ROTC Notes

THE RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORE (ROTC)

ROTC History

The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) is a college-based, officer commissioning program, predominantly in the United States. It is designed as a college elective that focuses on leadership development, problem solving, strategic planning, and professional ethics.

The U.S. Armed Forces and a number of other national militaries, particularly those countries with strong historical ties to the United States, have ROTC programs (Philippines, Rep of Korea, Rep of China).

ROTC produces officers in all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces except the U.S. Coast Guard.

ROTC graduates constitute 56 percent of U.S. Army, 11 percent of U.S. Marine Corps, 20 percent of U.S. Navy, and 41 percent of U.S. Air Force officers, for a combined 39 percent of all active duty officers in the Department of Defense.

With the exception of the U.S. Coast Guard, each of the U.S. Armed Forces offer competitive, merit-based scholarships to ROTC students, often covering full tuition for college.

· U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force ROTC students are referred to as cadets, while U.S. Naval ROTC students are known as midshipmen; these terms coincide with their service academy counterparts.
· The Naval ROTC program commissions both U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps officers.
· The U.S. Coast Guard sponsors only a JROTC program.
· Army ROTC units are organized as brigades, battalions, and companies.
· Air Force ROTC units are detachments with the students organized into wings, groups, squadrons, and flights, like the active Air Force.
· Naval ROTC units are organized into Naval battalions.
· If the Marine students are integrated with the Navy students, there are companies; but having the Navy students in departments and divisions like a ship, and the Marines in a separate company is only done when an ROTC unit has sufficient members to warrant an extra division.

The concept of ROTC in the United States began with the Morrill Act of 1862 which established the land-grant colleges. Part of the federal government's requirement for these schools was that they include military tactics as part of their curriculum, forming what became known as ROTC.

The college from which ROTC originated is Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont. Norwich was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy.

Until the 1960s, many major universities required compulsory ROTC for all of their male students. However, because of the protests that culminated in the opposition to U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, compulsory ROTC was dropped in favor of voluntary programs. In some places ROTC was expelled from campus altogether, although it was always possible to participate in off-campus ROTC.

In recent years, concerted efforts are being made at some Ivy League universities that have previously banned ROTC, including Harvard and Columbia, to return ROTC to campus.

In the 21st century, the debate often focuses around the Congressional don't ask, don't tell law, signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1993, which forbids homosexuals serving in the United States military from disclosing their sexual orientation at the risk of expulsion. Some schools believe this legal mandate would require them to waive or amend their non-discrimination policies. The Supreme Court ruled in March 2006 that they are entitled to hold this opinion, but at the expense of federal funding (see Solomon Amendment).

Under current law, there are three types of ROTC programs administered, each with a different element.
* The first are the programs at the six senior military colleges, also known as military schools. These institutions grant baccalaureate degrees (at a minimum) and organize all or some of their students into a corps of cadets under some sort of military discipline. Those participating in the cadet program must attend at least 2 years of ROTC education.
* The second are programs at "civilian colleges." As defined under Army regulations, these are schools that grant baccalaureate or graduate degrees and are not operated on a military basis.
* The third category is programs at military junior colleges (MJC). These are military schools that provide junior college education (typically A.S. or A.A. degree). These schools do not grant baccalaureate degrees but meet all other requirements of military colleges (if participating in the Early Commissioning Program), and cadets are required to meet the same military standards as other schools (if enrolled in ECP), as set by Army Cadet Command. Cadets can be commissioned as second lieutenants in the Army Reserve/Army National Guard as graduating sophomores. Upon commissioning, these lieutenants are required to complete their bachelors degree at another institution (of the lieutenant's choosing) while serving in their units. Upon receiving their bachelors, ECP lieutenants can assess active duty and go onto active duty as a first lieutenant. Only the Army currently offers an Early Commissioning Program. In time of war, MJC's have played a significant role in producing officers for the Army. During the Vietnam War, the requirement to complete one's bachelor degree was not in effect. Therefore, upon commissioning, LT's went straight onto active duty.

One difference between civilian colleges and the senior or junior military colleges is enrollment option in ROTC. ROTC is voluntary for students attending civilian colleges and universities; however, with few exceptions (as outlined in both Army regulations and federal law), it is required of students attending the senior and junior military colleges. Another major difference between the senior military colleges and civilian colleges is that under federal law, graduates of the SMCs are guaranteed active duty assignments if requested.

The Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (AROTC) program is the largest branch of ROTC, as the Army is the largest branch of the military.

The Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corps (NROTC) program was founded in 1926; in 1932, the U.S. Marine Corps joined the program.

The first Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps (then Air ROTC) units were established between 1920 and 1923 at the University of California at Berkeley, the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Illinois, the University of Washington, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Texas A&M University. After World War II, General of the Army Dwight Eisenhower established Air Force ROTC units at 77 colleges and universities throughout the United States. As of fall 2008, Baylor University in Waco, TX is currently the #1 AFROTC Large Detachment in the entire nation, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology is the #1 AFROTC Small Detachment in the entire nation.

There are no current ROTC programs sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard, but there is a Direct Commissioning program for graduates of maritime academies. The Direct Commission Maritime Academy Graduate Program is available to individuals who hold a degree from a qualifying state or federal Maritime Academy and hold a Third Mate or Third Assistant Engineer license, or a degree major in Marine Environmental Protection or a related field. Maritime Academy Graduates have education and training that enhances the Coast Guard's ability to carry out its operational missions. Individuals selected will serve as a Coast Guard Reserve Officer on full-time active duty. In addition, there is only one JROTC program that is sponsored by the Coast Guard. The Mako Battalion is based in the Maritime and Science Technology (MAST) Academy High school in Miami Florida.

ROTC Glossary
Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC)
General Military Course to the Professional Officer Course (POC)
PFT (Physical Fitness Test)
AFOQT (Air Force Officer Qualifying Test)
AS100 and AS200 classes
EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Programme)
Air Force Aid Society

ROTC Programs
Arizona State University (Tempe)
Chandler – Gilbert Community College (Chandler)
Chapman University (Davis-Monthan AFB)
Coconino Community College (Flagstaff)
Devry Institute of Technology GMC (Phoenix)
Emobry – Riddle Aeronautical University (Davis-Monthan AFB)
Embry – Riddle Aeronautical University (Luke AFB)
Embry – Riddle Aeronautical University (Prescott)
Estrella Mountain Community College (Avondale)
Gateway Community College (Phoenix)
Glendale Community College aka GMC (Glendale)
Grand Canyon University (Phoenix)
Maricopa Community School District (Tempe)
Mesa Community College GMC – Mesa
Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff)
Paradise Valley Community College GMC – Phoenix
Park University (Davis-Monthan AFB)
Park University (Luke AFB)
Phoenix College GMC (Phoenix)
Pima Community College (Tucson)
Rio Salado Community College (Tempe)
Scottsdale Community College GMC (Scottsdale)
South Mountain Community College GMC (Phoenix)
Southwestern College (Phoenix)
Troy University (Davis-Monthan AFB)
University of Arizona (Tucson)
University of Phoenix (Phoenix)
Wayland Baptist University (Luke AFB)
Webster University (Luke AFB)
Yavapai Community College GMC (Prescott)




Medical Requirements
Most scheduled to take the medical exam at the nearest military base.
If medically disqualified, a waiver request will automatically be forwarded from DODMERB to AETC/SG for consideration.

General Qualifications:

Pilot ~
Normal color vision
Distant vision (uncorrected 20/70, but corrected to 20/20)
Near vision (uncorrected 20/30, but corrected to 20/20)
Meet refraction, accommodation and astigmatism requirements
Corrective eye surgery could be a disqualifier
Have no history of hay fever, asthma or allergies after 12
Meet Air Force weight and physical conditioning requirements
Have standing height of 64 to 77 inches and sitting height of 34 to 40 inches

Combat Systems Officer ~
Same except for –
Distant vision (uncorrected 20/200, but corrected to 20/20)
Near vision (uncorrected 20/40, but corrected to 20/20)

Scholarship recipients must also meet requirements specific to the scholarship that they are applying for.

General Military Course Requirements
Enrolled in an accredited college that hosts or has a cross-town agreement with an Air Force ROTC detachment.
United States citizen (if on scholarship)
In good physical condition
Of good moral character
Age 14 years or older – 17 years old to receive a scholarship
Attend both the Aerospace Studies class and Leadership Lab each semester
Following may preclude you from Air Force ROTC membership, but will not keep you from enrolling in an Aerospace Studies class:
Conscientious objectors
Present or former commissioned officers of the Armed Forces
Officers of the Health Services and Mental Health Administration and members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Asthma sufferes
Ritalin prescriptions; diagnosed ADD/ADHD at any point in their life
Individuals on active duty with any military service (Reserve or National Guard)
Nonimmigrant students from nations not approved by Dept of State
Students who do not or cannot meet required standards of weight, appearance, decorum, discipline and military performance.
Individuals who have dropped out of a previous officer training program (Officer Training School, United States Air Force Academy, etc), but this may be waived.

Professional Officer Course Requirements
POC is offered to juniors and seniors who have already committed to a four-year post-graduation service commitment with the Air Force.
Meet all GMC requirements, be a United States citizen, be of legal age according to State or 17 with a guardian/parent signature, be in good academic standing, participate in Aerospace Studies classes and Leadership Lab each semester, be physically qualified, pass the PFT, pass the AFOQT, be selected by a board of Air Force officers, Complete a field-training course.

Age requirements:
Rated (pilot or combat systems officer) – commissioned before reaching the age of 29
Scholarship applications – be less than 31 years old as of December 31st of the year you will commission
Tech, non-tech and non-rated – commissioned by age 30 (waiverable up to age 35)

If single with a dependent or married to a military member with dependent, a dependent care plan must be completed. A dependent is defined as anyone incapable of self-care: child, parent, etc.

Officers ~
You don’t have to live on base and are not restricted to base.
Take advantage of sports facilities, recreational facilities, intramural sports opportunities and golf courses on Air Force bases around the world.
Medicare, life insurance, competitive pay
Social life: Officers’ clubs, swimming, golfing, bowling, tennis and more.
Education: opportunity for higher education with tuition assistance or full scholarship
Retirement: opportunity to retire after 20 years with 50% of your base pay
Promotions: make first lieutenant after 2 years – make captain after 4 years
Shopping: save as much as 25% in on-base stores
Living quarters: on-base housing available or off-base housing allowance paid
Possible eligibility for Veterans’ Administration Home Loans
Emergency leave with priority on military aircraft