The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) has produced the best and the most well disciplined college students not just in the United States but also in other countries. This program aims to prepare college students before facing their corresponding career in the future both in the military service and in the private sectors.

Purpose

The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) is a college-based, officer commissioning program; it is designed as a college elective that focuses on leadership development, problem solving, strategic planning, and professional ethics. Students have the opportunity to participate in the military-type training throughout their college careers while sacrificing their academic subjects. The students will received numerous benefits including monthly allowances in joining an ROTC sponsored classes, upon graduation; the students will be rewarded the rank of 2nd Lieutenant or ensign and can begin serving in the armed forces.

Services

The ROTC produces officers that will serve in all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces except the U.S. Coast Guard. ROTC graduates constitute 56 percent of U.S. Army, 11 percent of U.S. Marine Corps, 20 percent of U.S. Navy, and 41 percent of U.S. Air Force officers, for a combined 39 percent of all active duty officers in the Department of Defense. ROTC has 273 different college branches around the country as of 2011. The Air Force ROTC today has 144 different colleges around the country as of 2011, while the Naval ROTC has 160 college branches (as of 2011) that produce officers both for the Navy and the Marine Corps.

Eligibility

All branches of ROTC have specific standards that students must comply for them to join the program. Students must be presently enrolled while in ROTC, either in university or with a host detachment. The most basic requirement is that all cadet must be 17 years of age or older and must be a certified US citizen if taken in the United States and must graduate from college to receive their commission.

Scholarships

ROTC programs have attracted many qualified candidates because of the many benefits, credits and scholarship grants that are given to the qualified students. NROTC Colleges provide up to $ 180,000 for tuition while receiving a stripends for fees, books, and other miscellaneous fees, but take note that students must meet all the certain standards above the minimum required for the students to avail these benefits. Not all NAVAL ROTC candidates can avail these benefits because it is done in a performance-based selection process applicable to all qualified candidates. Programs are also offered in the Air Force and in the Army.

List of ROTC Colleges

ROTC began in 1819 and its purpose is to train and produce men and women to become reserve officers in different branches of the military. Students that have joined the ROTC program are required to attend regular classes in addition with mathematics, science and military courses that are needed in their work as commissioned officers.

Senior Military College ROTC

In the United States, a Senior Military College (SMC) is one of six colleges that offer military Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs. There are three types of ROTC programs administered, each with a different element. In addition to ROTC at Senior Military Colleges, there are ROTC programs at civilian colleges and at Military Junior Colleges. The SMC must have as an objective of the development of character through military training and the regulation of cadet conduct according to principles of military discipline (a cadet code of conduct), and must be a four-year institutions that grant baccalaureate degree and requires a minimum of 2 years ROTC training. The SMC’s include the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina; Maine Maritime Academy in Castine; North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega; Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont; Texas A&M University in College Station; the State University of New York Maritime College in Throggs Neck; Virginia Military Institute in Lexington; Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets in Blacksburg and Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton.

Civilian College ROTC

In this institution, Civilian colleges that offer ROTC programs are not run by the military and ROTC is voluntary, but follows the required four year course. There are about 1,000 civilian colleges that offer ROTC programs. Among these colleges are University of Central Florida, Boise State University, Boston University, Central Michigan University, Dillard University, Emory University, Howard University, Iowa State University among many others.

Military Junior College ROTC

Army JROTC has a long and proud tradition of service to the nation through the betterment of its youth. Founded as part of the National Defense Act of 1916, subsequent legislation opened the program to other services, made it an integral part of the school’s curriculum. Public and private educational institutions apply for JROTC units and commit to share costs and meet its standards.

ROTC Armed Forces Programs- There is five junior colleges in the United States that offers two-year degree courses via the Early Commissioning Program (ECP). Students are required to finish their bachelor’s degree before they can serve their duty. The five military junior colleges that offer this program are the Georgia Military College in Milledgeville; Marion Military Institute in Marion, Alabama; New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell; Valley Forge Military Academy & College in Wayne, Pennsylvania and Wentworth Military Academy and College in Lexington, Missouri.