ROTC Program
The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) is designed to recruit, educate, and commission officer candidates as the miltary’s future leaders through college campus programs around the country.
The College of Saint Rose offers Army ROTC Leadership courses on campus. At the present time, physical training sessions, held three times a week, are located at nearby campuses. All students are able to participate in the Army ROTC Leadership Basic Course (RTC 100, RTC 110, RTC 200, RTC 210) held on campus, regardless of whether they join ROTC.
The College of Saint Rose is also home to Air Force ROTC cadets who attend classes at nearby host institutions through a crosstown agreement.
The ROTC program may be pursued in conjunction with any academic major offered at The College of Saint Rose. Completion of the Advanced Course qualifies graduates to receive an officer’s commission concurrent with the baccalaureate degree and does not necessarily interfere with subsequent graduate or professional studies.
ROTC Coursework
The purpose of the courses offered by the Military Leadership Department are to train quality college students to become the future leaders of the United States Army and the civilian community. The course of study is divided into two parts—the first two years (Basic Course) and the last two years (Advanced Course). Students incur no military obligation while enrolled in the Basic Course and may withdraw from the course at their option. Selection for the Advanced Course is competitive. Students selected for the Advanced Course participate on a contractual basis. Emphasis of the Advanced Course is on applied, individual leadership development, and exposure of the student to military management systems and techniques.
A student may satisfy requirements for application to the Advanced Course in pursuit of a commission in one of three ways:
(1) Completion of the first two years (Basic Course) allows a student to earn four academic credits towards graduation while qualifying for the Advanced Course. The student is expected to attend one hour of classroom instruction during the Basic Course.
(2) Students may also qualify for entrance into the Advanced Course by selection to the four-week Leadership Training Course (LTC) held the summer between their sophomore and junior year at Fort Knox, KY. Qualified students may compete for two-year scholarships while attending the summer Leadership Training Course. Students may elect to enter the Advanced Course upon successful completion of LTC. All expenses to attend the course are fully funded by the military. Attendance at the summer Basic Camp does not obligate the student to enroll in ROTC unless they are awarded and accept a scholarship.
(3) Students with Junior ROTC, Senior ROTC, service academy experience, or prior military service may also qualify to enter the Advanced Course.
All students accepted into the Advanced Course must attend the Leadership Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) during the summer after their junior year. The purpose of LDAC is to evaluate the leadership potential of officer candidates who wish to pursue a commission in the United States Army. This four week course builds upon the skills and methods taught in the junior year.
During the senior year, the student has the option of applying for one of two types of commissions. The first type, a Reserve Forces Duty commission as a citizen Soldier with the Reserve Forces, is for graduates wishing to serve in the US Army Reserve or US Army National Guard, while pursuing a civilian occupation. The second option enables graduates to go on active duty, as a Second Lieutenant in their assigned military specialty. Laboratories offered focus on the application of leadership methods and techniques that are taught in the classroom. Some are scheduled on weekdays and some on weekends, and they are typically conducted at off-site locations.
Laboratories also stress adventure and outdoor activity as a means to build personal confidence. This is an optional activity for students who are not pursuing a commission. Labs are mandatory for students in the Advanced Course and for those who are receiving scholarship benefits.
Exciting internships are offered to enrolled sophomores and juniors who qualify. These internships offer students the ability to become certified in skills taught by U.S. Army Schools. Some of these skills are parachutist certification, rappelling certification and outdoor survival certification. Other internships include foreign language programs in other countries and the opportunity to serve in multiple career fields found in the United States Army as junior leaders. There are a variety of programs that also compensate students for demonstrated academic proficiency in certain languages.
ROTC Scholarships
ROTC scholarships are awarded based on a student’s merit and grades. Students who want to compete for Army ROTC or Air Force ROTC scholarships must: be a full-time college student (at least 12 credits), have a GPA of at least 2.50, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and pass the physical fitness test.
For more information about our ROTC program, please contact:
The College of Saint Rose Veteran Center
518-458-5364
veterans@strose.edu
Jonathan Ryal, Army ROTC Recruiter, Mohawk Battalion
ryalj@strose.edu