• ROTC at Millersville University is an elective course. MSI (freshman) classes are worth 1/2 credit per semester. Cadets who stay with the program past the sophomore year earn an additional 2-½ academic credits while earning a commission, for a total of 3 ½ credits of 32 required for graduation.
• Cadets can earn up to 50% of physical education (PE) requirements (2 of 4 required blocks) by participating in ROTC. One block is granted for the first two years and one block for the final two years.
• MSI (freshman) classes require about 3 hours per week of your time: Leadership Lab Thur 1600-1730; PT Wed 0600-0700; and a one-hour class each week. Add one additional class period for sophomore-senior years.
• ROTC teaches leadership skills; even if you don’t pursue a commission, ROTC is good to have on your college transcript and resume.
• ROTC scholarships pay up to $9500. toward tuition, $600/yr for books and a tax-free monthly stipend of as follows: freshman- $250, sophomore- $300, junior- $350, senior- $400.
• Upon graduation, a second LT becomes a platoon leader, responsible for 30-40 enlisted soldiers and typically millions of dollars worth of equipment—responsibility that sets you apart from your peers with prospective civilian employers.
• Today, a 2nd LT earns about $40,000 per year to start, gets 30 days paid vacation plus 12 federal holidays per year, free travel overseas aboard US Air Force aircraft, free medical/dental, and many other benefits.
• Promotions come quickly. In 18 months you will be promoted to first Lieutenant, earning around $47,000/yr; in just 38 months after graduation you will be promoted to Captain, with a starting salary of over $52,000/yr.
• Fortune 500 companies are seeking junior officers separating from the military because they have a proven record of honesty, loyalty, duty, and responsibility.
• The age limit for earning a commission in other than medical specialties is 27 for scholarship students and 32 for non-scholarship cadets. Depending on the Army’s needs, the age limit for medical specialists may be as high as 46.
• As an Army officer, you will work in any one of 18 career fields. From Infantry to Aviation, to Human Resources and Finance, you are a manager and leader. You manage a budget, equipment, people and training. No matter what your career field, your mission is to prepare your unit to accomplish its wartime mission or support the soldiers who will do the fighting.
• Cadets on ROTC scholarship serve four years on active duty. Non-scholarship cadets serve three. Instead of serving on active duty, cadets may apply to serve part time for eight years in their “hometown” National Guard or Reserve unit if they desire.
• Cadets may apply for an “educational delay” prior to serving on active duty in order to attend Law, Medical, or Theological school. Under this option, newly commissioned 2LTs pay their own way and later enter the service as a senior 1LT or Captain. There are however, scholarship opportunities for medical school. “Payback” typically consists of one year active duty for each year of schooling. Medical scholarships also include a healthy monthly stipend.
• The Army has posts (installations) all over the world. Most of the Army today however is based right here in the United States at places like Fort hood, TX; Fort Drum, NY; Fort Bragg, NC; Fort Stewart, GA—even on the Island of Oahu in Hawaii! You may also request to be stationed in Europe (Germany or Italy), or in the Republic of Korea.
• While on active duty, the Army will pay for you to earn a Master’s Degree!
• By serving on active duty, you may be eligible for nearly $40,000 in educational benefits (GI Bill) to use after you leave the service.

As an alternative to the four-year ROTC program, students can still earn a commission in any one of the following ways:

• Students may receive constructive credit for the first two years of the program for life experiences.
• Students may attend a 28-day summer leadership camp during the summer preceding their junior year in lieu of the first two years of ROTC.
• Students may defer the 28-day summer leadership camp until the summer after the junior year. In this case, the student/cadet would attend Advanced Camp after graduation, and then be commissioned at Fort Lewis, WA upon completion of the 35-day ROTC Advanced Camp.
• Students can enroll in ROTC as long as they are “full-time students, pursuing a degree”. As such, students may take ROTC while in a graduate program.
• After graduating from college, individuals may earn a commission by attending Officer Candidate School (OCS). OCS is a 16-week program held at fort Benning, GA.
• Students who graduate law or medical school may earn a direct commission, and as such do not attend ROTC or OCS.

For more information, contact MSG Daniel Hilty, or Millersville University Military Science Department at: (717) 871-2341 or email army.rotc@millersville.edu