AFROTC Admission & Entry Requirements

Entry Standards

Army ROTC requires committed, motivated students who are ready to take on the challenges of military training alongside their college coursework. It’s a demanding program, but it’s designed to help you succeed both academically and as a future leader in the U.S. Army. Review the following entry requirements to assess your readiness:

  • Academic Requirements: Maintain a strong academic record with a minimum GPA (specific to your school’s requirements).
  • Physical Fitness Standards: You must meet Army physical fitness standards. Regular fitness assessments are part of the program.
  • Age Requirements: You must be at least 17 years old to begin and under 31 in the calendar year of commissioning.
  • Citizenship: U.S. citizenship is required to apply for Army ROTC.
Program Structure

The Army ROTC program is divided into two primary phases to ensure students are well-prepared for leadership roles:

  • Basic Course (Freshmen & Sophomores): This phase focuses on the fundamentals of leadership, military skills, and physical fitness. You’ll complete classroom instruction and field exercises that introduce you to the Army’s structure and values.
  • Advanced Course (Juniors & Seniors): In this phase, you will build on your leadership skills and tactical knowledge. You will assume greater responsibilities and leadership roles within your ROTC unit, preparing you for commissioning as an officer in the U.S. Army.
Benefits

One of the first questions about ROTC is “Why should I join?” One big reason is that ROTC offers educational benefits and valuable training while still allowing students to have the full college experience.

  • Education & Financial Benefits
    • Students who join ROTC can apply for a scholarship. The scholarship covers full or partial cost of tuition, fees and books as well as a monthly stipend for four years. These benefits are in exchange for mandatory active-duty service after completing ROTC. Academic advisors and on-campus ROTC recruiters will be able to answer questions about these benefits and expectations.
    • In exchange for a service commitment, Army ROTC can provide a two-, three- or four-year scholarship, which is based on the time remaining to complete a degree. The four-year curriculum combines classroom and leadership work. During the summer between junior and senior years, there is a four-week Advanced Camp (AC) at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Upon graduation from college and successful completion of AC, they are commissioned as officers in their choice of the Army, Army Reserve or Guard.
    • Those who do not complete the requirements of instruction during the freshman and sophomore years must participate in a four-week training camp, called Basic Camp (also at Fort Knox), except for those who have previously completed any Service-enlisted Basic Training course or have completed a certified Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program. Once Basic Camp is completed, participants are eligible to receive the same benefits as individuals in the four-year program.
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  • Professional Development
    • ROTC provides the opportunity to develop a professional foundation of technical and leadership skills that can benefit your future no matter what you decide to do. The program provides a structured, proven path to a career after college, including long-term guidance and continued professional education.
  • Becoming an Officer
    • When students accept an ROTC scholarship, complete the program and graduate from their college or university, they are commissioned as officers in the Military. Officers oversee and are directly responsible for leading service members under them in the chain of command. Typically, officers are employed in management roles or highly specialized fields that require professional degrees.
Top College ROTC Majors
  • Criminal justice
  • Engineering
  • Computer science
  • Nursing
  • Education
  • Cybersecurity
  • Business
  • Social work
  • Psychology
  • Information technology