WHAT IS ARMY
R.O.T.C?
The Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) provides college-trained officers for the Regular Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard. The mission of ROTC is to develop the future officer leadership of the U.S. Army, and to motivate young people to be better citizens. This includes recruiting, training, evaluating, selecting, and commissioning quality people for military service in the Army. Nearly 70 percent of the commissioned officers in the U.S. Army are products of ROTC. As the largest single source of Army officers, the ROTC program fulfills a vital role in providing mature young men and women for leadership and management positions in an increasingly technical Army. In addition to their normal studies, students take prescribed military science courses, participate in scheduled leadership laboratories, and attend the five-week ROTC Leadership Development Assessment Course, normally in the summer between their third and fourth year of college (The Army also pays you $700 dollars to attend). Upon successful completion of military science and baccalaureate degree requirements, will be commissioned as an officer in the United States Army.
Army
ROTC is an elective course that provides a combination of academics and
important hands-on training. You will be offered physical and mental challenges
geared to help you succeed in college and beyond. You will learn teamwork and
be given responsibilities like teaching younger cadets the same skills you have
learned. You will also get paid while
becoming a leader. All Cadets contracted to become Army Officers earn $2,500 -
$4,000 a year while enrolled in ROTC.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Army
ROTC enhances your college experience by providing training that will make you
motivated, confident, and ready to lead. You will have practical instruction in
such areas as organizational leadership, communication, and time management.
The skills you learn will be ones that benefit you for your entire life,
whether you are a career military officer, or a business executive.
ROTC
also offers opportunities and challenges that can put you on the fast track to
success in life. You will develop the confidence, self-esteem, motivation and
leadership skills you will need regardless of your career plans. The qualities
that ROTC training instills will be vital to a productive and rewarding future.
ARMY OBLIGATION
There
is NO obligation to the United States Army simply by taking courses in Army
ROTC. Enrolling for this course offers
you a great opportunity to learn about the United States Army. You will also gain valuable leadership experience, meet a
wide variety of new people, and be able to add this course to your resume when
you graduate. We in fact have approximately
200 students enroll in the program every semester however only 70-80 of these
cadets are contracted and will become commissioned officers in the United
States Army. Non-scholarship cadets incur no obligation during the first
two years (the Basic Course) of Army ROTC.
At the beginning of their junior (Military Science III) year,
non-scholarship cadets agree to accept a commission in the U.S. Army upon
completion of the required academic and military courses. Four-year scholarship cadets may withdraw
from the program prior to their sophomore year and incur no military service
obligation. They do not have to pay back their scholarship benefits. Four-year
and three-year scholarship cadets incur a military service obligation beginning
their sophomore year. Two-year scholarship cadets incur a military service
obligation beginning their junior year.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships
can be worth up to $94,000 depending on which school you are intending on
attending. In addition to the awarded a
scholarship, each winner receives a flat rate of $600 annually for books,
supplies and equipment, and $2,500 - $4,000 annually in spending money. ROTC scholarships are not based on financial
need. They are awarded according to merit.
Scholarships are awarded to the most outstanding applicants. In keeping
with our high standards of excellence, candidates are selected for merit-based
scholarships on their scholastic achievement, leadership and extra-curricular
accomplishments.
ARMY SCHOOLS
In
the summer, selected cadets may attend special skill-qualification training at
Regular Army schools. This includes
ARMY BENEFITS
Whether
an officer stays in the Army for only the few years of the initial service
obligation, or for a full career, there are many benefits to be enjoyed. The
Army offers a competitive starting salary for new college graduates. The
current annual compensation for a new Second Lieutenant is approximately
$33,600 and increases to over $55,100 in four years. Depending on the duty assignment of the officer,
additional income may be received. Pay increases are given with promotion and
at certain time-in-service steps. In addition to competitive pay, the Army
offers excellent benefits. These benefits include health care, thirty days paid
vacation, retirement after 20 years, legal assistance, shopping facilities,
recreation programs and facilities, etc. The Army offers early career
responsibility at levels substantially above that given to individuals entering
virtually any other non-military occupation. Promotion and advancement of
officers is a function of merit (how well the officer performs), not of gender,
race, etc. When an officer decides to enter the civilian work force, he or she
will possess skills and experience that are highly sought by civilian
corporations.
Q. How much time does ROTC take?
First
and Second Year (Basic Course) cadets take a one or two-hour Military Science
class each week. Physical training (PT) is
self paced and is done on personal time each week. Cadets also attend one weekend field training exercise (FTX) each semester. Third and Fourth Year (Advanced Course)
cadets take a three-hour Military Science class each week. Cadets also attend one weekend field
training exercise (FTX) and a Cadet Orientation Day one Saturday, each
semester. Third year cadets attend a five-week Advanced Camp, in the summer
between their third and fourth year. Cadets hold the leadership positions
within the Cadet Battalion and perform many of their duties outside normal
class periods.
Q. Can I still participate in other
activities?
Absolutely.
ROTC does not interfere with regular college programs. It is not a major, but a
series of elective courses. ROTC cadets participate in extra curricular
activities, sports, and community service organizations. Some take second
academic majors, academic minors, and participate in overseas exchange
programs.
Q. I want the scholarship money, but I do
not think I want to go on active duty. What can I do?
You
could apply for a Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) scholarship. This scholarship still has all the benefits
of an active duty scholarship; however, your service to the Army would be in a
local Army Reserve or National Guard unit where you reside.
Q. Do Military Science courses count toward
graduation?
Absolutely,
all ROTC grades are included in your GPA.
Unfortunately, HSC does not currently transfer LWU ROTC credits to HSC.
Q. I'm already a sophomore. Is it too late
for me to enroll?
Not
at all, You have two options. First, you could "compress" the first
two years of Military Science by taking both first and second-year classes in
the second year. If you cannot complete all the courses, we can send you to
ROTC Leadership Training Course in the summer between your second and third
year. This is a five-week summer training camp at
Q. I want to get my Masters/Professional
Degree before going on active duty. Can I do that?
Yes.
During your senior year, you can request an educational delay to continue your
studies before going on active duty. This is a competitive program and is
normally granted only to those students pursuing a technical or professional
degree such as law school or medical school.
Q. Will I have to attend Basic Training
(Boot Camp)?
No. ROTC cadets do not attend Basic Training. In fact, as an ROTC cadet you will not be "in the Army." You can participate in ROTC as a non-scholarship cadet your freshman and sophomore years without any obligation. This means if ROTC isn't for you, you can withdraw without incurring a military service obligation.
Longwood ROTC Point of Contact University of Richmond
Military Science Department
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MAJ Mary Martinez 434.395.2136
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LTC Richard D. Gillem 804.287.6064 |