NMU WILDCAT BATTALION
ARMY ROTC
Parents Guide
2013-2014
A Message to Parents
Every Cadet has personal reasons for joining the U.S. Army, and your son or
daughter is no different. When your son or daughter comes to you to discuss joining the
Army, listen. They're making a choice that requires a deep personal commitment that
will give them the strength and focus to succeed in life. To become someone you'll be
proud of. Your son or daughter will learn what it means to be a future Officer—a title of
distinction. They'll face new levels of responsibility, discipline and self-knowledge. But
first, they'll need you to stand by them. This guide provides you an understanding of
what they will be experiencing during their time in Army ROTC and answers some
questions that you may have.
About ROTC
Army ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) is one of the best leadership
courses in the country and is part of your chosen college curriculum. 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 is an accredited minor you take along with your required college
classes. 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. 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.
Being an Officer in the U.S. Army means you’re a leader, a counselor, a
strategist and a motivator. It's similar to being a vital manager in a corporation. As an
Officer, you will lead other Soldiers in all situations and adjust in environments that are
always changing. They are driven to achieve success with their team on every mission.
Army ROTC is one of the Nations top leadership programs, with many benefits to
joining. Through Army ROTC you can:
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Get help with your college tuition with an Army ROTC scholarship
Gain experience you can't find anywhere else
Gain the respect of your peers and future employers
Train to become a leader and manager
Questions You May Have
Is enrolling in Army ROTC the same as joining the Army? Once a
student starts taking ROTC courses, is he/she obligated to join the
Army?
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 ROTC Basic Course (the first two years of college) does NOT obligate
you to serve unless you have also received a scholarship and sign a contract.
What is the Service Obligation?
All scholarship students will be required to serve in the military for a period of eight years. This
obligation may be fulfilled by serving four years on Active Duty or Army Reserve/National
Guard, followed by four years service in the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR).
Non-scholarship graduates may serve three years on Active Duty and five years in the
Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR).
What kinds of scholarships are available in Army ROTC?
Army ROTC offers two-, two and half-, three-, three and half-, and four-year
scholarships, which pay full tuition and fees, include a separate $600 allowance for
books per semester, and a monthly stipend.
What good is Army ROTC for a career outside of the Army?
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.
What are Army ROTC courses like? How will the class work help my
child? Will ROTC classes interfere with his/her other studies?
Army ROTC classes normally involve one elective class and one lab per semester that
meet once a week during their freshman and sophomore year. This class is a 1 credit
class for the first two years in the program and then migrates to a 4 credit class during
the last two years. During their junior and senior year the class will meet three times a
week with one lab. 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.
How much of a time commitment is joining the ROTC program?
On average your child will spend about 10 – 15 hours a week. This includes class time,
physical fitness, lab and volunteering opportunities. If your child is more involved in the
program the time commitment does go up however, if we realize that your child is
struggling with academics we will ensure that they spend more time focusing on studies
then volunteering for events.
How will being an Army ROTC Cadet affect their daily life? Do Cadets
experience normal college life and activities?
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.
What are the requirements during the summer?
There are no actual training requirements during the summer months for the summers
between freshman and sophomore year. However, during the summer after their junior
year they will attend Leader Development and Assessment Course. There are also
opportunities to attend internships and schools such as: Airborne, Air Assault, Combat
Diving Qualification Course, Cultural Understanding Langue Program, Cadet Troop
Leadership Training, and Cadet Field Training.
What is Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC)?
Every Army ROTC Cadet who enters into the Advanced Course attends the Leader
Development and Assessment Course. It's a 28 day summer course to evaluate and
train all Army ROTC Cadets. This course normally takes place between your child’s
junior and senior years of college, and is conducted at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
What are the chances that my child will be deployed to support the
Global War on Terrorism?
It depends on the Army branch the Cadet chooses and the unit to which he/she is
assigned. However, Army missions and challenges are always changing, so there's no
way to know in advance which specialties and units will be needed where. All Soldiers
in the Army or Army Reserve face the possibility of deployment at some point during
their careers. But all Soldiers are fully trained and proficient in the tasks and drills of
their units. And Officers are specifically trained to make the right decisions so that
missions can be carried out safely and successfully. During their time in college and in
the Army ROTC program they are not eligible for deployment and will be on a nondeployable list until after the graduate the Basic Officer Leadership Course after they
have graduated Northern Michigan University.
What is the difference between Active Duty and Army Reserves/ National Guard?
Active Duty is similar to working at a full-time, civilian job. There are hours when
Soldiers must be training or performing their jobs and then there are off-hours when
Soldiers can do what they like. In active duty, terms of service range from two to six
years.
Army Reserve/ National Guard enables your son or daughter to keep a civilian career
while continuing to train near home. Service ranges from one to six years — depending
on the job and Army Reserve Center location. Many professionals and college students
are also Army Reserve Soldiers. During times of need, Army Reserve Soldiers may be
called up to active duty.
What is the typical career path for an Army Officer? What career fields
are available?
Army ROTC graduates are commissioned as U.S. Army Second Lieutenants. They then
receive specialized training in one of 17 different Army branches. During their Army
careers, they'll receive regular professional training as they advance through the ranks,
and they'll have many opportunities for advanced leadership positions and postgraduate education.
Acronyms
ROTC- Reserve Officer Training Corps
FTX- Field Training Exercise
STX- Squad Training Exercise
PT- Physical Training
LDAC- Leader Development and Assessment Course
LTC- Leadership Training Course
FLRC- Field Leader Reaction Course
Events
Ranger Challenge
The varsity sport of ROTC which consists of a 3 day competition that takes place at Fort
McCoy, Sparta, Wisconsin during the first week in October. The cadets will try out for
three different teams, a 9-man, 5-man and 5-female and will compete against other
school in the region.
Fall FTX
A training exercise that will take place mid-semester over a weekend where cadets will
participate in Land Navigation, Squad Training Exercise Lanes and Obstacle course.
Land Navigation
A skill that cadets will learn how to navigate through the woods with a map, compass
and pace count.
Squad Training Exercise Lanes
A majority of the time during labs cadets will learn how to do battle drills. They will go
out with their squad and a cadre member and be given a mission. The squad leader will
be assessed on the performance and planning of the mission and the younger cadets
will be vital team members who will help achieve the mission.
Color Guard
We encourage our freshman and sophomore cadets to participate in Color Guard. They
will present the colors at events and learn Drill and Ceremony which is important in the
military.