On December 18th, 1974 the president of Madison College, with concurrence of the president of the University of Virginia, petitioned the First ROTC Region Commander to establish Army ROTC instruction at Madison College. On December 24th, 1974 Madison College was officially recognized with an ROTC detachment, in partnership with the University of Virginia's Cavalier Battalion.

From a program which originally consisted of two students, the department grew a prosperous and successful cadet battalion. On September 12th, 1979 the United States Army Cadet Command recognized that success by upgrading the program to a 'host' battalion, eliminating their partnership with UVA and awarding the battalion Colors signifying its activation into the First ROTC Region. Since that time, the battalion has developed partnership schools of its own, including Blue Ridge Community College, Eastern Mennonite University and Bridgewater College. Enrollment has continually expanded and is currently well over 200 cadets, and the curriculum now includes ten classes plus a leadership laboratory.

The Duke Battalion has received numerous commendations and awards since its inception, including the Brigade Commander's Award in 1991; the Intercollegiate Orienteering Championship in 1986; The Douglas A. MacArthur Best ROTC Battalion Award in 1992, 1998, 2004 and 2010; The Order of the Founders and Patriots of America Award for Excellence in 1998 and 2007; and Cadet Command's Military Proficiency Award (1996 and 1997), Marksmanship Award (1996), Physical Training Award (1997), and Training Assessment Award (1997). Most notably, the Duke Battalion has dominated the Brigade Ranger Challenge competition, winning First Place in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000 and 2007. Regional Ranger Challenge winners in 1991.

The Duke Battalion has produced several noteworthy alumni, a few of which are:

Lieutenant General Raymond V. Mason, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, G-4 (Logistics)

Major General (Retired) Herbert L. Altshuler

Brigadier General Randal A. Dragon, Deputy Commanding General, 1st Infantry Division

Brigadier General John Morrison, G3/5/7 LANDWARNET Office, HQDA

Colonel Michael E. Brown, Commander US Military Group – Columbia

Colonel (Retired) Laurie G.M. Buckhout

Colonel Timothy K. Buennemeyer, Commander, US Army Command & Control Support Agency

Colonel (USAR) Charles T. May, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Carolina Field Office, NCIS

Colonel William F. Schiek, Deputy Chief of Staff, USAMEDCOM

Colonel Zachariah Wheeler, Assistant Commander of Force Integration, AMEDD

Colonel Robert L. Bailes, Field Artillery Branch Chief, Enlisted Personnel Management

Directorate, U.S. Army Human Resources Command