Welcome New Students!
Indiana University Army ROTC is the flagship ROTC program in Indiana, having been established in 1840, we have a long tradition of developing leaders of distinction and character. We are currently ranked #4 against all other ROTC programs in the Nation.
If you are interested in Army ROTC, the first two years of the program are obligation-free – just sign up for MIL-G101, 102, 201, or 202 the same way you would any other class. In addition to the weekly MS (Military Science) class, we have PT (physical training) three mornings a week, a Thursday afternoon lab, where cadets learn tactics, land navigation (map and compass skills), first aid, and other Army Skills.
Army ROTC is a great place to make friends, some of whom will be friends for life, and our program has cadets with a wide range of majors who are willing to help other cadets with their school work – a huge plus if you’re having trouble in certain classes.
Our program here at IU is about 1/3-2/3 split with scholarship cadets and national guard/reserve cadets, respectively. We have a couple of scholarship options, starting with full tuition and fees, plus a $1200 book stipend, going all the way to a complete “full-ride” - full tuition and fees, book stipend, and housing. Both options also include a tax-free, $300 monthly stipend (which increases each year. So by your fourth year you bring in a tax-free $500/month) for “expenses”. On the Guard/Reserve side, which about 2/3 of our cadets have chosen, and I went through this way too, you would enlist in the National Guard or Army Reserve as an SMP (Simultaneous Membership Program) cadet, go to basic training and AIT (boot camp and specialty training). Then, after signing a contract with ROTC, you would drill with your unit as a cadet, earning E-5 pay ($260/month) for a weekend drill, and also receive the Montgomery GI Bill, which is $317/month, and the GI Bill Kicker, which is $350/month. In addition to drill pay, GI Bill and Kicker, you would be eligible for FTA (Federal Tuition Assistance), which covers up to $4500/year, AND the ROTC monthly stipend mentioned above. If you are an Indiana resident, you would also be eligible for the National Guard’s State Tuition Assistance which, in Indiana, is 100% paid tuition (also covers IU’s mandatory fees), so all the other monies you would be getting from the Guard could go straight to your pocket for expenses or just plain old spending money.
Upon graduation, you will be guaranteed a job as an Army Officer in either the Active or Reserve (NG or AR) component for three to six years after college. Too, if you stay in long enough to become a Captain (O-3), you will have an excellent selling point for your resume if you want a management or CEO position, because of the management and leadership experience you will have gained through your time in the Army.
Physical Training
Physical Training (PT) is conducted every Monday, Wednesday, and Thrusday morning at 6am. At PT cadets participate in a variety of exercises, from push-up pyramids, to running stairs, to rigorous pool exercises. In keeping with ROTC's mission of building future leaders, all PT sessions are planned and executed by cadets. ROTC will help you get in shape and give you opportunities to build your leadership skills!
Leadership Lab
Lab is held every Thursday afternoon from 3:35p - 5:35p and is the "hands-on" portion of ROTC that makes it unlike any other college course you can take. Lab is where cadets turn their leadership and training into action every week. Activities may include realistic first aid training, ambush missions in the woods, combat water survival training in the pool, or challenging field leader's reaction courses that help develop leadership and tactical skills. Come join Army ROTC and do something different.
Field Training Exercises
Every Fall and Spring the Bison Battalion has a Field Training Exercise (FTX). An FTX is a training environment where cadets get to use all of the knowledge that they have learned in an interactive and tactical field environment. Activities may include rapelling, M16 rifle range, land navigation, squad tactical exercises, and overnight camping. Cadets will gain valuable hands-on experience as they work out of a garrison or field environment and build their unit cohesion as they work together to accomplish a common goal.
Esprit de Corps
Esprit de Corps is the common spirit existing in the members of a group that inspires enthusiasm, devotion, and strong regard for the honor of the group. By joining Army ROTC, you will be taking your first step towards joining the largest, most respected, and most powerful military fighting force in the world! You will become a part of something bigger than yourself, and develop bonds of friendship that will last beyond college. Joining Army ROTC is the single best decision you can make to secure yourself a successful future!
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