Army ROTC: FAQ
No. Taking Army ROTC classes is not the same as joining the Army. Students are able to take Army ROTC classes with no obligation until their third year in the program. Once students contract and all program requirements are completed, students will be commissioned into the U.S. Army as Second Lieutenants.
Army ROTC cadets have no military obligation for the first two years. Scholarship recipients have different requirements.
Yes. Each year hundreds of students attending colleges nationwide receive ROTC scholarships. ROTC awards them to students studying science, engineering, nursing, business, as well as a variety of other majors.
Army ROTC scholarships vary based on the length of time remaining for students to complete their degrees. There are two-, three- and four-year merit-based scholarships providing full tuition. Scholarships also include annual book allowances and a monthly stipend. Army ROTC scholarships are not retroactive.
Scholarships are awarded at different monetary levels. At some schools an ROTC scholarship is worth up to $100,000+, which goes towards tuition and educational fees. Also, scholarship winners receive an allowance of up to $1,500 a year and $1,200 a year for books.
ROTC scholarships are not based on financial need. Instead, they’re awarded on merit. Merit is exhibited in academic achievement and extracurricular activities, such as sports, student government or part-time work.
National High School Scholarships are awarded once a year. High School Seniors apply by June and selections are made continuously thru April. Four-year scholarship applications must be requested between March 1 and November 1. Also, once cadets are on campus, two-year and three-year scholarships become available, and are allocated throughout the year.
In college and after graduation, cadets find that the training and experience that they have received are assets – whether pursuing an Army or civilian career. Employers place high regard on the management and leadership skills that ROTC instructors stress. Plus, ROTC looks great on a resume. When cadets complete the ROTC course, upon graduation, they become commissioned officers in the U.S. Army.
No. You can enroll in ROTC classes with no service obligation. The obligation comes when you decide to contract into the ROTC program (usually during your Junior year) to become an Army Officer.
No, you will have the option to serve in Active duty, Army Reserves, or Army National Guard.
No. Our current cadet corps has an average cumulative GPA above the general university average. Yes, there are some time demands and some voluntary extracurricular activities in ROTC. But simply put, ROTC cadets are more mature and better time managers than many students. Your academic and athletic success is the highest priority and we stress that. You must do well academically and athletically to succeed in ROTC. Army ROTC provides the best leader development program in the world. No corporation or leadership institute can provide the combined classroom and hands-on leadership training, education and practice as Army ROTC. During the academic year, your focus is on academics getting your degree — with ROTC classroom instruction and labs complimenting that education. What’s best about Army ROTC is that while learning to become an Army officer, you are interacting, socializing and learning with students with diverse backgrounds, experiences, political ideologies and goals. This dynamic on campus develops the team-building, negotiating and consensus-building skills that Army officers need in helping the people of the world establish democratic systems, govern & secure themselves and institutionalize freedom and human rights.
There are some career tracks where ROTC may not help you, but the exceptional record of graduating cadets getting good jobs in their fields is well above average. In the Reserves, there are also a lot of job networking and contacts, and most employees view Reservists or officers leaving active duty in very positive terms.
You must maintain the Army grooming standards for both male and female; hair off your ears (male) and not down your shoulders (female)(crew cut not required). You will learn how to wear a uniform properly, but the uniform is only required to be worn during class times and training. Finally, harassment of any type went out years ago; it is not acceptable. We emphasize proper decorum, respect, military courtesies, ethics and standards of conduct; all of which apply equally well to non-military, professional careers.
If you enroll in Army ROTC, we will help you become a better person in manifold ways. ROTC will give you better leadership and managerial skills applicable to any field. ROTC will provide you with a lot of personal attention, encouraging you to get good grades and further mature. Class sizes are small and everyone is given personal counseling. We compel you to stay in shape and improve your physical fitness.
Scholarship winners must serve for four years; non-scholarship Cadets who enroll in the ROTC Advanced Course must serve for three years. All who graduate and complete ROTC training are commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the U.S. Army.
The Army offers a wider range of career opportunities, in more places around the world, than any other U.S. military branch.
Visit the website GoArmy.com
Army ROTC Cadets are allowed to major in nearly all academic areas.
Army ROTC classes normally involve one class and one lab per semester. Although the classes involve hands-on fieldwork as well as classroom work, they are standard college classes that fit into a normal academic schedule. These courses can help students with personal and academic decision-making while giving them the tools to exercise leadership in college life, even before graduating and becoming Officers.
Army ROTC graduates are commissioned as U.S. Army Second Lieutenants. They then receive specialized training in one of 17 different Army branches. During their Army careers, they’ll receive regular professional training as they advance through the ranks, and they’ll have many opportunities for advanced leadership positions and post-graduate education.
