Editing Pershing Rifles (section)

===Founding===
In 1891, General Pershing, then a [[Second Lieutenant#United States of America|2LT]] in Troop L, [[6th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|6th Cavalry Regiment]] at [[Fort Bayard National Cemetery|Fort Bayard]], [[New Mexico]], became the Professor of Military Science and Tactics at the [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln|University of Nebraska]]. Pershing wished to increase the morale and discipline of the battalion there and support for the Cadet Corps throughout the university's staff and community. To this end, he formed a hand-picked company of men, known as Company A, and made them his premier drill unit.<ref>''Five Stars'', by James F. Muench, p. 83, University of Missouri Press, 2006. {{ISBN|0-8262-1656-0}}.</ref><ref>''Encyclopedia of the Great Plains'', by [[David J. Wishart]], p. 833, University of Nebraska Press, 2004. {{ISBN|0-8032-4787-7}}.</ref>

The following year, Company A won the Maiden Competition at the National Competitive Drills held at [[Omaha, Nebraska|Omaha]], [[Nebraska]], earning the "Omaha Cup" and $1,500 for the group. The spectators were so excited by the event that they left their seats and carried the cadets off the field.<ref>''Pipe Clay and Drill'', by Richard Goldhurst, p. 42, Reader's Digest Press, 1977. {{ISBN|0-88349-097-8}}. This work goes on to note "These cadets constituted themselves as the Varsity Rifles, later changing their name to the Pershing Rifles, an organization which spawned hundreds of chapters on other campuses in the coming decades."</ref> On 2 October 1894, former members of Company A formed "Varsity Rifles". A total of 39 picked cadets and alumni met in the university's armory to hold their first meeting, Lieutenant Pershing consented to act as temporary drillmaster for the organization.<ref name=wordpress>{{cite web|url=http://pershingrifles.wordpress.com/pr-history/|title=History of the National Society of Pershing Rifles |date=25 November 2011 |access-date=December 18, 2014}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=Blog|date=July 2017}} On 1 June 1895, the organization, in appreciation of the initiative and cooperation of LT. Pershing changed its name to the "Pershing Rifles." Under Pershing's leadership, the organization won the Army Silver Cup for drill team competition, second after [[United States Military Academy|West Point]].<ref>''Five Stars'', p. 83</ref> When Pershing left Nebraska in 1895, at a committee's request, he gave the company a pair of his cavalry breeches. These breeches were cut into small pieces and were worn on the uniform as a sign of membership.<ref>''Black Jack'', by Frank Everson Vandiver, p. 135, Texas A&M University Press, 1977. {{ISBN|0-89096-024-0}}.</ref>

The first decade of the 20th century saw the Pershing Rifles reach the height of its existence before the First World War. It was one of the most important features of the University of Nebraska military and social life. Membership was considered a great military honor. Its influence in the Military Department continued strong until just before World War I.<ref name=wordpress/>{{Better source needed|reason=Blog|date=July 2017}}

As war clouds gathered over Europe in 1915, Pershing Rifles membership declined. By 1918 the Reserve Officer's Training Program (ROTC), which had just been established two years earlier in 1916 was suspended. It was temporarily replaced by the Students' Army Training Corps (SATC) which had a mission of rapidly training and commissioning new officers for service in World War I. As a result, the Pershing Rifles activities at the University of Nebraska were suspended and its records were burned.<ref name=wordpress/>{{Better source needed|reason=Blog|date=July 2017}}

The end of World War I saw the disbandment of SATC and the return to campus of ROTC and Pershing Rifles.