Military Science (ROTC) Program

Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) offers instruction not only in military skills, but also practical working knowledge in human relations, management, responsibility, physical fitness, problem-solving, and leadership. All contracted cadets are paid a subsistence allowance of $250, $300, and $350 per month for freshmen (ROTC Level I) through senior year (ROTC Level IV) respectively, and approximately $600 for attending Advanced Camp. Students interested in the ROTC Program may call 1-888-257-1288 for further information.

Objectives

• Students who satisfactorily complete the Senior Division Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Program may be commissioned as Second Lieutenants and serve in the active or reserve component of the United States Army.

Program Offerings

• All students are encouraged to pursue Basic Course ROTC studies, as electives, for two years. These courses may be taken in place of physical education. Basic Course ROTC studies are prerequisites for enrollment in the Advanced Course unless the student is participating in the Advanced Placement Program or the Two Year Commissioning Program. The Advanced Course is a two-year program, which includes attendance at Advanced Camp - a six-week summer training camp at Fort Lewis, Washington.

Program Requirements Basic Course ROTC:

To participate in the basic program, students must meet the following requirements:

1. Be enrolled as students at the University or in the cross-enrolled program;
2. Be physically qualified (which is no more strenuous than other exercise programs);
3. Comply with loyalty requirements and not be a conscientious objector; and
4. Ensure that foreign students receive approval from Headquarters, Department of the Army.

Advanced Course ROTC:

To participate in the advanced course, students must meet the following requirements:

1. Meet the requirements for the Basic Course (as discussed in the Basic Course curriculum);
2. Satisfactorily complete an Army medical examination;
3. Be selected by the Professor of Military Science (PMS);
4. Be enlisted in the Army Reserve Control Group (ROTC);
5. Agree to accept a commission, if offered, and serve for a prescribed period (normally three years) on active duty, in the Army Reserve, or Army National Guard;
6. Be a citizen of the United States;
7. Be at least seventeen years of age;
8. Be eligible for appointment as a Second Lieutenant before reaching thirty years of age;
9. Comply with loyalty requirements; and
10. Meet all requirements prescribed by the Department of the Army.

Prerequisites for Commissioning as a Second Lieutenant:

1. Obtain a baccalaureate degree.
2. Satisfactorily complete the following in Military Science (MS courses): *MS 101 , MS 102 , *MS 201 , MS 202 , MS 321 , MS 322  {Asterisk (*) indicates that selected personnel may satisfy Basic Course requirements as stated in Two- year Commissioning Program).
3. Satisfactorily complete Advanced Camp, Ft. Lewis, WA, usually the summer between the junior and senior year. Students must be proficient in swimming before attendance at Advanced Camp.
4. Additionally, students must satisfactorily complete at least one undergraduate course from each of three designated fields of study: written communications, human behavior, and military history. Only under exceptional circumstances will the Region Commander grant waivers for these courses. Recommended courses are as follows:
   1. Written Communication Skills (e.g. ENG 131 , ENG 132 , or ENG 231 )
   2. Human Behavior (e.g. any psychology or sociology courses such as PSY 230  or SOC 230 )
   3. Military History (HIST 134  or HIST 235 )
   4. Computer Literacy (CMP 130  or CBIS 231 )

5. The student must be recommended for a commission by the PMS.

General Information

Uniform and Equipment: The Military Science Department provides each ROTC student with all required training equipment, including uniforms and textbooks; the student will turn in the uniforms at the end of the semester. Failure to do so after the semester will result in a grade of “I” or “F”, depending on whether the uniform is returned within the first nine weeks of the succeeding semester.

Two-Year Commissioning Program: students are allowed to be commissioned as Second Lieutenants after only two years of ROTC. This program is designed for junior and community University graduates, students entering a two-year postgraduate course of study, or Veterans, Army Reserves, or National Guard Soldiers.

1. Advanced Placement Program: On a case-by-case basis, students may be given advanced placement credit for experiences gained through junior ROTC or prior military service. Veterans’ military service may serve as total credit for the Basic Course and allow them to be eligible for the Advanced Course.
2. Applicants for the Junior ROTC placement credit must take a written examination to determine their level of entry into the ROTC program.
3. Basic Summer Camp: Credit for the Basic Course may be granted for a select number of students (approximately thirty annually) who attend Basic Camp at Ft. Knox, KY, during the summer. Students are paid for attendance at this six-week camp.
4. ROTC Compression Program: Freshman and sophomore students may “compress” the normally four-year senior ROTC program into three to three and one-half years by taking two regularly scheduled MS courses in one semester (e.g. MS 101  and MS 201  or MS 102  and MS 202 , simultaneously). The purpose of this program is to ensure outstanding students, who did not enroll in ROTC continuously, beginning their freshman year, are eligible for entry into the Advanced Course along with their peers without having to attend Basic Camp or ROTC Summer Program.
5. Compression is an action that requires “unusual circumstances,” and approval must be by the PMS.
6. Leadership Laboratory: All MS courses require attendance at Leadership Lab on Felton Field every Thursday from 3:45 to 5:15 p.m. The PMS may approve absences under exceptional circumstances, such as a student being enrolled in another academic class or conflicts with in-season athletic requirements. Leadership Lab is a very important and valuable part of the Military Science program. Failure to attend will result in lowering of the ROTC grade, with excessive absences resulting in a final grade of “F”.
7. Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP): Full-time students who are already in the Army Reserve or National Guard and have at least two years remaining before graduation are eligible for this program. If officer slots are available, students will continue to serve with their Reserve or Guard units as Officer Trainees with a minimum pay grade of E-5 (higher if already attained). SMP students will receive drill pay while participating in USAR drill and annual training, plus full Advanced Course allowance. ROTC summer training will excuse the student from annual training with the USAR unit. Students can earn between $10,000 and $15,000 while enrolled in SMP.
8. Distinguished Military Student and Graduate Programs: Outstanding students are designated as Distinguished Military Students at the beginning of the fourth year of Military Science. Upon graduation, if these students continue to remain outstanding, they may be designated as Distinguished Military Graduates.
9. Special Military Training: During the summer months, selected ROTC cadets to attend Airborne, Air Assault, and Cadet Troop Leading Training. This is some of the best-taught and most challenging instruction in the world.

Military Science Extracurricular Programs

Ranger Company: This unit is designed to prepare students for Ranger, Airborne, and Air Assault Training and to ensure high placement at Advanced Camp. Training includes mastery of military skills (i.e., patrolling, land navigation, hand-to-hand combat, etc.), physical readiness (includes physical and swimming tests), and development of leadership, self-confidence, and problem-solving techniques. A military board will be established at the beginning of each semester to select students based on motivation, results of the Army’s Physical Readiness Test, ROTC grades, overall GPA, and ROTC instructor’s recommendation. MS “I”s, except for scholarship students, are not eligible for the Ranger Company during the fall semester.

Color Guard: Basic ROTC students are eligible to participate in the color guard. The color guard honors our country at homecoming, Founders’ Day, commissioning ceremonies, commencement convocations, parades, and other commemorative ceremonies.

Pershing Rifles: This is a special organization that supports the ROTC experience. Occasionally, it enters the state and national competitions and performs in such events as fancy drill and precision drill competitions. Membership is open to both males and females who have a GPA of at least 2.50, have previous ROTC experience with a drill team, and are at least sophomores in University. All ROTC scholarship winners are eligible.

National Society of Scabbard and Blade: This is a national honor society for outstanding ROTC cadets. It enhances their development toward a productive military career. Special guest speakers provide informative discussions on a variety of military subjects. Membership is limited to Advanced Course students and all ROTC scholarship winners, who have an overall GPA of 2.70 and an ROTC GPA of 3.00.

ROTC Advanced Course Club: The club aims to provide members with the experience of functioning in an organization similar to the one in the Active Army, wherein, through cooperative effort and fellowship, they may promote military social events as well as community activities.