A volunteer-led group aims to connect veterans, alumni, students, military families, and supporters to “serve military-connected Badgers” on the UW–Madison campus.
From the founding of the university in 1848 to today, Badgers have answered the call of duty, serving their country in the military since the Civil War.
Now, a new organization is launching a membership drive to connect veterans of all branches and others to UW–Madison in a new way.
Badger Corps is an alumni network of UW–Madison alumni, faculty, staff, students, and supporters united by a shared desire to serve military-connected Badgers on campus. Founded in 2026, Badger Corps is committed to strengthening community, supporting students, and honoring the university’s proud military heritage.
Badger Corps offers:
- a welcoming community rooted in a shared mission and esprit de corps.
- events and networking with fellow Badgers and military-connected communities.
- updates on campus programs and military-related efforts.
- support for the university through giving and volunteering — a chance to continue to serve.
Membership is open to anyone passionate about serving military-connected Badgers, whether or not they have served in the military or attended UW–Madison.
“You don’t have to be a veteran, and you don’t have to be an alumnus. You don’t even have to have taken a class here,” says Keith Balts, chair of the Badger Corps Board of Directors. “All you need is a desire for connecting to others willing to share their time, talent, or treasure with military-connected Badgers.”
An Idea Borrowed from Clemson
Balts, a 1992 UW–Madison graduate and retired U.S. Air Force colonel, first encountered the idea at another campus. Clemson University’s Clemson Corps, now 28 years old, brings its military and veteran communities together under one umbrella. Balts watched it work up close when his final active-duty assignment was commanding the U.S. Air Force ROTC at Clemson.
“Clemson Corps has made an incredible impact, and I always had a yearning in my heart: why aren’t other schools doing this, specifically my alma mater?” he says.
At most universities, Balts explained, alumni are often connected to their affiliated organizations, such as their ROTC units or as student veterans, but not to each other to form a larger military community. Balts saw firsthand at Clemson how a multibranch organization can speak with a stronger voice and do more together, all while supporting those organizational affiliations. After an exploratory year of conversations with ROTC commanders, the University Veterans Services director, local alumni, and the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association, a founding committee formed and drafted a charter and bylaws. The founding board of directors formed on June 22, with eight of its 13 seats now filled as the group continues to grow.
Balts is joined by many others, including his college roommate and fellow air force ROTC graduate Jim Leffel ’92, MS’93, a retired air force colonel and former F-15C pilot who chairs the Badger Corps Communications Committee. Leffel’s wife, Laura Leffel ’93, chairs the Heritage Committee. “We want to be connected to this university and connected to the vets,” Jim Leffel says. The board also includes others with air force ties, and those who served in the army and navy, too.
The Mission
The network’s focus is on students first. Balts says Badger Corps does not intend to replace anything already happening on campus or in the veteran community, but to create more awareness, opportunity, and connection.
That includes raising more financial support for cadets, midshipmen, and student veterans; hosting and helping others plan events; and sharing UW–Madison’s rich military heritage, from the Camp Randall Memorial Arch to smaller plaques and monuments around campus, and especially, the amazing stories of Badgers who have served our nation in uniform.
“We hope to connect everybody to the past through our heritage efforts, to the future through our support to students, and to each other in the present through our informal and formal activities,” Balts says.
A Bridge for Students
Badger Corps isn’t just for alumni. For students, the biggest payoff may be connection, says Joe Rasmussen MSW’12, director of University Veteran Services at UW–Madison. Student veterans often arrive on campus after years in a structured, close-knit environment, and that camaraderie is something they miss on campus. “In the military, you’re almost never alone,” says Rasmussen, a veteran himself. “It’s very rare that you’re by yourself.” Rasmussen says campus life is almost the exact opposite.
Rasmussen hopes Badger Corps shows students that other veterans have had a similar experience and come out successful. It could also link them with alumni and professional networking that could help them prepare for their career after graduation. “I’m hopeful for things like internship opportunities that a lot of the students who are first generation with parents of blue-collar backgrounds don’t have,” adds Rasmussen.
Starting Small, Building Momentum
Balts and Leffel are excited to launch this membership campaign. They plan to grow deliberately. Informal socials come first, with larger events and increased communications in the months and years to come. “We’ll match the energy level of those who join the Badger Corps ranks, with no floor or ceiling to what is possible,” Balts says. “We also provide a place for many veterans and others to continue to serve, too. It’s in our DNA, whether we still wear the uniform or not.”
Leffel, by his own description a cautious voice on the board, says the focus is on steady growth. “You have to start with momentum to gain momentum,” he says.
Get Involved
Badger Corps will hold an open social on Nov. 6 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at The Sett in Union South. You can visit the Badger Corp page to learn more. You can also click here to become a member.