Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) is a college elective
which teaches the fundamentals of leadership, confidence, problem
solving, decision making, and small group organization. The
primary purpose of ROTC is to prepare college students to become
officers in the Active Army, Army National Guard, or the Army Reserve
upon graduation. In ROTC you will get hands-on experience in
leadership roles both inside and outside the classroom that will lead
to success in college, as an Army officer, or in any profession.
The UVM Army ROTC program is located at the University of Vermont but
also includes Castleton State College, Champlain College, Johnson State
College, Middlebury College, Saint Michael's College, and the State
University of New York at Plattsburgh.
Obligation: Taking
an ROTC course does not necessarily mean you have joined the
Army. Students may take up to the first two years of ROTC with no
obligation of military service. The first two years of ROTC are
called the ROTC Basic Course. There are two ways a student can
become obligated to the Army through ROTC.
-The student accepts an Army ROTC Scholarship
- The student qualifies for and enters the ROTC Advanced Course (third and fourth years of ROTC)
The 4-year Program
The Basic Course (Military Studies I and II years) is taken during the first two years of college and is offered with no military obligation
on the part of the student unless the student accepts a
scholarship. It covers subjects such as leadership development,
military history, time management, college study skills, and an
introduction to planning, organizing and conducting Army Operations.
The Advanced Course (Military Studies III and IV years) is taken during
the last two years of college. Students must sign a contract
agreeing to serve in the Army for a period of eight years in order to
participate in the advanced course. The Advanced Course includes
instruction in tactics, advanced military operations, management and
supervisory techniques, ethics and professionalism, and leadership
development skills. Advanced Course participants must also attend
the Leadership Development Assessment Course at Fort Lewis, Washington
between their junior and senior years of college.
The 2-year Program
The 2-year program is for students entering their junior year who did
not participate in the Basic Course. To enter the 2-year program,
a student can participate in the Leader's Training Course (LTC).
LTC teaches everything from the Basic Course in six weeks at Fort Knox,
Kentucky. Students are paid while they attend this
training. After successful completion, students may enter the
Advanced Course and may be eligible for scholarships. Students
with prior military service will also recieve credit for the Basic
Course and can enter the Advanced Course with a minimum of 57 credit
hours towards graduation.
The Simultaneous Membership Program
The Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) is a volunteer officer
training program designed to increase the number of ROTC officers
available for the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve. SMP
Cadets participate in both the Army ROTC Advanced Course and the Army
National Guard or Army Reserve as an enlisted Soldier. This
provides Cadets who desire to serve in the Reserve Component with
valuable experience prior to receiving a commission.
