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The faculty of the Department of Military Science at Arkansas State consists of: A Professor of Military Science (usually a Lieutenant Colonel); Three Assistant Professors (usually a Major and two Captains); and Two Instructors (usually a Master Sergeant and a Sergeant First Class). Their tours with the department last from two to three years.

General Information

The Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), is a series of elective college courses, which can lead to a commission as a second lieutenant in either the United States Army, United States Army Reserve or the U.S. Army National Guard. Participation in ROTC provides instruction in leadership and management and helps students develop self-discipline, physical stamina, and confidence. The ROTC program augments the University’s objectives by emphasizing academic excellence and the development of personal integrity, honor, and responsibility. Upon commissioning, graduates will serve in the active Army, The United States Army Reserve, or the Army National Guard. Selection for active duty is based on the needs of the service, the individual’s preference, and the individual’s performance record.

Almost any Army branch is available for those commissioned in the reserve forces (barring physical limitations).

ROTC Program

There are three paths for completion of the ROTC program which lead to a commission in the U.S. Army:

1. The first and most common path is the traditional (Progression), which is the successful completion of both Military Science and Leadership (MSL) I and MSL II level courses (The Basic Course), followed by completion of the Advanced Program.
2. The second path is completion of any U.S. Armed Forces Basic Training, followed by completion of the Advanced Program.
3. The third path is completion of ROTC Leaders Training Course, followed by completion of the Advanced Program.

The Basic Course

Any physically able student may enroll in the Basic Course without incurring a military obligation. The ROTC Basic Course normally involves one elective Military Science leadership (MSL) class and a Leadership Lab each semester along with the requisite physical training and Field Training Exercises. You will learn basic military skills, the fundamentals of leadership and start the groundwork toward becoming an Army leader. No more than two MSL courses may be taken simultaneously without the approval of the Professor of Military Science (PMS). Cadets desiring to continue to the Advanced Course to earn an Army commission, who have not completed any U.S. Armed Forces Basic Training, must attend the Cadet Initial Entry Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky prior to their MS III year.

Freshman Year: Preparing for Success as an Army Officer

Topics covered include:

• Introduction to Army Leadership
• Army Customs and Traditions
• Military Operations and Tactics
• Goal Setting and Accomplishment
• Health and Physical Fitness

Sophomore Year: the Role of an Officer

Topics covered include:

• Applied Leadership Theory
• Communications
• Principles of War
• Military Operations and Tactics
• Military Customs and Courtesies

U.S. Armed Forces Basic Training

Credit for completion of the basic course is granted for anyone who successfully completes Basic Training in the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, or the Navy, whether it was active component, guard, or reserve. If Advanced Individual Training is also completed, six hours of elective credit may be available from the university.

Cadet Initial Entry Training (CIET)

Cadet Initial Entry Training (CIET) is the premier leadership program of its kind in the United States. It is designed for college students to receive an intense four-week introduction to Army life and leadership training of the Reserve Officers Training Corps. The objective of the course is to motivate and qualify Cadets for entry into the ROTC Advanced Course as either traditional (Progression) or Lateral Entry Cadets. While attending CIET, Cadets experience Army life and introductions to the responsibilities of being an officer. The course instills confidence and leadership decision-making abilities in the Army and in life. Cadets spend their first few days learning Army basics under the tutelage of drill sergeants. They also take an Army Physical Fitness Test, which consists of sit-ups, push-ups and a two-mile run. Cadets work in a small-group, team-based dynamic in activities to accomplish set goals. Upon successful completion of CIET Cadets are qualified to enroll into the Advanced Course on campus.

Graduate students who did not take the ROTC Basic Course may attend CIET as a substitute for the ROTC Basic course. Upon successful completion of CIET, they are qualified to enroll into the Advanced course.

The Advanced Course

The ROTC Advanced Course consists of four courses designed to be taken one each semester during the junior and senior years (or graduate school). Students must attend the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) between their MSL III and MSL IV year. Upon entry into the Advanced Course, a student must sign a contract recognizing a service obligation. The obligation may be served in either the reserve components (Reserve Component duty can be guaranteed) or the Active Army (depending on the needs of the Army). Cadets in the Advanced Course receive textbooks, uniforms, and a nontaxable subsistence allowance (10 months per year), as well as pay for attending the Cadet Leadership Course at Fort Knox, KY.

Prerequisites for admission to the Advanced Course are:

1. Completion of the Basic Course, CIET and/or U.S. Armed Forces Basic Training, and/or completion of four years of Junior Reserve Officers training Corps in high school.
2. Physical qualification as determined by a Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB) or recent military service qualifying physical examination.
3. Selection by the Professor of Military Science.
4. Under 32 years of age by the time of graduation (may be waived in some cases).
5. Pass a screening evaluation.
6. At least two academic years remaining before graduation or be enrolled in graduate school.
7. A grade point average of 2.00 or better for all college work and completion of at least sixty semester hours of college work towards a baccalaureate degree. Applicants will normally be required to have achieved “junior” academic status. In addition to the Military Science and Leadership courses, advanced course students must complete professional military education courses in the fields of Written Communication, Computer Literacy, Mathematic Reasoning, Human Behavior, and Military History. The Communication, Human Behavior, and Mathematic Reasoning requirements are normally met by the General Education Courses offered by the university. The Military History requirement must be met by completing the ROTC Military History course or one of several history classes offered by the university. (Specific course requirements will be prescribed by the PMS, based on a review of the student’s enrollment into the advanced course.) Field Training Exercises will be conducted to provide practical experience as required to supplement classroom training.

Junior Year: Leading Small Tactical Units

Topics covered include:

• Command and Staff Functions
• Law of War
• Weapons and MarksmanshipTeam Dynamics and Peer Leadership
• Army Squad & Platoon-level Operations and Tactics

Senior Year: Transition to Becoming an Officer

Topics covered include:

• Training the Force
• Uniform Code of Military Justice
• Ethical Decision Making
• Personnel & Resource Management
• Cultural Awareness
• Post and Installation Support
• Platoon & Company-level Military Operations and Tactics

Cadet Leadership Course (CLC)

CLC is the U.S. Army Cadet Command’s capstone training event held every summer at Fort Knox, KY. The purpose of the course is to train U.S. Army ROTC Cadets to develop their leadership skills and to evaluate their officer potential. Most Army Cadets attend CLC midway through the Advance Course, between their MS III and MS IV years after having contracted to commission as an Army officer. Successful completion of CLC is a prerequisite to becoming an Army officer through ROTC.

The 29-day course is both physically and mentally challenging and starts with individual training and leads to collective training, building from simple to complex tasks. This building-block approach permits integration of previously-learned skills into follow-on training. This logical, common-sense training sequence is maintained for each training cycle.

Cultural Understanding & Language Proficiency Program (CULP)

The Army recognizes the need for young leaders to develop more cultural awareness and foreign language proficiency skills. Cultural awareness training is a vital component to the ROTC curriculum. Overseas immersions help educate future leaders in ways the classroom cannot.

A-State Cadets have the opportunity to compete for summer trips to more than 40 countries. These opportunities expose them to everyday life in different cultures and intensifies language study, which helps produce commissioned officers who possess the right blend of language and cultural skills required to support global operations in the 21st Century. Cadets experience up to three different venues during immersion, including humanitarian service, host nation military-to-military contact and education on the social, cultural and historical aspects of the country. Cadets travel in small groups led by senior leader cadre. Trips typically incorporate approximately 20 Cadets and a cadre member traveling in conjunction with a civilian agency or non-governmental agency. The trips last approximately one month, which encompasses the deployment as well as a five-day pre-trip readiness process.

CULP slots are awarded on a competitive basis and take into account GPA, physical fitness scores, an essay and other pertinent selection criteria. Generally offered to Cadets during the summer between their MS I to MS II and MS II to MS III years.

Cadet Practical Field Training

The CPFT program is typically made available to select Cadets during the summer between their MS II and MS III years. CPFT includes training at Army Schools and specialty courses for Air Assault, Airborne, Mountain Warfare, Northern Warfare, Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification Course, Cadet Field Training at West Point, Cadet Leadership Development (Infantry) WHINSEC and University Officer Training Center in the United Kingdom.

CPFT allocations are highly-competitive with only about ten percent of the national Cadet population is accepted. The A-State Professor of Military Science will prepare, select and send to CPFT only those Cadets with the highest potential for completing the training and for being commissioned. Cadet Command pays for travel. Billeting and mess are provided by the installation in most cases. All Cadets must meet the course eligibility criteria to be selected.

Financial Assistance

1. ROTC Scholarships:
   In addition to four-year Army ROTC scholarships which are awarded to high school seniors, two and three-year Army ROTC scholarships are available to college freshmen and sophomores on a competitive basis. Applicants are judged on their potential and aptitude for military service and are evaluated by an academic board chaired by the Professor of Military Science (PMS). ROTC scholarships cover the cost of university tuition, textbook, laboratory fees, and a subsistence allowance for each school month depending on the number of hours completed by the student. High School students applying for four-year scholarships must have their packets completed by January 10th of their senior year. Three-year and two-year scholarship applications must be completed by the spring semester, prior to the first school year of the scholarship.
2. Subsistence Allowance:
   A monthly monetary allowance of $350-$500 for each school month is paid to Cadets who contract to commission. During the CLC and CIET, Cadets are paid approximately $700 for the 30 day camp period and provided travel to and from camp. Housing, uniforms and meals are furnished at no expense to the Cadet. The course is conducted at Fort Knox, Kentucky during the summer.
3. Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP):
   Individuals may enroll in the Military Science and Leadership Advanced Course while retaining membership in the Army National Guard or Army Reserve. Those wishing to serve in the Army National Guard or Army Reserve during enrollment in the Military Science and Leadership Advanced Course may do so except in certain cases. In addition to receiving Cadet monthly subsistence, these individuals also receive pay (E5 or higher, from previously held grade) from their Army National Guard or Army Reserve unit and qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill® and Federal Tuition Assistance benefits.

Leadership Development

Military Science students are required to participate in a Leadership Laboratory in addition to classroom requirements. Training consists of military drill and ceremonies, field exercises, simulated leadership problems and familiarization with Army weapons and equipment.

Minor in Military Science and Leadership

A minor in Military Science and Leadership is awarded to those Cadets who qualify for enrollment in the Advanced Course and subsequent commissioning as U.S. Army officer.

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