KYLE F. ROGERS, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, MS, Chairperson

FACULTY: Instructors: Master Sergeant Aaron Coombs, Sergeant First Class Guadalupe Trevino.

General Information

The Military Science Program is open to both male and female students. Freshman and sophomores incur NO OBLIGATION to the U.S. Army by enrolling in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program Basic Course. Additionally, military science courses are free of charge to all full-time students (minimum of 12 credits, excluding military science courses) and earn academic credits which may apply towards graduation requirements. Those who desire to earn a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army, Army Reserve or Army National Guard must sign a contract no later than the second semester of their junior year in the program. All students who graduate with their undergraduate degree and fulfill all commissioning requirements are eligible to earn the Leadership Studies Minor on top of their respective academic major.

Aims and Objectives

The primary purpose of the Department of Military Science is to develop the future officer leadership of the United States Army and to motivate young people to become better citizens. Students enrolled in the ROTC Program receive instruction in the fundamentals of leadership with emphasis on loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.

Army ROTC is one of the best leadership courses in the country. During classes, leadership labs, physical training and field training exercises, students learn firsthand what it takes to lead others, motivate groups and conduct missions as an Officer in the United States Army.

The program objectives focus on the overall development of a student to lead Soldiers and organizations in the 21st century.

1. Students develop into leaders of tomorrow as Commissioned Officers in the United States Army, Army Reserve or Army National Guard.

2. Students are introduced to the fundamentals of leadership with emphasis on loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, personal courage and ethics.

3. Students assess the personal challenges and competencies that are critical for effective leadership within teams, groups, and organizations through direction, problem solving, listening and effective communications.

4. Students are challenged to explore the dimensions of creative and innovative tactical leadership strategies and styles within team dynamics through leadership attributes and competencies in relation to military operations.

5. Students practice, study and evaluate adaptive leadership skills as they are presented with challenging scenarios related to squad and platoon tactical operations receiving feedback on their leadership attributes and actions.

6. Students transition from an academic student focus to a military student focus by holding leadership positions with the Cadet Battalion training, organizing, mentoring and evaluating underclass students within the Military Science Program.

Program of Instruction

The Department of Military Science offers both a four-year and two-year program of instruction. Students begin the Military Science program during their freshman year but may enter as late as their junior year.

Four-Year Program. This program consists of the Basic Course (freshman and sophomore years) and the Advanced Course (junior and senior years). During the Basic Course, students must complete four courses (two credit hours each) and four labs (one credit hour each). The Basic Course provides a general knowledge of the U.S. Army (to include career opportunities), development of selected leadership traits, such as poise and self-confidence, and instruction on basic military skills.
Entry into the Advanced Course requires completion of the Basic Course. During the Advanced Course, students qualify for a U.S. Army commission, by completing four courses (two credit hours each) and four labs (one credit hour each), and attending the Cadet Leadership Course (CLC) at Fort Knox, Kentucky between their junior and senior academic years. During the school year, contracted students receive a non-taxable subsistence allowance of $450 per month.
Two-Year Program. This program allows direct entry into the Advanced Course via these methods:
1. Compress the two year Basic Course into a single year.
2. Attend the Cadet Initial Entry Training Course (CIET) (a four week program completed during the summer at Fort Knox, Kentucky).
3. Complete Basic Training through one of the Armed Forces.
4. Being a participant in a 4-year JROTC Program.
Professional Military Education. Whether the student chooses the four-year or two-year program, all ROTC students must take and pass HIST 282 American Military History prior to commissioning as a second lieutenant.

Financial Assistance

ROTC merit-based scholarships are available that pay full tuition and fees, a $1,200 annual book allowance, plus $420 per month non-taxable subsistence allowance for ten months each school year. Scholarship recipients may also qualify to receive a room and board incentive. Scholarships are available on a competitive basis to include grade point average, physical fitness, medical condition and legal record. Advancing freshman and sophomores may compete for three and two-year scholarships, respectively, regardless of current ROTC participation. There are also multiple scholarship and financial assistance opportunities through the United States Army Reserves and the Army National Guard specifically for ROTC cadets.

Military Science Student Activities

Military Science cadre and staff encourage students to participate in college and civic activities. The Ranger Challenge Team is equivalent to a varsity sport and is one of the most challenging activities offered through the Military Science Department. The 10 person team competes in various activities to include a physical fitness test, a 10 kilometer ruck march, the one-rope bridge, a hand-grenade assault course and an orienteering competition. The color guard is a student run organization that presents the national and state colors in uniform at freshman commencement, graduations, sporting events and other special functions.