Department of Military Science

Placement

Veterans entering the military science program will receive appropriate placement credit for their active military service. Students who have completed military science courses in military preparatory schools or junior colleges may be given appropriate credit. Students with at least three years of high school ROTC may also be granted placement credit. Placement credit or four (4) semesters of basic military science, or equivalent thereof, is a prerequisite to admission into the Advanced Course.

Alternate Programs for Admittance

Basic Camp

Students who have two years of course work remaining, but who have not completed basic military science are eligible to be considered for selection into Basic Camp. Basic Camp is a 31-day training event designed to introduce Cadets to the Army. The objective is to develop Cadet leadership skills and train them on individual and junior leader tasks to develop and reinforce Warrior Ethos and our Army Values. Basic Camp provides the critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in ROTC, and, ultimately, the Army. Basic Camp Cadets graduate the course prepared to lead at the team (3-4 Cadets) and squad (9-13 Cadets) level. Basic Camp’s primary target audience is the Lateral Entry Cadet and the freshman Cadet. Lateral Entry Cadets typically decide to join ROTC in their sophomore year of college, thus require Basic Camp to learn what normal-progression Cadets have learned in their first two years of military science classes, during their freshman and sophomore years of Army ROTC. As an ancillary target, Basic Camp allows second-year (Military Science II or MS II) Cadets to gain squad leader experience, which provides opportunities for some MS III (rising senior) Cadets to fulfill roles as platoonlevel leaders. Basic Camp consists of eight Cadet Regiments, nearly 3,000 Cadets. Cadets are taught how to conduct troop leading procedures (TLPs) to plan and execute tactical missions at the squad level in a platoon construct/setting. As Cadets gain experience and confidence through the training, they apply lessons learned from the After Action Review (AAR) process.

Master’s Degree

Students seeking a Master’s Degree are eligible to be considered for selection into the Advanced Course.

Financial Assistance

All Contracted Cadets are paid a subsistence allowance of $420 while enrolled in Military Science Courses. Amounts vary by academic year.

Scholarship Program

Each year the U.S. Army awards two and three-year on-campus scholarships to outstanding young men and women participating in the Army ROTC program who desire careers as commissioned Officers in the U.S. Army. The Army pays tuition fees, books, and laboratory expenses incurred by these students or room and board. In addition, each student receives $420 per month stipend for the academic year. Individuals desiring to compete for these scholarships should apply at the Department of Military Science.

Army ROTC Uniforms, Books and Supplies

Students enrolling in the Army ROTC program are issued U.S. Army uniforms, books, and supplies by the Department of Military Science. No fees or deposits of any kind will be required. Uniforms must be returned before commissioning or upon dismissal or withdrawal from the ROTC program.

MIL Courses

The Basic course of four (4) semesters consists of one hour of lecture with one hour of leadership lab per week for freshmen and two hours of lecture and one hour of leadership lab per week for sophomores. In the classroom, students acquire knowledge of military leadership, weapons, tactics, basic military skills, and physical fitness. In field training exercises, potential for leadership is progressively developed.

The Advanced Course consists of three hours of classroom work and one hour of leadership laboratory per week. The course work during the Advanced Course emphasizes techniques of management and leadership and the fundamentals and dynamics of the military team. Field training exercises provide students with applied leadership experiences.

Mandatory Summer Training

Advanced Camp

Advanced Camp is a 31-day training event that is designed to assess a Cadet’s ability to demonstrate proficiency in basic officer leadership tasks. Cadets are evaluated on their ability to lead at the Squad and Platoon levels, both in garrison and tactical environments. Cadets are mentally and physically tested during a 12-day consequence driven field training exercise that replicates a combat training center rotation. Successful completion of the Advanced Camp is a prerequisite for commissioning.

The mission of Advanced Camp is to assess a Cadet’s potential to serve as a commissioned officer. It is the most significant training and evaluation event in ROTC. Training is complex, challenging, and rigorous and is conducted in a stressful training environment. Cadets reinforce basic skills through squad (9-13 Cadets) level leader development exercises, and transition to platoon (40-50 Cadets) level operations in a company construct. Prior to attending Advanced Camp, Cadets receive intelligence updates, preparing them for the geopolitical environment to which they will deploy and operate. Students attending this camp are paid active army rates and given travel allowance from their home to camp and return.

Professional Military Education (PME) Requirements

The Army’s Professional Military Education requirements are established to provide Cadets with the training and enrichment necessary to successfully compete in the Army.

Minor Concentration

The department offers a minor in military science to contracted Cadets only. The program is designed to prepare students for commission in the United States Army. Whatever the major, a military science minor will strengthen students’ management, leadership, and interpersonal communication skills. The minor requires 15 credit hours with minimum grades of “B” in the following military science courses: MILS 3301 , MILS 3302 , MILS 4401 , and MILS 4402 , HIST 2111 or HIST 2112 .

Physical Training

Physical Training (PT) is an important part of the Army ROTC program. Its purpose is to ensure each Cadet is physically fit. The Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) is used to determine the level of fitness by measuring Cadets’ endurance and stamina in three different events: push-ups, sit-ups, and a 2-mile run.

All Cadets are required to participate in 3 PT sessions per week. These sessions are part of their regular military science class and are normally held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.