Army ROTC

What is Army ROTC?

U.S. Army ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) is a college program designed to prepare students to become Army officers while earning their bachelor's or master's degree. ROTC develops students into leaders through military science courses, leadership labs, and field training exercises. Army ROTC cadets gain valuable skills in team building, management, and decision-making while also having the opportunity to train in various locations worldwide. Upon graduation, ROTC cadets are commissioned as Second Lieutenants into the Active-Duty Army, the Army Reserves, or the Army National Guard. 

Army ROTC Involvement​

• Enrolled Cadet - Students fully participate in ROTC by taking military science classes, physical fitness training, leadership labs, and field training. The government covers enrolled cadets for any injuries occurring during ROTC-sanctioned training. Enrolled cadets are NOT obligated to enter future military service unless under contract. All enrolled cadets must contract by the end of the Fall Semester of their MSIII year to continue in the program.

• Contracted Cadet - Contracted cadets fully participate like other enrolled cadets, but they are also under obligation of future military service. Scholarship winners must contract to receive benefits. Non-scholarship cadets must contract before their MSIII year to continue in the program

Service Obligation

Upon graduation, cadets are commissioned as Second Lieutenants and are required to serve for eight years. How this obligation is fulfilled is determined by whether the student was a scholarship or non-scholarship cadet and whether the student serves on Active Duty or in the Reserves or National Guard.

• Those selected for Active Duty will serve three to four years full-time, with the remaining four or five years in the inactive ready reserve (available for recall).

• Those choosing or selected for the Reserves or National Guard serve eight years part-time in a drilling status (one weekend a month, plus two weeks per year, other than periods of active duty for training or mobilization); their remaining years of obligation, if any, can be served in the inactive reserve. 

National Scholarship

Scholarships are available to high school students upon completing the junior year. This scholarship allows commissioning into either the Active Duty, National Guard, or Reserve component.

Scholarship Benefits Include:

• Full or partial tuition and fees (or $10k for room and board)

• $600 per semester for books (tax-free)

• $420 monthly stipend (tax-free)

Scholarship Requirements:

• Be a U.S. citizen.

• Be at least 17 and under 31 in the year of commissioning.

• Have a high school diploma or equivalent.

• Have an unweighted high school GPA of at least 2.50 if you’re in high school while applying.

• Have taken the SAT or ACT.

• Take the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT).

• Meet the physical weight and height requirements.

• Agree to accept a commission and serve in the Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard.

Minuteman Scholarship (Army Reserve)

Recipients of the Army Reserve Minuteman Scholarship receive benefits for school while guaranteeing their service in the Reserve component. By accepting this scholarship, cadets will be enrolled in the Simultaneous Membership Program, obligating them to serve as cadets in the Reserves and as student/ROTC cadets.

Scholarship Benefits Include:

• Full or partial tuition and fees (or $12,000 for room and board)

• $600 per semester for books (tax-free)

• $420 monthly stipend (tax-free)

• E5 Drill Pay 

Scholarship Requirements:

• Currently in the Army Reserve or eligible to enlist (meaning test and physically qualified but not sworn in)

• U.S. Citizen or U.S. National

• Between the ages of 17-28; cannot turn 31 by December of the year of commissioning

• Must be able to complete a valid Chapter 2 MEPS physical for enlistment

• Must pass the Army Combat Fitness Test (required to sign contract and receive scholarship benefits

• Must be in compliance with AR 600-9 body composition standards

• Official University/College acceptance letter

• Applicants require a 2.5 GPA, 4-year applicants must have an ACT/SAT

• Must be able to participate in Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)

• Once commissioned, applicants must complete an 8-year service obligation while actively drilling at a unit

   

Minuteman Scholarship (Army National Guard)

Minuteman Scholarships are awarded to cadets intending to serve in the Army National Guard. After receiving this scholarship, cadets will be enrolled in the Simultaneous Membership Program. This means cadets will serve part-time in their state’s National Guard while also being full-time students/ROTC cadets. Both sides of the obligation must be upheld per the contract, but ROTC obligations will overrule National Guard obligations if there are date conflicts.

Scholarship Benefits Include:

• Full or partial tuition and fees (or $10k for room and board)

• $600 per semester for books (tax-free)

• $420 monthly stipend (tax-free)

• E5 Drill Pay 

Scholarship Requirements:

• Be a U.S. citizen

• Be accepted to a college/university with an ROTC program

• Have a 2.5 cumulative GPA and maintain a 2.0

• As an incoming freshman, have a minimum 19 ACT or 1000 SAT to qualify for the four-year Minuteman Scholarship

• Be under 31 years of age for the entire year of commissioning

• Be a full-time student

• Complete the ROTC Basic Course requirements or Basic Combat Training

• Be medically and morally qualified

• Receive a nomination letter from the State Adjutant General (TAG) or Civilian Aid to the Secretary of the Army (CASA)

Campus-Based

Campus-based scholarships are available to qualified students who were not offered or did not apply for the High School ROTC Scholarship or the Green to Gold program.

Scholarship Benefits Include:

• Full or partial tuition and fees (or $10k for room and board)

• $600 per semester for books (tax-free)

• $420 monthly stipend (tax-free)

Scholarship Requirements:

• Be a U.S. citizen.

• Be under 31 in the year of commissioning.

• Must have two or more academic semesters remaining for a baccalaureate degree upon enrollment. Students seeking a master’s degree must have four academic semesters remaining and must have Army ROTC Basic Course credit (contact the ROTC department the spring before you begin your program).

• Have a GPA of 2.5 or higher on the 4.0 scale

• Take the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT).

• Meet the physical weight and height requirements.

• Attend the Red Storm Battalion Scholarship Board

• Agree to accept a commission and serve in the Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard.

Green-to-Gold 

The Green to Gold Active-Duty Option is a two-year program that provides eligible, Active Army enlisted Soldiers an opportunity to complete their first baccalaureate degree or first graduate degree and earn a commission as an Army Officer.

Scholarship Benefits Include:

• Soldiers selected to participate in this program will continue to receive their current pay and allowances while in the program (up to a maximum of 21 consecutive months).

• If qualified, Montgomery G.I. Bill / Army College Fund (MGIB/ACF) benefits.

• Post 9/11 GI Bill.

• Normal PCS entitlements.

   

Green To Gold Scholarship

The Green to Gold Scholarship Option provides eligible, Active Duty enlisted Soldiers an opportunity to complete their first baccalaureate degree or first graduate degree and earn a commission as an Army Officer.

• Scholarships are awarded for two, three, or four years.

• Soldiers with two years of college remaining to complete their degree are considered for two-year scholarships.

• Soldiers with three years of college remaining to complete their degree are considered for three-year scholarships.

• Soldiers without college credit who require four years to complete their degree are considered for four-year scholarships.

Scholarship Benefits Include:

• Tuition or room and board support.

• Additional money for textbooks, supplies, and equipment.

• A monthly stipend of $420 for up to 10 months each school year.

• Pay for attending the Cadet Leadership Course (CLC) (formally Leader Development & Assessment Course LDAC) between the junior and senior years of college.

• Additionally, many colleges and universities offer incentives to scholarship winners. The Professor of Military Science (PMS) at your college of choice can provide further information on what is available at the school.

Scholarship Requirements:

• U.S. Citizen (non-waiverable)

• GT score of 110 or greater (non-waiverable).

• Age for Scholarship/Hip-Pocket applicants – you must be under 31 years of age on 31 December of the year you complete all requirements for a commission. You must have acquired your bachelor’s degree by this time. This is a statutory requirement and there are no waivers authorized for Scholarship/Hip-Pocket applicants.

• Age for ADO applicants – ADO applicants can request an Age Waiver if selected by the board for Phase 2 of the process.

• Cannot have been convicted of a Domestic Violence crime.

• You must have served a minimum of two-years Active Duty as well as three months of Active Duty for every one month of specialized training (a waiver can be requested).

• Pass the ACFT within the last six months (no alternate events allowed).

• Cumulative High School or College GPA of 2.5.

• Letter of Acceptance to School of Choice offering Army ROTC.

• Letter of Acceptance from the PMS of that Army ROTC Battalion.

• Favorable National Agency Check.

• DODMERB Medical Qualification.

• No more than three dependents including spouse (waiverable).

• Four-year applicants must have taken the ACT or SAT.

Nursing

Army ROTC offers two, three, or four-year scholarships for undergraduate nursing students to commission directly into the Nursing Corps.

Scholarship Benefits Include:

• Full or partial tuition and fees (or $10k for room and board)

• $600 per semester for books (tax-free)

• $650 one-time clinical fee

• $420 monthly stipend (tax-free)

Scholarship Requirements/St. John’s Nursing Program Requirements:

• Be accepted into an accredited nursing program

• Official high school transcript(s) with one biology course and one chemistry course

• Highschool diploma with a minimum GPA >90%

• Be a U.S. citizen.

• Be at least 17 and under 31 in the year of commissioning.

• Have a high school diploma or equivalent.

• Have taken the SAT or ACT.

• Take the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT).

• Meet the physical weight and height requirements.

• Agree to accept a commission and serve in the Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard.

Military Science

Red Storm Battalion cadets are required to take a Military Science course each semester on the way to commissioning. Taught directly by the ROTC instructors, these courses give the cadets the leadership fundamentals they will need to succeed in the Army and life. These courses can be taken as electives for students interested in the field or towards a minor in Military Leadership. 

Leadership Lab

During the academic year, cadets participate in Leadership Labs on Wednesday afternoons. The MSIII class plans, conducts, and instructs the underclassmen on the various skills needed to become tactical and proficient officers. During Leadership Labs, cadets will learn topics including but not limited to Individual Movement Techniques, Land Navigation, Tactical Combat Casualty Care, and Small Unit Tactics. 

Physical Training (PT)

The Red Storm Battalion holds physical training sessions from 0545 to 0700 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. PT is led, planned, and executed by the MSIVs and MSIIIs under the supervision of cadre members. All PT sessions aim to improve and prepare cadets for the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT). 

The ACFT is comprised of six events:

• 3 Repetition Maximum Deadlift 

• Standing Power Throw

• Hand-Release Push-ups

• Sprint-Drag-Carry

• Plank

• 2 Mile Run

Field Training Exercises (FTX)

Fall FTX

In October, St. John’s ROTC holds its Fall FTX at either Fort Dix or Camp Smith. The FTX is a weekend-long exercise in which cadets practice abilities taught in leadership labs, such as land navigation and troop-leading procedures. Cadets spend one to two nights in the field obtaining further training and executing exercises in conditions similar to those encountered at Cadet Summer Training.

Spring FTX

Spring FTX is a joint training event involving multiple ROTC programs from the NYC/Long Island area. This training exercise helps prepare cadets to work with new people and complete missions at the platoon level. Usually held in April, this is the last major training event for the MSIIIs before they depart for Advanced Camp.

Cadet Summer Training (CST)- Basic Camp

Basic Camp is a 32-day course, located at Fort Knox, Kentucky, designed to introduce cadets to the Army. The objective is to develop cadet leadership skills, train them on individual and junior leader tasks, and develop and reinforce the Warrior Ethos/Army Values. Basic Camp’s primary target audience is Lateral Entry Cadets (Cadets who decide to join ROTC in their sophomore year of college). They attend Basic Camp to learn what normal-progression Cadets learned in their first two years of military science classes. Basic Camp allows MSII cadets to gain the squad leader experience needed to catch them up with their year group.

Cadet Summer Training (CST)- Advanced Camp 

Cadets must attend Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky, in between their MSIII and MSIV years. Advanced Camp is a 35-day course where cadets are tested on basic skills, such as land navigation, basic rifle marksmanship, hand grenades, and much more. This is also where they will be tested on their leadership skills during three different field training exercises. Upon completion, cadets will have the skills necessary to go on to serve in the Army upon commissioning.  

Air Assault School

The US Army Air Assault School is available to contracted ROTC cadets at various Army installations. This demanding 10-day course trains cadets on Air Assault operations, sling-load operations, and rappelling. To graduate and receive the Air Assault Badge, cadets and soldiers alike must complete an obstacle course, 6-mile ruck march, 12-mile ruck march, and multiple tests throughout their time at the school. 

Airborne School

Located at Fort Moore, Georgia, the Basic Airborne Course gives cadets the self-confidence and knowledge to jump from military aircraft. This three-week school follows a crawl-walk-run approach, teaching students how to properly exit the aircraft, employ their parachutes, and safely land on the ground. Upon completing this course, cadets will maintain this additional skill throughout their career and pin on the Parachutist Badge.

Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT)

After attending Advanced Camp, cadets can attend CTLT at any Army installation worldwide for three to four weeks. CTLT allows cadets to learn directly from active-duty platoon leaders during their day-to-day operations. This experience broadens perspectives and gives cadets a better understanding of how to lead a platoon. In past years, Red Storm Battalion cadets have attended CTLT in Alaska, Kentucky, North Carolina, Hawaii, Germany, and South Korea. 

Internships

Army ROTC provides various internships yearly to eligible contracted cadets looking to broaden their skills and qualifications. ROTC-provided internships allow cadets to get acquainted with a career field that they are looking to pursue and give them experience with the most proficient government agencies in the world. RSBN cadets have participated in internships with NORAD and the U.S. Corps of Engineers. Other internships include the Intelligence & Security Command Internship Program, the Nurse Summer Training Program, and the National Nuclear Security Administration Internship Program. 

Robin Sage/Sage Eagle

During summer breaks, contracted cadets can have the opportunity to train with U.S. Army Special Forces, otherwise known as Green Berets. Robin Sage allows cadets to learn hands-on from Special Forces students through a three-week field training exercise. The students teach cadets the basics of various topics, including small unit tactics, demolition, medical treatment, weapons, communications, and troop-leading procedures. Sage Eagle allows cadets to work with fully qualified Green Berets over two weeks, furthering their understanding of tactics and the Special Forces branch. 

Lieutenant Colonel Cole Therkildsen

Professor of Military Science

MSIV Instructor

[email protected]

Major Malcolm Brown

Assistant Professor of Military Science

MSI Instructor

[email protected] 

Sergeant First Class Philip Langley

Senior Military Science Instructor

MSIII Instructor

[email protected] 

Sergeant First Class Tracy Jacobson

Military Science Instructor 

MSII Instructor 

[email protected] 

Ms. Xinia Mejia

Human Resources Administrator 

[email protected] 

Mr. Matthew Zephyr

Logistics Technician

[email protected] 

Please feel free to direct any questions that you may have about joining St. John's Army ROTC to our Recruiting Operations Officer:

Mr. James Johnson

Email: [email protected] or [email protected] 

Call: (718) 990-2745 or (718) 954-4080