During the advent of World War II, the U.S. Navy turned to liberal arts colleges to provide a basic education for their recruits. Between July 1, 1943, and June 30, 1946, more than 125,000 individuals were enrolled in the V-12 Navy College Training Program which was offered in 131 colleges and universities throughout the United States. The purpose of the V-12 program was to grant bachelor's degrees to future officers from both the U.S. Navy and the Marine Corps.