Army ROTC Cadet
-New Student Guide-
It's Not For Everyone — Just the Leaders of Tomorrow
The specific education you receive in Army ROTC will include leadership development, military skills, self management, and a wide variety of other skill sets that will improve your ability to serve as an office in the United States Army . This will take place both in the classroom and in the field, but you will have a normal daily schedule like all college students. Army ROTC is comprised of two phases: Basic Course and Advanced Course.
- Army ROTC Basic Course
- Leader's Training Course
- Army ROTC Advanced Course
Army ROTC Basic Course
The Basic Course normally takes place during your first two years in college as elective courses. Typically cadets are enrolled in either a two or three hour course which includes either one or two hours of classroom instruction and then a three hour lab on Wednesday afternoon. You will learn basic military skills and the fundamentals of leadership, as well as start the groundwork toward becoming an Army leader. You can take Army ROTC Basic Course without a military commitment.
Basic Camp
Cadets take part in Basic Camp when they enter Army ROTC going into their junior year. This course, made up of four phases, allows Cadets to "catch up" to those who joined in their freshman or sophomore years. The first phase introduces Cadets to the Army and prepares them for the next three phases consisting of team building, leadership development and Field Training Exercises. Basic Camp is a replacement for the Basic Course.
Army ROTC Advanced Course
The Advanced Course takes place during your last two years in college as elective courses. It normally includes three hours of classroom instruction and then a three hour lab on Wednesday afternoons. You will learn advanced military tactics and gain experience in team organization, planning and decision-making. Entering the Advanced Course requires a commitment to serve as an Officer in the U.S. Army after you graduate.
Freshman Year: The Role Of The Army
- Roles and Origins of the Army
- Army Customs and Traditions
- Branches of the Army
- Military Operations and Tactics
Sophomore Year: The Role Of An Officer
- Role of the Officer and Noncommissioned Officer
- Communications
- Code of Conduct
- First Aid
- Principles of War
- Military Operations and Tactics
Junior Year: Small Unit Training
- Command and Staff Functions
- Nuclear, Biochemical and Chemical Warfare
- Law of War
- Weapons
- Human Behavior
- Math Reasoning
- Computer Science
- Military Operations and Tactics
Senior Year: Transition To Becoming An Officer
- Military Justice
- Intelligence and Electronic Warfare
- Army Personnel Management
- Army Logistics
- Post and Installation Support
- Military Operations and Tactics
Advance Camp
Every Army ROTC Cadet who enters into the Advanced Course attends the Advance Camp. It's a four-week summer course to evaluate and train all Army ROTC Cadets. This course normally takes place between your junior and senior years of college, and is conducted at Fort Lewis, Washington.
ROTC Offers Many Opportunities to Excel
In Army ROTC, it's not all classroom and field training. There are many opportunities for you to get to know your fellow cadets better and increase your skills in a variety of areas. Learn more about these events and activities below.
Ranger Challenge
The Ranger Challenge is an opportunity for schools to "compete" with each other completing military tasks. In addition to a written examination where Cadets test their Army knowledge, there are physical fitness drills and field exercises. Battalions leave a Ranger Challenge with stronger bonds and sharper skills.
The Commissioning Ceremony
At each commencement several cadets are commissioned as lieutenants in the United States Army. Families, friends, university officials and other distinguished guests take part in the commissioning and in the celebration afterward.
The Dining Out
Each spring cadets attend a formal dinner function. The Dining Out embodies many traditions of the service, including the punch bowl ceremony, good-natured skits, and honoring the fallen. Cadets and their dates alike leave the dining out looking forward to the next time.
Field Training Exercises
Once each semester, cadets gather on a Saturday to train on patrolling techniques, navigation, and maneuvering a squad. These exercises are a bonding experience and create lasting memories for the cadets.