FAQs About Army ROTC

• Is enrolling in Army ROTC the same as joining the Army?
  No. Enrolling in Army ROTC is not, strictly speaking, joining the Army. You will not be sent to U.S. Army Basic Training. However, the primary purpose of the Army ROTC program is to produce officers, so you must agree to serve as an officer in the Army after graduation in order to go through the entire program, or if you have received an ROTC scholarship. Enrolling in the ROTC Basic Course (the first two years of college) does NOT obligate you to serve unless you have also received a scholarship. You can do the first 2 years of the program as a participating student with no commitment.
• What kinds of scholarships are available in Army ROTC? Are any of the scholarships retroactive?
  Army ROTC offers two-, three- and four-year scholarships, which pay for either full tuition and fees or room and board (the student elects which they want). This includes a separate allowance for books ($600 per semester), and a monthly stipend of up to $4200 a year. Army ROTC scholarships are not retroactive.
• What is my Army service obligation to pay back any scholarship benefits, or for enrollment in the ROTC Advanced Course?
  Scholarship winners must serve for four years; non-scholarship cadets who enroll in the ROTC Advanced Course must serve for three years. All who graduate and complete ROTC training are commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.
• Is Army ROTC useful for a career outside of the Army?
  Army ROTC is one of the only college programs that teach leadership. This training is invaluable for any career that involves leading, managing and motivating people or fostering teamwork. Young Army officers are typically responsible for hundreds of soldiers and millions of dollars in equipment; this kind of management experience can be very attractive for post-Army employers. You will not only have a degree from one of the top universities in the country, but years of practical experience that you can bring with you into the civilian workforce.
• Why should I choose Army ROTC over a different branch's ROTC?
  The Army offers a wider range of career opportunities, in more places around the world, than any other U.S. military branch. Army ROTC cadets are allowed to major in nearly all academic areas, we do not discriminate against any major. The U.S. Army is much larger than the other military components, AF, Navy, Marines, therefore the U.S. Army needs more new 2nd lieutenants each year.
• What are the Military Science courses like? How will the class work help me? Will ROTC classes interfere with other studies?
  Army ROTC normally involves one MLSC class each semester, which includes an afternoon lab each week and physical fitness training three times a week. Although the classes involve hands-on fieldwork as well as classroom work, they are standard college classes that fit into a normal academic schedule. These courses can help students with personal and academic decision-making while giving them the tools to exercise leadership in college life, even before graduating and becoming officers.
• How will being an Army ROTC Cadet affect my daily life? Do Cadets experience normal college life?
  Army ROTC cadets have the same lifestyles and academic schedules as any other college students. They are students first while they are here at OSU and we encourage them to be involved outside of ROTC. OSU ROTC has many activities a student can become involved in on a voluntary basis, as well as the OSU campus and its 500+ students organizations.
• Will I be required to do anything during the summer?
  Army ROTC Basic Camp—This four-week summer course at Fort Knox, KY is ONLY for students who come in to the program without having taken the first two years of military science classes.
  
  Army ROTC Advanced Camp—All Cadets must attend this five-week summer course at Fort Lewis, WA between their junior and senior years.
• Can I go into the Army Reserve or National Guard after graduation instead of the regular Army?
  Yes. Cadets may choose to serve part-time in the U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard while pursuing a civilian career. To find out more about this option, go to our page on National Guard/Reserve students.
• What is the typical career path for an Army Officer? What career fields are available?
  Army ROTC graduates are commissioned as U.S. Army Second Lieutenants. They then receive specialized training in one of 17 different Army branches. During their Army careers, they'll receive regular professional training as they advance through the ranks, and they'll have many opportunities for advanced leadership positions and post-graduate education.
• What are the chances that I will be deployed once I commission?
  It depends on the Army branch the cadet chooses and the unit to which he/she is assigned. However, Army missions and challenges are always changing, so there's no way to know in advance which specialties and units will be needed where. All soldiers in the Army or Army Reserve face the possibility of deployment at some point during their careers. Students can not be deployed while they are cadets.
• How do I learn more about the Army?
  Prospective students can set up an appointment for you and your parents to sit down with our scholarship/enrollment officer to discuss the program in full. You can also call 405-744-2055 for general information or stop by our office located in room 105 in Thatcher Hall.