What is ROTC?

An Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) officer instructing a student outside on the field during training with another student on the track in the background

The Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) was born when President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Defense Act of 1916. Since its inception, Army ROTC has provided leadership and military training at schools and universities across the country, and has commissioned more than a half million Officers. It is the largest commissioning source in the American military. Army ROTC has a total of 273 host programs with more than 1,100 partnership and affiliate schools across the country with more than 20,000 Cadets currently enrolled. It produces approximately 60 percent of the Second Lieutenants who join the active Army, Army Reserve and Army National Guard. More than 40 percent of current Active Duty Army General Officers were commissioned through ROTC.

Army ROTC provides Cadets with the character-building aspects of a diverse, self-disciplined civilian education with tough, centralized leadership development training. It prepares you with the tools, training and experiences that will help you succeed in any competitive environment. Along with great leadership training, Army ROTC can pay for your college tuition, too. It is of the best leadership courses in the country and is part of your college curriculum. You will have a normal college student experience like everyone else on campus, but when you graduate, you will be an Officer in the Army. During classes and field training, you will learn first-hand what it takes to lead others, motivate groups and how to conduct missions as an Officer in the Army. Upon graduation from Army ROTC, you will earn the bar of a Second Lieutenant and become a leader for life.Army ROTC offers a variety of scholarships and opportunities for those willing to make a commitment to become a leader for life.

The High School Four-Year Scholarship is for high school students planning on attending a four-year college program. Requirements include:

Be a U.S. citizen
Be between the ages of 17 and 26
Have a high school GPA of at least 2.50
Have a high school diploma or equivalent
Score a minimum of 920 on the SAT (math/verbal) or 19 on the ACT (excluding the required writing test scores)
Meet physical standards
Agree to accept a commission and serve in the Army on Active Duty or in a Reserve Component (Army Reserve or Army National Guard)

Once commissioned, your commitment will include an eight-year service commitment with the Army and serve full time in the Army for four years and four years with the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). Selected Cadets may choose to serve part time in the Army Reserve or Army National Guard while pursuing a civilian career.

Army ROTC also offers three-year and two-year scholarships which are available for students already enrolled in a college or university with three and two academic years remaining, respectively. Requirements include:

Be a U.S. citizen
Be between the ages of 17 and 26
Have a high school GPA of at least 2.50
Have a high school diploma or equivalent
Score a minimum of 920 on the SAT (math/verbal) or 19 on the ACT (excluding the required writing test scores)
Meet physical standards
Agree to accept a commission and serve in the Army on Active Duty or in a Reserve Component (Army Reserve or Army National Guard)

Cadets who are offered these scholarships can also participate in the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) . As SMP Cadets, Soldiers are members of either a drilling Reserve or National Guard unit. SMP Cadets are entitled to Reserve Component pay of E-5 under this program.

If you’re an enlisted Soldier, Army ROTC can help you continue to grow and learn. The Army Green to Gold Program provides unique options for Soldiers interested in pursuing baccalaureate degrees and earning commissions as Army Officers.

For Soldiers who are considering leaving Active Duty to attend college, the Army Green to Gold Scholarships are awarded those who have two, three, or four years left to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Scholarship recipients receive:

Tuition or room and board support.
Additional money for textbooks, supplies, and equipment.
A monthly stipend for up to 10 months each school year that increases each year based on your Military Science Class.
Pay for attending the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) between the junior and senior years of college.
If qualified, Montgomery G.I. Bill / Army College Fund (MGIB/ACF) benefits.
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.

Requirements for the Army Green to Gold Scholarship Option include:

U.S. Citizen (non-waiverable)
Age – Be less than 31 years of age on 31 December of the year you complete all requirements for a commission and a college baccalaureate degree. This is a statutory requirement and there are no waivers authorized.
Cannot have been convicted of a Domestic Violence Crime
Have a minimum of 2 years Active Duty as well as 3 months of Active Duty for every one month of specialized training (waiver can be requested)
GT score of 110 or greater
Pass the APFT within the last 6 months with score of 180 or higher, minimum of 60 points in each event
Be a High School Graduate or equivalent
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 (or have initiated the action)
DODMERB Medical Qualification
Be eligible to Reenlist
Not be a conscientious objector
No more than 3 dependents including spouse (waiverable)

The Army Green to Gold Non-Scholarship Option is available to Soldiers who have completed two years of college, and who can complete their college degree requirements in two years. Benefits include:

A monthly stipend of up to 10 months each school year that increases each year based on your Military Science Class.
Pay for attending the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) between the junior and senior years of college.
If qualified, Montgomery GI Bill® (MGIB) benefits.
School / State / Reserve Forces Duty Benefits.

Green to Gold Non-Scholarship Option members can also participate in the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP). As SMP Cadets, Soldiers are members of either a drilling Reserve or National Guard unit. SMP Cadets are entitled to Reserve Component pay of E-5 under this program.

Requirements for the Army Green to Gold Non-Scholarship Option include:

Age – Under 30 years old on 30 June of the year you commission (waivers can be granted)
PMS can grant waiver up to 32 years
For those over 32, waiver requests are forwarded to HQs, Cadet Command
Have a favorable recommendation from Chain of Command
Have Completed 2 years of College and be accepted as an Academic Junior
Have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale

The Army Green to Gold Active Duty Option (ADO) is a two-year program which provides eligible, Active Duty enlisted Soldiers an opportunity to complete a baccalaureate degree or obtain a 2-Year Masters Degree and be commissioned as an Army officer upon receiving the appropriate degree. 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 24 consecutive months).
If qualified, Montgomery GI Bill® / Army College Fund (MGIB/ACF) benefits.
Normal PCS entitlements
Leadership training
Responsibility and Practical Experience
Mentorship of the PMS/APMS
Camaraderie