Frequently Asked Questions
Each week, cadets take part in physical exercise sessions, three hours of classroom time (depending on their academic year), and a three-hour outdoor practical exercise/lab session. Additional events each semester include training exercises in leadership development, orienteering, rappelling, rifle marksmanship, and small-unit tactics.
Our cadets do not attend any formal military-sponsored basic training. Over the course of the two- to four-year program, all the required training is provided. This enables our students to transition as a full-time or part-time Army officer/soldier upon graduation. Additionally, we adapt to the graduation timelines of the student and can compress our curriculum to be as short as two years, while the traditional path is four years.
Typical semester requirements per week are a one- to two-hour class, depending on the academic year; twice-a-week one-hour physical training sessions; and a three-hour outdoor practical session that is often held at an off-campus location (transportation is arranged).
Additionally, for one weekend per semester, there is a more extensive training session that we conduct on a military installation in the region, either at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base near Oceanside, or Fort Irwin Army base near Barstow. This training session typically spans approximately 48 hours, and is fully immersive, as students are in an outdoor/field environment for the majority of the time.
Our students do not receive an official Military Science degree. The sole requirement for our program is that they graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree at the institution where they are completing our training.
Army ROTC Cadet Requirements:
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Be between the ages of 17 and 28. Age waivers are accepted based on certain qualifications. Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Meet physical standards (pass the Army Combat Fitness Test).
- Have no medical issues preventing you from serving.
- Agree to accept a commission and serve in the Army on active duty or in a Reserve Component (Army Reserve or Army National Guard).
- Students may also meet basic program requirements through class attendance in their freshman and sophomore years, or through attendance at a five-week intensive summer leadership training course at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Program Training
- Physical training (PT) three times a week.
- One military science class each semester led by cadre.
- Training with other colleges on military fieldcraft on select Fridays.
- Field Training Exercise (FTX) once each semester over a weekend at a nearby military installation such as Camp Pendleton or Fort Irwin.
- Five week long Advanced Camp (AC) at Fort Knox, KY with other ROTC cadets from across the country normally between a cadet’s junior and senior year.
- Optional summer training such as Air Assault, Airborne, or job shadowing a Second Lieutenant in an Army unit called Cadet Troop Leader Training.
- Optional Color Guard and other outreach opportunities.