ARMY ROTC
Reserve Officers’ Training Corp program
The Department of Leadership, Military Science and Aerospace Studies houses the Reserve Officers’ Training Corp program at UW-Whitewater, which offers an opportunity for college students to take on additional courses and responsibilities in exchange for a minor in leadership and military science and a commission into the United States Army.
The program is devoted to creating the leaders of tomorrow — today. As an ROTC student, you will not just learn about the military, you will become one of the people that will lead the future of the U.S. Army.
For those students interested in the ROTC program, additional opportunities in the leadership department include: scholarships, Basic Course, Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP), and Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD).
ROTC is set up so that the first two years expose a student to Army history, structure, values and attributes. There is no commitment to join the Army by participating in those first two years. They are designed to allow the student to decide if being an Army officer is right for them and allows the Cadre an opportunity to assess if the student has the attributes required to be an Army officer. If so, the student signs up to participate in the Advance Course between their junior and senior years. Once the student graduates with a degree in the major of their choice, they are commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army, on either active duty or in the guard/reserve.
If you want to find out about the program; we recommend you sign up for any of the following classes to see if it is right for you:
- LDRSHP 110 (fall): Introduction to Leadership
- LDRSHP 111 (fall): Leadership Lab
- LDRSHP 120 (spring): Introduction to Leadership
- LDRSHP 121 (spring): Leadership Lab
- PEGNRL 187 (fall/spring): Military Conditioning
Army ROTC Training
Training in Army ROTC prepares you for a lifetime of challenges in the military and in the civilian world. Training cadets receive includes time management, stress management, military skills, land navigation and battle drills.
Basic Camp
Army ROTC Basic Camp is a 30-day training event designed to introduce cadets to the Army. The objective is to develop cadet leadership skills, train them on individual and junior leader tasks, develop and reinforce the warrior ethos, and our Army values. Basic Camp provides the critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in ROTC and the Army. Cadets graduate Basic Camp prepared to lead a team of 3-4 cadets and a squad of 9-13 cadets. Cadets are taught to conduct troop leading procedures (TLPs) to plan and execute tactical missions at the squad level.
Advanced Camp
Army ROTC Advanced Camp is a 36-day training event designed to develop a cadet’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills and to forge them into tough, adaptable leaders who can thrive in ambiguous and complex environments. Advanced Camp is the capstone leader development opportunity for all cadets between their Military Science (MS) III and MS IV years of ROTC. Advanced Camp focuses on problem-solving in an operational setting to develop leader competencies; those intangible traits and attributes allow leaders to thrive in challenging conditions. Cadets reinforce basic skills through squad-level leader development exercises and transition to platoon-level (40-50 cadets) operations in a company construct.
Training
The UW-Whitewater Department of Leadership and Military Science offers many training and experiential learning opportunities for our students. Some — but not all — of the opportunities require a student to be contracted in the military. See the programs listed below to learn more.
Army Mountain Warfare School (AMWS) is a two-week course hosted in Jericho, Vermont, in accordance with the Vermont Army National Guard. AMWS is both physically and mentally demanding. Training is non-stop. If you can carry a 65-pound rucksack, spend up to five days in mountainous terrain, and complete day and night land navigation, this is the course for you!
Air assault course is a 10-day course that trains students to conduct military operations in accordance with Army aviation standards. This course is located in various spots across the nation and includes inspecting sling loads and rappelling out of helicopters. A 12-mile ruck march is also incorporated into training. Air assault qualification allows for future Army officers to become a part of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
Airborne School is a demanding three-week course that trains soldiers to conduct parachute operations. This course is located in Fort Benning, Georgia. Cadets must conduct five parachute jumps to graduate. Cadets who graduate receive the U.S. Army Parachutist Badge and have the ability to join the 82nd and 173rd Airborne Brigades
Jungle School is a two-week school that trains soldiers to survive in the jungle, communicate and navigate in harsh environments. There are also opportunities to conduct water operations. This school can be found in Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.
The Sapper Leader Course is a 28-day-long course where students learn about mountaineering, water jumping and demolitions. Infantry tactics are also taught. Students who complete this course receive the Sapper tab.
What our ROTC students do
ROTC students have many opportunities to get involved on the UW-Whitewater campus. An active ROTC Student Organization meets regularly.
Serve as the Color Guard during Homecoming, the Veterans Day celebration, and other events
Participate in the ROTC lab in the Campus Nature Preserve to apply their skills
Learn budgeting, fundraising, public speaking and marketing skills
Eligibility and scholarship opportunities
Joining ROTC
To be eligible for the ROTC program, students must:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be between ages 17 and 27
- Have a high school or college GPA of 2.5
- Be accepted into UW-Whitewater
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Meet physical fitness standards
- Agree to accept a commission and serve in the Army on Active Duty or in a Reserve Component (U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard)
Available scholarships
Whether you’re a college-bound high school student or already attending a college or university, Army ROTC has scholarships available. Scholarships are awarded based on a student’s merit and grades, not on financial need. Scholarships are broken down into the two categories: National High School Scholarships and Campus-Based Scholarships.
These scholarships are available to high school students that meet the minimum requirements. If you are a high school student that is interested in more information please email us at rotc@uww.edu.
- Four-year
- Three-year advanced designee
These scholarships are awarded after starting college. You can receive one of these scholarships even if you did not receive a national high school scholarship offer. Scholarships include:
- Two-, two-and-a-half-, and three-year
- Line (all majors, for example, political science, business)
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
- GRFD (Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty)
Army ROTC scholarships are currently available for incoming freshman, sophomores and juniors and based on the time needed to complete your degree. Scholarships are based on congressional funding and are subject to terms and conditions.
All Army ROTC scholarships cover:
- Either full tuition and fees or $6,000 per semester for room and board (not both)
- A stipend of $600 per semester for books and laboratory expenses
- A monthly subsistence stipend of $420 per month during the school year
What can I do with an ROTC commission?
Careers and progression
The U.S. Army officer corps is composed of college-educated professionals from nearly all academic and military disciplines. Officers lead enlisted men and women in training and in combat. Commissioned officers in the U.S. Army are highly trained and are specialists in areas as diverse as small unit tactics, cyber security and trauma surgery. Army officers begin with the rank of second lieutenant and can work their way up to a four-star general.
Military careers
When a cadet reaches their final year in the ROTC program, they order their branch choices by priority to determine their Army specialty. Their selections are sent before the accessioning board to determine their branches, once cadets receive their branch selections they begin to prepare for their new Army careers. Branches are divided generally into three categories: Combat Arms, consisting of branches involved in direct combat; Combat Support, consisting of branches which directly aid Combat Arms; and Combat Service Support, consisting of branches providing logistical or other forms of support to the Army.
Career progression
An Army officer's career is generally a series of 2 and 3 year assignments, each one preparing you for the next. Personal abilities and preferences affect the choices a person makes, so there is no one career blueprint. There is, however, a general progression most officers' careers follow.
Getting promoted
One of the most attractive aspects of being an Army officer is the structured promotion system. The promotion system is designed to help both the Army and the Officer. The system design enables the best officers to reach positions of most importance and highest responsibility. From an individual officer's point of view, the promotion system assures qualified persons advancement after a certain time. In other words, your career can never get endlessly mired at middle management. Your performance is reviewed on a regular basis during rating periods. You will be told you are being rated, and told what is expected of you during this period. We think this process is more than fair and that it gives every officer a real chance to be at his/her best.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 its Officers, so you must agree to serve as Officers in the Army after graduation in order to go through the entire program, or if you have received an ROTC scholarship. Enrolling in the Leadership 100 and 200 level courses (the first two years of college) does NOT obligate you to serve unless you have agreed to receive a scholarship.
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.
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 can help students with personal and academic decision making while giving them the tools to exercise leadership in college life, even before graduating and becoming Officers.
Army ROTC Cadets have the same lifestyles and academic schedules as any other college students. They join fraternities and sororities. They participate in varsity team and individual sports. They take part in community service projects. There are two intensive Army ROTC courses that take place on Army Posts, during the summer; Basic Camp and Advanced Camp. Basic Camp is not required, however, to commission as a 2LT, Advanced Camp is a requirement.
Want to learn more about ROTC at UW-Whitewater?
Barbara Klietz, department assistant
McCutchan Hall 408 | 262-472-1541 | rotc@uww.edu