ROTC FAQs

ROTC stands for Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. It is a course of study and training in military science. Upon completion of your degree and the ROTC program, cadets receive a Presidential appointment as a second lieutenant in the United States Army.

Sign up for ROTC the same way you would as any other class in ROTC. We recommend starting as an MS 1 for all interested freshmen and cadets.

Fitness is an important part of the military, but its greatest purpose is to build discipline and mental toughness. We recognize that not everyone has an athletic background, and many people may not even know how to get into shape. At ROTC, we work with our students to help them grow over their time here. We work very hard to build people up, helping people to meet their goals in every aspect of their life. ROTC will encourage and push you to improve yourself and will expect you to encourage and push others.

The military has medical requirements, but many times the requirements can be waived. The only way to find out is to ask and see. Even without a waiver, you can participate in Freshman and Sophomore level ROTC classes.

All cadets, whether scholarship or non-scholarship, sign a contract by their junior year to accept a commission in the United States Army. All commissioned officers from ROTC will serve an eight-year commitment. If commissioned into the active Army (serving full-time), most officers serve three to four years on active duty followed by four to five years in the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR), The option to continue on active duty or not is based on the performance and preference of the officer. If commissioned into the reserves (serving only one weekend a month and two weeks during the year), there is an eight-year commitment. If the commissioned officer was not on scholarship, then the service commitment is six years as a drilling reservist and two years in the IRR.

You will receive up to $420 a month (up to ten months) as a contracted cadet. If receiving a full-tuition scholarship, cadets will also receive a book purchasing allowance of $1,200 a year.

Contracting with the ROTC Program requires a student to be in good academic standing. In good physical shape, able to pass medical exams, and several other smaller requirements. When selecting cadets for contracting, the program looks for desirable personality traits and leadership abilities. For more information about contract options, see ROTC Contracting Options.

There are several different routes cadets can take to contract with the ROTC program. For more information, visit Contracting Options.

There are two parts to the ROTC classes. You will participate in an academic class, as well as in an associated three-hour lab period. The lab teaches basic military skills and introduces cadets to the Army. You will learn drill and ceremonies, land navigation, patrolling skills, and more. The academic classes are electives that count toward graduation credits, taught by military officers and non-commissioned officers. These classes cover military leadership, history, military law, and other subjects that make for a well-rounded officer. In addition, the ROTC program includes a physical training portion to provide for physical development. There are many other extracurricular activities that cadets participate in as well.

Yes. All advanced course ROTC cadets must attend Cadet Leadership Course (CLC) at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, either between their junior and senior year or after their senior year (Forty-Five Day course). Selected contracted cadets will also have training opportunities to attend Cultural Understanding and Language Proficiency (CULP), Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT), Airborne School, Air Assault School, etc. After their freshman or sophomore year, a contracted cadet may also attend Cadet Initial Entry Training (CIET) at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, for thirty days.

Cadets in ROTC are not in the Army. They are in a commissioning program to develop their leadership skills to become officers in the United States Army.

As a contracted cadet with our program, you will not be asked to deploy in support of operations overseas. Our focus is to ensure that you graduate from your college with a four-year degree and are well-trained and prepared for your future as an Army officer. This is also true for our National Guard and Reserve Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) cadets.

Eligible students are encouraged to contract with the Army as soon as they have met the qualifications but are not required to do so during the first two years. After students have completed the first two years, all the basic courses, and reached junior status they must contract with the Army to continue in the advanced course and be commissioned as an Army Lieutenant upon graduation from BYU-Idaho.

ROTC students are actually more likely to graduate on time than other students. We place a great deal of importance on academic excellence. It is important to know that ROTC builds in responsibility, requires some time, and adds a Minor in Military Science to your degree plan. ROTC will actively help you to plan your academic career and encourage you to excel. Most ROTC Cadets finish their degree in four years.

While we do expect our officers to understand and appreciate their role in supporting the Infantry and other combat jobs, we also appreciate the huge contributions made to our Nation through many career fields. The Army offers positions to new officers in:

• Aviation – Cyber Corps – Signal Corps – Engineers – Medical Services – Nurse Corps – Veterinarians – Doctors – Lawyers – Adjutant General – Transportation – Finance Management – Ordnance – Quartermaster – Chemical Corps – Military Intelligence – Air Defense Artillery – Armor – Infantry

Each of these branches has long-running traditions and a great deal of pride in what they do. Explore more about these military career fields.