Frequently Asked Questions

IS ARMY ROTC HELPFUL FOR A CAREER OUTSIDE OF THE ARMY?

Army ROTC is one of the only college programs that teaches leadership. This training is invaluable for any career that involves leading, managing and motivating people, or fostering teamwork. Young Army Officers are typically responsible for hundreds of Soldiers and millions of dollars in equipment; this kind of management experience can be very attractive for post-Army employers. For more details, see: Legacy & Value .

Enrolling in Army ROTC is not, strictly speaking, joining the Army. You will not be sent to boot camp. However, the primary purpose of the Army ROTC program is to produce officers for the Army, so you must agree to serve as an officer in the Army after graduation in order to go through the entire program, or if you have received an ROTC scholarship. Enrolling in the ROTC Basic Course (the first two years of college) does NOT obligate you to serve unless you have also received a scholarship. For more details, see: Service Commitment.

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. For more details, and answers to common questions, see: Service Commitment .

Simply put, the Army offers a wider range of career opportunities, in more places around the world, than any other U.S. military branch. The U.S. Army is the 4th largest organization in the entire world. If you can dream it, you can do it in the Army.

Army ROTC classes normally involve one elective 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 develop student c haracter, decision making, and leadership. For more details, see: Curriculum.

Army ROTC Cadets have the same lifestyles and academic schedules as any other college student. They join fraternities and sororities. They participate in varsity team and individual sports. They take part in community service projects. But there are two intensive Army ROTC courses that take place on Army Posts, usually during the summer:

Leader's Training Course —This four-week summer course at Fort Knox, Kentucky is ONLY for students who enroll in Army ROTC without having taken the first two years of military science classes.
(Also commonly referred to as Basic Camp).

Cadet Leadership Course —All Cadets who enter the Advanced Course must attend this five-week summer course at Fort Knox, Kentucky between their junior and senior years.
(Also commonly referred to as Advanced Camp).

Yes. Selected Cadets may choose to serve part-time in the U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard while pursuing a civilian career. For more details, see: Active Duty & Army Reserve or the Army National Guard website.

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.

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