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ROTC

Are you considering ROTC?

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)  is one of the most demanding and successful leadership programs in the country. For years, ROTC has been creating leaders who go on to rewarding careers in the military and civilian world. At SUNY Oswego participation in Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) while pursuing your degree gives you real-world experiences that prepare you to earn a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army or Air Force. SUNY Oswego operates the ROTC program in affiliation with Syracuse University.

The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is an elective providing proven leadership training to college students. ROTC goes beyond the typical classroom experience. Through personal development and unique opportunities, ROTC will:

  • encourage you to grow mentally, morally, and physically

  • provide you with discipline and money for tuition while enhancing your college experience 

  • educate and train you on officership, military values, standards and operations

Contact

SUNY Oswego ROTC
311 Sheldon Hall 
7060 State Route 104 West
Oswego, New York 13126
Phone: 315-312-2270
Email: [email protected]

Cadet Life What is it Like?

As a cadet you will embark upon the mental and physical challenges of ROTC in addition to your academic responsibilities at SUNY Oswego. Cadets learn how to manage their time between academics and ROTC functions. Some ROTC time is spent completing physical training; the other is spent in the classroom and lab, where you will learn the fundamentals of leadership and management, and practical skills that include small team leadership, decision making, and team building.

ROTC cadets enjoy the same benefits as all SUNY Oswego students including a 17:1 student/faculty ratio, access to over 110 majors and 70 minors, and all aspects of college life. You can participate in student organizations (over 200), including sports, government, clubs and 
volunteer groups.

 

Why Join? Benefits of ROTC

 

  • An opportunity to develop technical and leadership skills
  • A structured path to a career after college
  • Specialized professional training for military officer positions after college
  • Scholarships that cover tuition, fees, books, and other student necessities
  • Long-term career guidance and continued professional education

Army ROTC

About Army ROTC

Freshman and Sophomore Army ROTC courses are offered at the SUNY Oswego Campus. Junior and Senior year courses are taken at Syracuse University. Students enrolled in the Army ROTC program who successfully complete both ROTC training and college degree requirements will graduate and simultaneously commission as Second Lieutenants in the active duty or in one of the reserve components.

 

Program Options

Army ROTC offers three programs leading to a commission as a second lieutenant in the Army, National Guard, or Reserve:

  1. Traditional four-year program for incoming first-year students
  2. Three-year program for interested sophomores
  3. Two-year program for qualifiying juniors, transfer students, or graduate students

Scholarship Opportunities

You may qualify for a four, three or two-year scholarship. Scholarships are awarded to ROTC cadets on the basis of academic record, extracurricular activities, and leadership potential.

4-Year Regular Scholarship

This scholarship covers tuition and fees or room and board. Cadets also receive other financial incentives, including a tax-free monthly stipend and book money each semester. Most students in the advanced course receive ROTC scholarships.

Guaranteed Reserve Force Duty Scholarships (GRFD)

This scholarship offers the same benefits as the regular scholarship above plus guaranteed Reserve Force duty and choice of branch and unit. (Eight-year commitment and participant must join Reserve or National Guard upon commissioning)

Simultaneous Membership Program

Join the Reserve/Guard and still do ROTC, benefit from Reserve/Guard tuition assistance, room and board scholarship (GRFD), earn sergeant E5 drill pay, qualified for Montgomery GI Bill, Reserve/Guard status changes from enlisted rank to Officer in Training (CSR).


Program Components

You’ll take Military Science as an elective in conjunction with your other courses. Military Science components include:

The Basic Course

As a first- or second-year student, you typically take one military science class per semester. In conjunction, you’ll take Leadership Lab, where classroom concepts become reality through scheduled indoor and outdoor training events.

Adventure Training

One weekend a semester, adventure training takes you off campus for such events as rappelling, situational exerciese, leader reaction courses, tactics training, and land navigation. You’ll build self-confidence, teamwork, and lasting friendship, and gain practical leadership experience.

The Advanced Course

During your junior year, you will prepare for Cadet Summer Training course at Fort Knox, Kentucky. You’ll attend the course during the summer between your junior and senior years and put into practice the endurance, leadership skills, and mental agility you’ve gained in cooperation with other cadets from across the nation.

During your senior year, you’ll hold cadet officer positions. Your time with the ROTC program increases as you plan, resource, and execute all training in the battalion. You’ll also request your job specialty ad duty location on entry into military service.

 

Graduation and Assignment

 

Cadets receive their occupational specialty and location of assignment during their senior year. Upon graduation, ROTC officers go on to serve in one of 16 fields, including Army aviation, signal corps, infantry, military police, and military intelligence.

Army cadets may apply for active duty on a full-time basis or on a part-time basis through the National Guard or Reserve. After commissioning, Second Lieutenants will continue their professional military education by preparing to attend their branch specific Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC).

Graduating cadets may also request authorization to immediately continue their education in graduate programs in the medical, legal, and ministry fields.

Air Force ROTC

Because of modern aviation and rapidly advancing technology, the Air Force needs first-rate scientists and engineers with fundamental leadership skills to maintain Air Force aircraft, weapon systems, and complex cyberspace warfare systems.

Please refer to Syracuse University's website form more information on Air Force ROTC.

Learn More

Office

Division of Extended Learning

337 Sheldon Hall 
Oswego, NY 13126

Contact

Phone: 315-312-2270
Email: [email protected]

Hours

9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday & Thursday