About RU's Army ROTC Program

Are you ready for the challenge?

Radford University Army ROTC is one of the nation's largest partnership schools out of 717 schools.  The four-year program consists of a two-year Basic Course and a two-year Advanced Course. The Basic Course is normally taken during the freshman and sophomore years.  Course work covers:  management principles, national defense, military history, leadership development, military courtesy, discipline and customs.  The Basic Course imposes no military obligation to students unless they are on an ROTC scholarship, and they may withdraw from the program at any time.

The Advanced Course provides instruction in further leadership development, organization and management, tactics and administration.  Advanced Course cadets attend the 32-day Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) conducted at Fort Lewis, Washington, between their junior and senior years.  This course enables cadets to put into practice the principles and theories they have acquired from on-campus classroom and laboratory instruction.  Cadets are paid and reimbursed for travel expenses and receive free room and board, medical and dental care, and other benefits while training.

The two-year program permits transfer students and students entering a two-year, post-graduate course of study to take ROTC.  Students in the two-year program receive the same financial assistance as other Advanced Course students.  Cadets receive pay, plus the same benefits received during LDAC, while attending Basic Camp.

Radford University is one of 41 Partnership in Nursing Excellence (PNE) schools within Cadet Command, a recognized high-quality program.  Nursing majors who complete the first two years of Army ROTC, or complete the ROTC Basic Camp, can have their two-hour Physical Education/General Education requirement waived.  Upper-division nursing students who successfully complete the Nurse Summer Training Program also receive credit for a two-hour nursing elective.

Classroom instruction is part of your development as an army officer.  As a cadet, you will take four years of Military Science classes which are designated as MS I, II, III, and IV years. Here is a link to course information which will give an overview of what the courses involve.  As a traditional Army ROTC program, uniforms are only worn to Army class, physical training, and labs.  Cadets may wear civilian clothes to other classes and university functions.  Uniforms are provided at no cost to the cadet.

Here are links to Army Reserve and National Guard where you can enter the SMP program and gain time in service while taking a real platoon leader position.  This will give you invaluable experience in leading troops and will benefit you with more pay when you receive your commission.  For more information about that program and anything else about the Army Reserve and National Guard, please click the links above.