College (presently Co. R-4-5, Norfolk State University), Hampton (Institute) University, and Howard University.

Symbols

Pershing Angels official colors are royal blue and white. Its mascot is the dove. It flower is the white rose. Its mott is "Drill, Service, Social".

Chapters

Collegiate

Following is a list of the Pershing Angels units or chapters. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters and institutions are in ''italics''.

Alumnae

Following is a list of the Pershing Angels alumnae units or chapters. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters and institutions are in ''italics''.

References

{{reflist

External links

Pershing Angels National Headquarters Website
Fraternities and sororities in the United States Women's organizations based in the United States Pershing Rifles Student organizations established in 1965 1965 establishments in Maryland Professional military fraternities and sororities in the United States History of women in Maryland