The Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, commonly known as ROTC, teaches students leadership and management skills that help prepare them for successful careers—in the US Army or in civilian life.

ROTC is considered a college elective; students are not joining the Army by enrolling. But upon graduation, students who have completed the ROTC course become commissioned officers in the Army.

MAC Army ROTC is not like “basic training” or “boot camp.” ROTC cadets go directly to college where they earn their degree. Cadets are not required to attend basic training in order to complete the necessary requirements to earn a commission in the United States Army.

The ROTC program has two phases: The Basic Course, usually taken during the freshman and sophomore years, involves the study of Army history, organization, structure and basic military skills, such as rifle marksmanship, first aid training and land navigation. The Advanced Course, taken in the junior and senior years, focuses on tactical operations and military instruction. Stressed throughout the courses are management, leadership and command techniques.

In addition to being useful in both military and civilian careers, skills gained through the ROTC program are highly sought after by a wide range of employers.

Member of ROTC facing away

Career Information

Army officers lead people, travel the world, and get things done, all while earning a professional salary, enjoying a great quality of life, and building a secure financial future for themselves and their families. After entering the Army, you’ll be assigned to a branch of the Army based on your education and experiences, your stated preference, and the Army’s needs.

Combat Arms Branches

Infantry
Air Defence Artillery
Armor
Aviation
Corps of Engineers
Field Artillery
Special Forces

Combat Support Branches

Chemical Corps
Signal Corps
Military Intelligence Corps
Military Police Corps

Combat Service Support Branches

Adjutant General’s Corps
Finance Corps
Ordnance Corps
Quartermaster Corps
Transportation Corps

Special Branches

JAG Corps
Chaplain Corps
Medical Corps
Medical Service Corps
Dental Corps
Veterinary Corps
Army Medical Specialist Corps
Army Nurse Corps

No matter what branch you choose, you won’t find yourself spending twenty or thirty years doing one job behind a desk. The Army will give you the opportunity to perform different jobs every two or three years. The rotation process enables every Army officer to become qualified in his or her branch.

As your job assignments change, so will your job locations. It’s very possible that during the course of your career, you’ll live and work in several regions of the world. You’ll lead, and you’ll train young soldiers who joined the Army to learn a skill, continue their education, or simply grow as individuals. By helping them achieve their goals, you’ll be serving the country as you help them serve.

As you serve, the Army will give you many opportunities to continue your education, including earning your master’s or doctorate in your chosen fields. Whether you serve three years or thirty, you’ll leave the Army proud of what you achieved and be ready for the next phase in your career.

Scholarships

Army ROTC provides several scholarships each year to motivated students willing to serve their country as an Army officer.

The scholarships are granted on a competitive basis. Army ROTC scholarships are entirely merit based. Scholarships may be available in two-, three- and four-year packages. All scholarships used at Mount Aloysius College pay 100 percent tuition and fees, a book allowance ($1,200 per year), and a tax-free monthly stipend ($300 for freshmen, $350 for sophomores, $450 for juniors and $500 for seniors for ten months per year). Two- and three-year, on-campus scholarships may be available. Any college freshman or sophomore may apply for one of these on-campus scholarships. Please contact the Enrollment and Scholarship Officer for availability and eligibility at admissions@mtaloy.edu. Cadets eligible for post 9-11 GI Bill® benefits may use those benefits in conjunction with any of the stated scholarships.

Eligibility

Students must meet the general criteria listed below to be eligible for an Army ROTC two-, three- or four-year merit scholarship at Mount Aloysius College. Detailed criteria are prescribed in a number of Army publications.

Students may be offered scholarships conditionally while awaiting final determination of eligibility. (The most common reason for such conditional offers is the scheduling of medical examinations and the resolution of potential medical disqualifiers.)

Scholarship applications are also available on request. Four-year national scholarships can be filed online.

High school students submit scholarship applications to the Army ROTC National Headquarters. These are screened for basic eligibility requirements and then forwarded electronically to the student’s preferred schools as indicated on the application.

Students who indicate Mount Aloysius College as one of their top choices will be considered by a board convened by our professor of Military Science. The processes of this board will include file reviews and phone or in-person interviews when possible. The results of the board, including the names of those selected for scholarships and an order of merit listing of alternates, will be forwarded to Army ROTC National Headquarters. Scholarships will then be offered based on the board results and within assigned allocations. Should any scholarship selectee decline the offer or be disqualified from eligibility prior to the beginning of the school year, the highest ranking alternate will be offered the scholarship.

Note: The scholarship application requires applicants to complete an online survey and face-to-face interview with an ROTC officer or noncommissioned officer on any campus. Applicants should contact the most convenient ROTC unit to coordinate this interview. Applicants should plan roughly two hours on site to complete this requirement.

Students who were not awarded four-year scholarships or did not apply for a scholarship while in high school may apply for three-year and two-year on-campus scholarships. Students must submit these applications directly to their enrollment and scholarship officer, rather than to the Army ROTC National Headquarters. On-campus applicants are screened locally by our enrollment and scholarship officer and then scheduled for DoD physicals. If we have remaining allocations, scholarship offers are made immediately. If not, we submit the applicant’s file to our regional headquarters with a request for additional funding.

The Four-Year Scholarship Application Process

Students have two opportunities to be considered for four-year scholarships. They may apply as high school seniors, submitting their applications to the national headquarters. Or, they may apply after arrival on campus.

  1. Be a citizen of the United States.
  2. Be at least seventeen years of age by October 1 of the year of enrollment as a scholarship cadet.
  3. Be under twenty-seven years of age on June 30 of the calendar year in which eligible for appointment as a second lieutenant.
  4. Satisfactorily explain any record of arrest and/or civil conviction (no felony convictions).
  5. Pass a medical exam reviewed by the DoD Medical Examination and Review Board.
  6. Pass an Army Physical Fitness Test.
  7. Have minimum qualifying SAT/ACT scores: SAT: 920 composite, ACT: 19 composite.
  8. Be a high school graduate or possess an equivalent certificate.
  9. Be accepted for enrollment by the Mount Aloysius Admissions Office.
  10. Have at least two academic years remaining at Mount Aloysius College. (These may include graduate study.)
  11. Two-year and three-year scholarship applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or greater.
  12. Agree to accept a commission as an officer in the Regular Army, Army National Guard, or Army Reserve.
  13. Pursue a Department of the Army-approved academic discipline.
  14. Have no moral obligations or personal conviction that will prevent you from:
  15. Supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
  16. Conscientiously bearing arms.
Special United States Army Reserve and Army National Guard Scholarships

Contact our enrollment and scholarship officer for information regarding special United States Army Reserve and Army National Guard scholarships. These scholarship programs include Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty–USAR; Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty–ARNG; Dedicated ARNG (three-year); and Dedicated ARNG (two-year). Cadets that receive a Dedicated or GRFD scholarship are obligated to serve in the National Guard or the United States Army Reserves upon graduation.

Cadets awarded a Dedicated or GRFD scholarship receive all of the following benefits:

  • 100 percent tuition: All tuition is paid for at Mount Aloysius as well as at our partner schools.
  • Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA): $4,500 annually
  • State Education Assistance Program: $5,554 annually (National Guard Scholarship only; must complete basic training)
  • Book stipend: $1,200 annually
  • Drill pay as an E-5: approximately $5,000 annually
  • Cadet stipend: Sophomore, $3,500; Junior, $4,500; Senior, $5,000 annually

Additionally, cadets awarded a GRFD scholarship and who have completed basic training and AIT are eligible the following:

  • Montgomery GI Bill®: $3,335 annually
  • Montgomery GI Bill Kicker®: $3,335 annually

*The Montgomery GI Bill® benefits are not available for Dedicated Scholarship winners.

Non-Scholarship Contracted Cadet Pay and Subsidies

Students may participate in Army ROTC without a scholarship. These students, upon contracting at the beginning of the junior year, will incur a three-year Active Duty Service Obligation, in lieu of the four-year obligation assumed by scholarship recipients. Non-scholarship contracted cadets receive the same monthly tax-free stipend. Cadets also receive pay, room and board, and reimbursement for travel expenses when participating in Advanced Camp and other summer leadership development programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Guaranteed management job after graduation
  • Average of $55,000 starting salary (Second Lieutenant salary with Housing Allowance and Subsistance Allowance)
  • $420 monthly stipend while in ROTC (Must be contracted)
  • Compete for 100% Tuition Scholarships (2, 3, or 4 year scholarships)
  • Compete for summer Army Specialty Schools (Airborne, Air Assault, Mountain Warfare, etc)
  • Compete for summer Cultural Understanding and Learning Proficiency (4 weeks training with a foreign military)
  • Compete for Nurse Summer Training Program (Nurse Majors Only)
  • Can simultaneously be a member of the Army National Guard or the Army Reserve while in ROTC
  • May elect to attend Basic Combat Training in the summer after Freshman or Sophomore year
  • Non-Deployable while in ROTC
  • Obtain a Secret or Top Secret Security Clearance (Must be Contracted)
Scholarships are awarded once a year for high school students. Students apply by December 15, and selections are made continuously through May 15. Four-year scholarship applications must be requested between March 1 and November 1. Also, if you are already on campus, two-year and three-year scholarships are often available.
No. Anyone can enroll in ROTC, regardless of whether you’re a scholarship winner or not, and all equipment is furnished at no cost to you.

For more information, contact:

Mr. Christopher Chavira
Army ROTC
Recruiting Operations Officer
724-357-7682 or 1-800-487-7682
cchavira@iup.edu

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