ROTC provides military training and education for students.
The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) offers an opportunity for students to earn a college degree and obtain invaluable experience, and it opens doors to career possibilities. Students can benefit from ROTC scholarship programs and financial aid for living expenses. Students complete college courses and the ROTC curriculum to earn a baccalaureate or master's degree. Although some colleges provide the initial ROTC course at no charge for tuition, books and fees, its value to a nonmilitary student is questionable. Most mandatory ROTC courses are suitable only for those entering the military as an officer.
ROTC Programs in High School and College
ROTC training teaches students to march and drill.
Some high schools offer an ROTC program with basic training in drills and military careers. High school students who want to continue ROTC can get guidance from their school counselor. Some colleges and universities offer ROTC programs in all four service branches, while others offer ROTC for only one or two. Some colleges, such as Arizona State University, provide ROTC training only in conjunction with Reserve programs or the National Guard. Some ROTC programs require less time commitments, with training just one weekend a month and four or five weeks in summer. Selected universities offer a four-year degree curriculum for ROTC students who complete required courses toward their major, specialized physical training and military classes.
Curriculum Differences
Colleges develop their ROTC curriculum in cooperation with branches of the military.
The ROTC curriculum is focused on military life. Management and leadership classes are about commanding small military units of soldiers. An example is the advanced ROTC course Intermediate Military Leadership, a six-hour course with three semester credits. It teaches basic skills in dealing with subordinates, infantry tactics, land navigation, rifle marksmanship and physical training. Another ROTC course, Advanced Military Leadership and Management, is designed to transition senior cadets into handling a lieutenant's responsibilities. The focus is on military ethics, staff work, military justice, advanced management, administration and oral communication. Senior cadets meet six hours a week and are assigned leadership positions, leadership lab and training. Mainstream college students would not gain much from this curriculum.
Physical Training Requirements
Training in rappelling is required for cadets.
All Army cadet enrollees must pass the Army physical fitness test regularly. Weight standards must be maintained and advanced conditioning and training are required for all scholarship and contract students. Different branches of the military require physical training programs like rappelling, survival skills and advanced underwater training. Each branch of the service requires completion of specific ROTC educational courses. For example, a student interested in becoming a Marine officer should attend a college that offers a Navy ROTC program because the Marines are a component of the Navy. General education students aren't required to complete specialized physical training.
Specialty Training Requirements
Some ROTC cadets have special parachute training.
All ROTC programs require additional participation in special training programs during the summer. For example, Niagara University's Army ROTC program prepares students to be officers in the U.S. Army Reserve, the Army National Guard and the active U.S. Army. Students must complete four weeks of summer training at Fort Lewis, Washington. Cadets learn rappelling school, rifle marksmanship, parachuting, mountain warfare and northern warfare. All cadets learn basic military skills.
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