ROTC Courses and Requirements 

The basic course of four semester duration consists of two hours of instruction work per week. Students acquire knowledge of military leadership, weapons, tactics, basic military skills, and physical fitness. In field training exercises, potential for leadership is progressively developed. Basic course students are invited and encouraged to attend military science leadership laboratories and physical training sessions. The advanced course consists of three hours of classroom work and one hour of leadership laboratory per week. During the spring semester prior to the Cadet Leadership Course (CLC), the student will enroll in MILS 3302 to prepare for attendance at CLC. The coursework during the advanced course emphasizes techniques, management, leadership, and the fundamentals and dynamics of the military team. Field training exercises (FTX) provide the student with applied leadership experiences. Participation in leadership laboratories and physical training sessions are mandatory.

Military Education Requirements

The U.S. Army’s professional military education requirements are established to provide cadets with the training and enrichment necessary to successfully compete in the Army. In addition to completing a baccalaureate degree, the cadet must complete one undergraduate course from each of the designated fields of study (some of these requirements may be waived for nursing majors). The PME-designated fields of study are listed below and the courses that meet the Cadet Command PME requirement:

  • HIST 2111- Survey of US History Post Civil War    or
  • HIST 2112- US History 

Admissions

Admission criteria includes admission to Savannah State University and good academic standing with the college upon admission to the program.

Freshman

For freshmen, the way to start is by registering for MILS 1101 (Introduction to Military Science and Skills Development) and MILS 5000 (Fundamentals of Leadership Lab). These are the basic ROTC classes and do not require any military obligation from those students who choose to enroll. The great part about these classes is that you get to see if Army ROTC is right for you. The classes count as electives in most majors. At the end of the year, if you are still interested in becoming a contracted member of the Army ROTC program, you can continue to take basic ROTC courses until the end of your sophomore year (still with no military obligation). If you think Army ROTC and the prestige of an Army Officers Commission is for you, you would then follow a sequence of courses that will take you through your junior and senior years in the Advanced Army ROTC program. As a junior you will be required to contract with the Army and obligate to at least 8 years of service on either active duty, the U.S. Army Reserve, or Army National Guard. Your coursework will result in a commission in the United States Army (Active Duty, National Guard or Army Reserve).

Sophomore

A sophomore is someone who has completed at least 30 credit hours and has approximately 3 years remaining to earn their undergraduate degree. Sophomore courses do not require any military obligation. Below we have listed the options available to a student who is at this stage of their collegiate career.

  • Take MILS1101 or 1102, "Fundamentals of Leadership," along with their associated Labs (MILS 5000), and attend the Cadet Initial Entry Training (CIET) in the summer (a 28-day course at Fort Knox, Kentucky). When you complete the CIET you are able to contract and receive financial assistance from the ROTC program.
  • Take MS 2201 or 2202 "Applied Leadership & Management," along with their associated Labs (MILS 5000) and attend the Cadet Initial Entry Training (CIET) in the summer (a 28-day course at Fort Knox, KY). When you complete the CIET you are able to contract and receive financial assistance from the ROTC program.
  • Take no Army ROTC course. Wait until the end of the sophomore school year when you have approximately 60 credit hours, then attend the Cadet Initial Entry Training (CIET) during the summer. After successful completion of CIET, you can contract and receive financial assistance from the Army ROTC program.
  • You can request to be exempted from the Basic Course classes by substituting your high school JROTC experience (any service) or active/guard/reserve duty experience. This requires the Professor of Military Science (PMS) approval.

Junior

A junior is defined as someone who has completed approximately 64 credit hours and has approximately 2 years remaining to complete their undergraduate degree. Students who are classified as a junior have several options to entering the Army ROTC program:

  • Attend the Cadet Initial Entry Training (CIET) (a 28-day course at Fort Knox, Ky.) over the summer, prior to the junior year. The course requires no obligation to the Army, and you receive pay while attending the course.
  • Attend the junior-level ROTC classes. At the end of your junior year, attend the Cadet Leadership Course (CLC).
  • Request exception through the PMS to allow high school JROTC (2 years) experience to substitute for the freshman and sophomore courses.
  • Request exception through the PMS to allow basic training (any service) to substitute for the freshman and sophomore courses.
  • Veterans with an AARTS transcript indicating college credit for freshman and sophomore level courses are eligible to enroll in ROTC advanced courses, as long as they have completed the required 64 credit hours.  

Seniors

Senior students with less than two years of college remaining have two options:

  • Stretch your academic work out to make you eligible to be a full-time student for at least two years (four semesters).
  • Attend a two-year graduate program following graduation and then follow one of the graduate options.
  • If qualified, request an exception to policy to compress your junior and senior year ROTC courses into two semesters. You must have received credit for the basic course classes (Freshman & Sophomore courses, basic training, JROTC for two years or attend the summertime Cadet Leadership Course (CLC) before your senior year).