Reserve Officers Training CORPS (ROTC)

Earn a commission and a degree
Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) is a college elective that allows you to earn a commission straight out of college as a second lieutenant in the North Dakota Army National Guard. ROTC consists of both academic classes and hands-on training. These mental and physical challenges will help you succeed in college and beyond.

The specific locations for ROTC in North Dakota are UND Grand Forks and the tri-college ROTC program consisting of NDSU Fargo, MSUM Moorhead, and Concordia College Moorhead.

There are two programs available, a traditional four-year and an accelerated two-year.

The 4-year program is made up of two years of basic courses and two years of advanced courses. During these years, individuals with or without prior military service are taught leadership skills while attending ROTC Military Science Classes held on campus in conjunction with regular college courses.

The basic course is usually taken during the first two years of college. Unless you receive Army scholarship funds, you incur no military obligation. You’ll learn:
• Leadership development
• Goal-setting and accomplishment
• College survival study skills
• Time management
• Military history
• Military operations and tactics
• Customs and traditions of the service

The advanced course is offered to students who demonstrate the interest and potential to become North Dakota Army National Guard officers and who meet the physical, mental and scholastic standards. This normally takes place during your final two years of college and includes:
• Management principles
• Military justice
• Cultural awareness
• Military tactics and ethics

FRESHMAN: Military Science and Leadership I: Introduction to Army Leadership, Customs and Traditions of the Army, Military Operations and Tactics, Health and Physical Fitness, Goal Setting and Accomplishments.

SOPHOMORE: Military Science and Leadership II: Applied Leadership Theory, Communications, Military Operations and Tactics, and Principles of War.

JUNIOR: Military Science and Leadership III: Command & Staff Functions, Law of War, Weapons, Military Operations and Tactics, Team Dynamics, and Peer Leadership.

SENIOR: Military Science and Leadership IV: Military Justice, Training the Force, Ethical Decision Making, Personnel Management, Post & Installation Support, Military Operations and Tactics, and Cultural Awareness.

An accelerated two-year program is also available. You may elect this option if you have completed your studies at a junior college or community college, you are entering a two-year post graduate program, or you are entering your junior year of college. To qualify, you must first attend and complete a four-week Leaders Training Course (LTC) at Fort Knox, Kentucky or complete Army Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT).

ROTC SCHOLARSHIPS: The Army ROTC Scholarship benefit package provides tuition, fees and a book allowance. Two, three and four-year scholarships are available.

STIPEND: All contracted cadets are entitled to a stipend (subsistence allowance) authorized by law. The subsistence allowance begins immediately upon contracting. This stipend increases annually as the cadet progresses through Military Science courses.

Upon successful completion of the ROTC program, you’ll be commissioned as a second lieutenant. In addition to being a North Dakota Army National Guard officer, you’ll have leadership skills that are in high demand outside the military.  You are also non-deployable while enrolled in ROTC.

Eligibility Requirements:
• Be a US Citizen or legal US resident
• Be between 17-30 years old
• Be enrolled in college full-time in pursuit of a bachelor’s or advanced degree and have at least two years of school remaining or be sponsored to attend LTC by a military junior college (MJC)
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0
• Meet military medical qualification standards

For more information, you can talk to an Army ROTC representative at a college campus near you.