Prospective Cadets
The Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (AROTC) Program at Texas State is designed to develop the professional skills vital to Army officers. The purpose of the program is to qualify students for a commission in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, or Army National Guard.
The freshman and sophomore years of Army ROTC are called the Basic Course, and the junior and senior years are called the Advanced Course. Entry into the Basic Course requires no formal application; however, an interview is advisable because the student may be eligible for advanced placement. Registration is accomplished at the same time and in the same manner as for other college courses. Enrollment in the Basic Course does not confer any military status or commitment upon the cadet. Successful completion of, or constructive credit for, the Basic Course is necessary before progressing to the Advanced Course.
Students entering the Advanced Course should have two academic years remaining at Texas State. Coordination should be made with the Professor of Military Science well in advance of anticipated enrollment in order to allow adequate time for application processing. A student may meet some prerequisites as a result of prior military training, ROTC training with any service, or successful completion of the Army ROTC Leader’s Training Course. An interview is advisable in order to determine if a student meets any of the above prerequisites.
Students in the Advanced Course attend a summer course at Fort Knox, Kentucky between their junior and senior years. The purpose of this course is to evaluate the cadets’ performance in leadership positions while giving them practical field experience in a military environment.
Textbooks and materials for military science classes are furnished without cost to the student.
Some cadets are eligible to participate in the Simultaneous Membership Program, which allows them to serve in the National Guard or Army Reserve concurrently with Army ROTC. The Department of Military Science should be consulted for additional information regarding this program.
Army scholarships are available on a competitive basis to cadets enrolled in Army ROTC. These scholarships pay 100% of tuition and fees or up to $5000 per semester for room and board plus a $600 allowance per semester for books and necessary supplies. All contracted cadets also receive a monthly tax-free stipend of $420. Eligible non-scholarship cadets who sign an Army ROTC contract may begin receiving the stipend during their sophomore year.
Opportunities to attend Airborne, Air Assault, and other service schools are available to eligible cadets on a competitive basis.
All Army ROTC cadets are required to attend a weekly 120-minute leadership laboratory. This gives them an opportunity to practice basic military skills and the art of leadership.