Reserve Officer Training Corps

The Department of Military Science and the Department of Aerospace Studies conduct senior division Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) to provide students the opportunity to learn more about the United States military and its place in American society. Qualified students can pursue a program of studies and learning experiences leading to an officer’s commission in either the Army or Air Force.

The first two years of courses in the Army and Air Force ROTC programs are open to all students. No military commitment or obligation is incurred with these courses unless the student has an ROTC scholarship, signs an early enlistment contract, or is contracted as a Simultaneous Membership Cadet who is training in both a U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard Unit and the Army ROTC program. The courses may be substituted for the College of Arts and Sciences health and physical fitness course requirements.

Army ROTC offers a two-, three-, and four-year commissioning program. To enter the junior- and senior-level Army Advanced Course, students must have completed the freshman- and sophomore-level basic course; or successfully completed the Army ROTC Basic Camp; or Armed Forces Basic Training and be an honorably discharged veteran and must be approved by the Professor of Military Science. In addition, all applicants must be academically aligned where a student’s academic status (according to the university/college) is the same as his/her Military Science class status. Example: A MSL II student with 3 years remaining in college at the start of the fall semester is said to be academically aligned.

Air Force ROTC offers a three- and four-year commissioning program. Three- and Four-year students competing for selection to the Air Force Professional Officer Course (POC) must have completed the freshman- and sophomore-level General Military Course (GMC) or have received constructive credit by having completed Junior ROTC, Civil Air Patrol, or prior active duty. Cadets attend a two-week field training program. Attendance at field training is contingent upon selection to the Professional Officer Course and is normally scheduled between the sophomore and junior years.

Detailed information about the alternative programs is available from the chair of the respective departments. Advanced Course, Professional Officers Course, scholarship, early enlistment contract and contracted Simultaneous Membership students receive a monthly allowance. In addition to completing the above requirements, students who wish to enroll in the ROTC commissioning program must be citizens of the United States, be not less than 17 years of age, and be able to complete work for a baccalaureate degree and all other requirements for commissioning prior to their 30th birthday (39th birthday with waiver). For the Air Force, students must finish their baccalaureate degree and all other requirements for commissioning by the time they are 29.5 years old if they are programmed for flight training or up to 34 years old with waiver if programmed for other than flight training. All ROTC program students must have a GPA of 2.0 or better, pass all military aptitude tests as required, be physically qualified, be enrolled as a full-time student, and be approved by the professor of military science or professor of aerospace studies, as appropriate. For admission into the Advanced Course or Professional Officers Course, students must sign a contract to seek a commission as a second lieutenant.

Scholarships. The Department of Army ROTC offers competitive three- and four-year ROTC scholarships to selected high school seniors. Additionally, the Army offers four-, three-, and two-year scholarships to outstanding students selected by faculty in the program. Air Force ROTC offers four- and three-year scholarships based on merit, not need. Though scholarship awards vary, most pay all tuition, books, and approved university fees. High school seniors who are interested in the four-year scholarship must apply at www.armyrotc.com and www.afrotc.com. Cadets not on scholarship may apply for three- and two-year scholarships during their freshman and sophomore years. Both Army and Air Force ROTC scholarships provide textbook payment, tuition, and fees as well as a monthly allowance of $420 for freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

Commissioning. Upon receiving a commission, the Army ROTC lieutenant will enter full-time active duty service or part-time service with the U.S. Army, the Army Reserve, or the Army National Guard. For those who wish to combine a career with part-time military service, contracts are available guaranteeing that cadets can serve all their commitments in the Army Reserve or National Guard. Cadets may also apply for educational delays for graduate training. Upon graduation and receiving a commission, Air Force cadets will enter active duty service and agree to serve four years on active duty if in a non-flying career field, 6-10 years upon completion of undergraduate pilot, remote pilot, combat system operator, or air battle manager training.

Program Offerings & Course Descriptions