About ROTC

Army ROTC produces high quality Officers to serve in the United States Army. It is also a college elective students may try out for up to two years with no obligation.

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Cadets on run at night

Unlike traditional college courses, Army ROTC gives you a wide range of experiences while you work toward a degree.

You'll combine classroom instruction with practical experience, learning skills that are sure to give you an edge over your peers when it comes time to look for a job.

Whether you're planning a career in the Army or the corporate world, Army ROTC is a smart elective course to take.

Additionally, Seattle University's ROTC Battalion has consistently been ranked in the top 10% of the 272 College ROTC programs across the nation. 

Here we provide information for different students, including those entering right out of high school; how college second year students can find their place in Army ROTC; the opportunities to combine prior military service with your current college degree plans; and the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) for National Guard and United States Army Reserve Students.

ROTC consists of the Basic Course (first year and second year), which is the primary basis for entry into the Advanced Course (third year and fourth year), and the Advanced Course leads directly to service as an Army Officer. At the end of the second year, students who wish to enter the Advanced Course, but did not complete the Basic Course may attend the Cadet Initial Entry Training (CIET) and receive Basic Course credit. Basic Course credit is also given to students with prior military service, whether Active-Duty, National Guard or Reserve, who have completed Basic and Advanced Individual training. 

The Basic Course is designed for beginning students who want to qualify for entry into the Advanced Course and for those who want to try Military Science without obligation. You will learn basic military skills, the fundamentals of leadership, organization, and management, which will lay the groundwork toward becoming an Army leader. In addition to the Military Science classes, we offer the opportunity to participate in organized physical training (PT), Leadership Excellence Orientation Labs at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, and other challenging extracurricular activities.

The Advanced Course builds on what you learned in the Basic Course. Your third year will focus on the direct application of leadership, problem-solving, decision-making, and team-building skills through the execution of varied training events. Experienced instructors and fourth years Cadets will provide constant, performance-oriented feedback and mentoring to help you realize your potential. Your third year will culminate with your attendance at the Cadet Summer Training (CST). CST is where you will put all you have learned in the three prior years to the test. Entering the Advanced Course requires a commitment to serve as an Officer in the United States Army after you graduate. 

Army ROTC is a unique college elective. It does not take much more of your time than most other college courses. When you graduate, you'll receive a diploma and a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army.  

ROTC training goes beyond the typical college classroom. You could be leading your classmates on a tactical "mission", or taking part in outdoor adventure training designed to improve your ability to solve problems under stress. You'll learn skills you would expect to find in an Army Officer including how to motivate co-workers, cope with the unexpected, and organize and complete large complex tasks. You'll also learn skills that are in high demand in today's civilian and business world such as teamwork, tact, and effective communications. You'll learn from experienced Army Officers and noncommissioned Officers and, in time, help pass on what you've learned to newer students as well.

Whether you are a second-year student just hanging out at your dorm room or a fourth year student looking for a way to attend graduate school, Seattle University Army ROTC can provide you with an opportunity to reach your academic goals and become an Army Officer in the process. Scholarships are available. 

It's never too late to become a part of Army ROTC.

What You Can Expect

Army ROTC is an elective course that you can take with no obligation to the Army.

First year-level courses are listed in the catalog as MLSC 1010, 1020 or 1030. First year students may also apply for any available Two Year and Three Year scholarships. During your academic first year, which is considered your first year in the basic course, you will learn the basics that will help guide you on the road to becoming an Army Officer.

The following are some of the areas of emphasis for your first year:

  • Roles and Origins of the Army
  • Army Customs and Traditions
  • Branches of the Army
  • Military Operations and Tactics
  • Peer Leadership

It is not too late to enter Army ROTC or even win a two-year scholarship! You can simply attend the Cadet Initial Entry Training (CIET) and enter the advanced course as a Junior. In special cases, the basic course can be compressed into 1 year. 

Your academic second year is considered your second year in the basic course. During this year you will start to be put in leadership positions where you can pass on the knowledge from your first year to new first year students. These leadership roles will also give you the chance to begin to develop your leadership style.

The following are some of the areas of emphasis for your second year:

  • Role of the Officer and Noncommissioned Officer
  • Communications
  • Code of Conduct
  • First Aid
  • Principles of War
  • Military Operations and Tactics

What is Cadet Initial Entry Training (CIET)?

Students who are not Basic Course Qualified will attend the Cadet Initial Entry Training (CIET) at Fort Knox, Kentucky. CIET is a 28-day, all expenses paid (travel, food, lodging) Leadership Development Program that satisfies the Basic Course Requirement. Through CIET students are provided the necessary training to ensure success during the last two years for Army ROTC. 

Enrollment into the ROTC Advance course requires a basis of entry. For students with no prior military experience the options include basic course completion, Cadet Initial Entry Training (CIET) completion, the Alternate Entry Option (AEO), or four years of High School JROTC.

Advanced course

As an academic third year, you begin the advanced course, you'll put your newfound management skills to the test as you provide leadership and management to basic course Cadets. You will continue to get instruction in military tactics, ethics and professionalism. 

You will spend the summer between your junior and senior years attending Cadet Summer Training (CST). As a Cadet in the advanced course, your management skills will continue to be sharpened. You'll also teach new ROTC students what you have learned. When you graduate from college, you're ready to be a commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army.

The following are some of the areas of emphasis for your third year: 

  • Command and Staff Functions
  • Nuclear, Biochemical and Chemical Warfare
  • Law of War
  • Weapons
  • Human Behavior
  • Math Reasoning
  • Computer Science
  • Military Operations and Tactics

The two-year/graduate school scholarship is available for those who have two academic years of college remaining. If you are a Senior looking for a way to attend graduate school, Seattle University Army ROTC can provide you with an opportunity to reach your academic goals and become an Army Officer in the process.

For more information: Go Army Scholarships

If you are currently on Active Duty and have completed two years of Active Duty before school starts and are accepted by a college or university as either a freshman, sophomore or junior, you can compete for an Active Duty Option Green to Gold four-, three-or two-year scholarship.

Seattle University Army ROTC provides you opportunities to combine your prior military experience with the college degree you are currently pursuing.

What benefits do I get from being prior service?

The first two years of Army ROTC are not required for students who served on Active Duty or who are currently serving in the National Guard/Army Reserve. Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training take the place of the ROTC Basic Course. This means if you're accepted to school as a junior, you are only two years away from re-entering the Army as a newly commissioned Second Lieutenant.

If you are pursuing your undergraduate or graduate degree, did you know the only thing standing in your way of becoming an officer is completing two years of Army ROTC?

Regardless of which unit you drill with, Seattle University Army ROTC is a great place to further your military education and career.
With the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP), you can continue to drill with your unit and be part of the Seattle University Army ROTC program. You will serve as an "Officer-in-Training," shadowing another officer or serving as an actual Platoon Leader. You will be paid in the grade of E-5 and you will become non-deployable in order to complete your schooling and subsequent commissioning without interruption.

If you want to stay in the Reserves or National Guard after graduation there are Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) 2-year, 2.5-year, 3-year, and Dedicated ARNG Two Year Scholarships.

Frequently Asked Questions

The service commitment upon completion of the ROTC Advanced Course and graduation from college is 8 years in total. Scholarship recipients, if selected for Active-Duty, must spend at least four years in full-time Active-Duty status, and may spend their remaining obligation in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). (Non-scholarship graduates will spend three years on Active-Duty and 5 years in the IRR.)

Some Cadets may choose to serve their 8 years working part-time in the US Army Reserve or Army National Guard (in any state or territory of their choosing) while pursuing a civilian career.

Enrolling in the Army ROTC Basic Course (the first two years of college) is not the same as “joining the Army” and does NOT involve a commitment of service to the Army unless you have received an Army ROTC Scholarship and/or a contract. However, the primary purpose of Army ROTC is to produce quality Army Officers. Students must agree to serve as Army Officers (commissioned as Second Lieutenants) upon graduation once contracted. 

Military Science classes at Seattle University involve an elective course taken each quarter which includes typical classroom work as well as hands-on field work. In addition, our ROTC Cadets meet Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 0600-0700 in the Redhawk Center Astro-Gym or outside on campus to participate in a physical training regimen. Additionally, one weekend per academic quarter is spent doing hands-on field training at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. 

Academics are a priority for all ROTC Cadets. We know that being a student comes first and our Cadre members work closely with Seattle University faculty and staff to ensure that our Cadets succeed in all of their courses.