ROTC Programs

Tulane University recognizes the need for military officers with a quality education in a variety of academic specialties and highly recommends the Reserve Officer Training Corps programs as one method of meeting this need. The university maintains Air Force, Army, and Naval ROTC units which are part of the School of Science and Engineering. Their programs are open equally to men and women in all schools. Each of the programs provides an opportunity to develop leadership and management abilities, as well as to perform a valuable service to the nation. Individuals who wish to earn a commission and to serve a brief period of active duty, as well as those who are interested in a career of military service, are encouraged to participate.

A maximum of 15 credits from ROTC courses may be applied to a Tulane degree.

Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC)

Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) offers three and four year programs through which students can earn a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force upon graduation. AFROTC is a comprehensive academic and hands-on training program. Students have the unique opportunity to enhance their interpersonal communications, teamwork, leadership, and management skills.

The curriculum is divided into two parts: the General Military Course (GMC) for freshman and sophomores, and the Professional Officer Course (POC) for juniors, seniors, and graduate law or nursing students. GMC students attend a 1-hour class and a 2-hour laboratory each week. POC students attend a 3-hour class and a 2-hour laboratory each week. Cadets compete for and must be selected to attend field training (a four-week session) between their sophomore and junior years.

LLAB cadets are classified into one of four groups with respect to field training attendance and/or commissioning. Initial Military Training (IMT) cadets are part of the General Military Course (GMC) but are not scheduled to attend field training (normally AS1000 cadets). The focus of IMT objectives/activities are to promote the Air Force way of life and help effectively recruit and retain qualified cadets. This time is spent acquainting the cadets with basic Air Force knowledge and skills to help them determine whether they wish to continue with the AFROTC program. Field Training Prep (FTP) cadets are scheduled to attend field training in the upcoming year (normally AS2000 cadets). The FTP objectives provide training to ensure every cadet is mentally and physically prepared for the rigorous field training environment. Intermediate Cadet Leaders (ICL) are cadets returning from field training (normally AS3000 cadets). ICL objectives/activities give cadets the opportunity to further develop the leadership and followership skills learned at field training.

Every cadet position should provide the ICL the opportunity to sharpen their planning, organizational, and communication skills, as well as their ability to effectively use resources to accomplish a mission in a constructive learning environment. Senior Cadet Leaders (SCL) are cadets scheduled to be commissioned in the upcoming year (normally AS4000 cadets). This time is spent on additional opportunities to develop leadership and supervisory capabilities, and prepares cadets for their first active duty assignment. Extended Cadet Leaders (ECL) are cadets whose ROTC academic requirements are complete but still have one or more terms of college left to complete. These cadets may hold special duty or regular positions within the cadet corps upon discretion of the Detachment Commander (Det CC) or Commandant of Cadets (COC).

Students may enroll in the GMC without incurring any military obligation. Entry into the POC is competitive and requires a commitment to the Air Force. Additional summer programs are available to cadets on a voluntary basis. These professional development opportunities include parachuting, soaring, language immersion, base visits and more. Textbooks and uniforms are issued to cadets without cost. Scholarship cadets qualify for yearly book allowance per year and a subsistence allowance per month during academic year.

The Air Force offers excellent scholarship opportunities in a wide variety of academic majors. For additional information or to check scholarship eligibility, contact AFROTC Detachment 320, Tulane University, at (504) 865-5394, afrotc@tulane.edu, http://tulane.edu/det320 or visit www.afrotc.com.

Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (AROTC)

Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (AROTC) is a comprehensive program of studies through which a student can qualify to be commissioned as an officer in the United States Army, the National Guard, or the United States Army Reserve. Students learn leadership and management skills important in any profession. The Army ROTC program consists of a two-year Basic Course, which is open to freshmen and sophomores only, and a two-year Advanced Course. Non scholarship students participating in the first two years of AROTC do not incur any obligation to the U.S. Army. Army ROTC offers four, three, and two year scholarships that include the Guaranteed Reserve Forces scholarship. Army scholarships provide tuition assistance, a flat rate for textbooks, and a monthly subsistence allowance (up to 10 months per year). Admission to the AROTC Advanced Course is conditional on meeting academic, physical, and age requirements and the approval of the professor of military science. Physical training is an integral part of the AROTC program.

To be commissioned as an officer, a student must complete either the regular four-year program, a three-year program (whereby the Basic Course is compressed into one year), or a two-year program (requiring completion of the summer AROTC basic camp giving the student credit for the Basic Course). Advanced placement for AROTC training may be given to veterans and students with previous ROTC experience. In addition to these requirements, a student must complete at least one course each in the areas of written communication, human behavior, military history, computer literacy and math reasoning. Uniforms and military science textbooks are issued without cost to all students. Advanced Course and scholarship students receive a subsistence allowance. They are also paid for the summer advanced leadership camp they must attend prior to completing the Advanced Course. For further information contact the Army ROTC office at 1-800-777-ARMY or 504-865-5594.

Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC)

The Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program at Tulane University offers students the opportunity to earn a commission in the Navy or Marine Corps. Students typically earn a scholarship out of high school. Students matriculating to Tulane University, who have not already been awarded an NROTC scholarship, may participate in the NROTC College Program and compete for a scholarship. These students are selected from applicants each year by the Professor of Naval Science.

NROTC Scholarship Process

The NROTC scholarship board begins accepting applications in April for the following academic year. The deadline for applications is January 31. The scholarship board uses a “rolling” selection process. The board commences reviewing applications in August and continues into the spring. Students aspiring to serve their nation should begin the application process early and provide updates through their fall semester to the closing of the application deadline. The Navy desires future officers to have backgrounds in either engineering or hard science majors.

NROTC Scholarship rewards students with full tuition, university fees, uniforms, a textbook stipend, and a subsistence stipend. Scholarship students participate in paid summer training periods and receive commissions in the Navy or Marine Corps Reserve as Ensigns or Second Lieutenants upon graduation. They have a minimum five-year active duty obligation after commissioning, followed by five years in the inactive reserves.

NROTC College Program

NROTC College Program students are selected from applicants each year by the Professor of Naval Science. First-year students may apply to participate in the college program at the beginning of their first or second year. College program students compete nationally for a three-year NROTC scholarship. During the sophomore year, non-scholarship students compete for "Advanced Standing". "Advanced Standing" guarantees the student a commission in the service upon graduation. Students failing to attain “Advanced Standing” are dismissed from the program. College Program students participate in one paid summer training period (between the junior and senior years) and receive commissions in the Navy or Marine Corps Reserve upon graduation. They incur a minimum five-year active duty obligation, followed by four years in the inactive reserves. College program students are furnished uniforms and naval science textbooks and a subsistence stipend during their junior and senior years.

NROTC Requirements

Members of the NROTC program are expected to achieve high academic standards, excel at physical training and be of sound moral judgment. All members of the program are required to enroll in Naval Science classes every semester and participate in morning drill and physical training. In addition, Navy Option scholarship recipients are required to take 2 semesters of Calculus and 2 semesters of Physics.

The Naval ROTC Unit sponsors many teams in campus intramural sports and many specialty organizations that represent the unit on campus and throughout Louisiana and the southern United States. If you would like to schedule a visit or have any questions, please call the NROTC Unit, Tulane University at (504)865-5104, or email NAVYADMIN@tulane.edu. Additional information may be found at http://tulanenrotc.com/.