Reserve Officer Training Corp.(ROTC)
From OSU Wiki
This may be one of the most exciting, life fulfilling programs out there, in my opinion. Whatever branch it is whether it interests you or not has great opportunities. Basically ROTC is leadership training to become a leader of others. As you pursue your bachelor's degree in school you take 2-3 credit courses based towards Aerospace Studies (Air Force), Military Sciences (Army), or Naval Studies (Navy/Marines, I think). On top of these classes you are required to attend a Leadership Laboratory once a week as well as Physical Training course (PT). During these classes and all of the fun exciting things you do in them for the first few years, you are not required to continue and you owe the military nothing (risk free). But at anytime or when it comes to a certain point you may contract. Contracting does many things for you, one is usually full tuition reimbursement, book money, as well as a monthly stipend, but remember at this point you do owe the military something so make sure its something you want to do. Then once you graduate you become a Commissioned Officer, this means your a well paid Second Lieutenant in whatever branch it is you join. Your job as an officer is to lead many other people, which consists of a lot of people so you better be confident. Then remember your pay gets higher over the years and you can retire after only 20 years or quit sooner if you choose. There is so much more to this program and the events involved. It is good even if your note interested in these programs to learn about them and understand the people you see walking around in uniform.
The following page will give you more info on the ROTC programs here at OSU and what they have to offer. I ask others to edit these as much as possible I will only be adding things for the Army ROTC since it is what I am currently involved in. All of these have links to the offical government sites as well. I also just added a tab for personal stories under each branch. If you are a current cadet, officer, or retired, please put in something you would like people to know about the program or something that has happened to you that you find rewarding and would like to share with others.
Below is general information from the 2005-2006 OSU General Catalog
Contents |
Defense Education
For more than a century, military training has been offered at Oregon State University. Fulfilling a provision of the Morrill Act of 1862, which gave Corvallis College its first public support, an Army Cadet Corps was organized in 1873.
ROTC at Oregon State is made up of the Departments of Military Science, Naval Science, and Air Force Studies. In 1917, the Department of Military Science became responsible for all military training under the National Defense Act of 1916. This act expanded and standardized the training of Army Officers by colleges and universities and established the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). During World War II, OSU became known as the “West Point of the West” for commissioning more officers than any other non-military academy in the nation. At the end of World War II, the secretary of the Navy commissioned the Department of Naval Science (NROTC) on this campus to provide the training of both Navy and Marine Corps officers. On July 1, 1949, the U.S. Air Force activated an AFROTC unit that is called the Department of Air Force Studies. OSU is now one of 48 colleges and universities that offers education for all three military departments.
Originally, two years of military science and tactics were required of all able-bodied male students, but since 1962, ROTC has been voluntary. Since 1965, two-year programs have been available for students who have finished two years of college but have not taken ROTC previously.
As opportunities for women to serve as officers in the armed forces grow, opportunities for women to participate in ROTC programs expand. Women have long been eligible to take ROTC course work for credit. Since 1970, they have been enrolled as cadets in Air Force ROTC and, since 1973, have also been enrolled as cadets and midshipmen in the Army and Navy ROTC programs.
MISSION AND OBJECTIVES
The ROTC selects and prepares young men and women, through a program of instruction coordinated with the students’ normal academic curriculum, for commissioning and service as officers in the regular and reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.
UNIFORMS AND ALLOWANCES
Students in each of the units receive uniforms to be worn at drill periods and on special occasions. Travel to and from any summer camps or cruises is paid. While at camp or on cruise, the members receive food and quarters at government expense in addition to basic pay. (See the individual sections for further information on the various camps and cruises.) Those selected for the scholarship programs receive tuition, books, and fees plus $250 to $400 a month subsistence pay for up to 40 months.
FLIGHT TRAINING
Eligible Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force ROTC students may be selected for flight training upon their successful completion of the program and commissioning. AFROTC cadets may be eligible to receive up to eight hours of flight orientation for free through the Civil Air Patrol.
HOW TO ENROLL
See the Army, Navy, or Air Force sections of this catalog for enrollment details for the various ROTC programs. All three departments have staff available throughout the year during normal school hours to answer any inquiries regarding the ROTC programs.
