Reserve Officers Training Corps

The Reserve Officers Training Corps program at LSU continues the military heritage that has been part of this institution since 1860.

The Army and Air Force ROTC programs are offered for men and women. Through a cross-enrollment agreement between LSU, Southern University, Southeastern University in Hammond, and Baton Rouge Community College, LSU students may also participate in the Naval ROTC at Southern University and A&M College. LSU students in this program take their major courses at LSU and attend Naval ROTC courses at Southern University. Upon graduation, students are commissioned as Ensigns in the United States Navy or 2nd Lieutenants in the United States Marine Corps. Participation in these programs is optional. These programs develop selected college-educated students for positions of responsibility and leadership in the U.S. armed forces and offer students an educational experience not otherwise available at this university.

Military Science and Aerospace Studies are the titles of the Army and Air Force ROTC programs, respectively. Military science, aerospace studies, and naval science are recognized electives, and students may choose to pursue Army, Air Force, or Navy curricula. Prior to graduation, Army ROTC cadets must take courses in military history and pass a combat water survival test.

Army ROTC conducts two- and four-year programs and Air Force ROTC traditionally conducts three- and four- year programs. By exception, students may compete for an opportunity to participate in a 1 or 2-year Air Force ROTC program. Successful completion of any of these programs will result in the student being offered a commission in the appropriate service. In addition, scholarship programs that cover university fees, books, laboratory fees, and related academic expenses along with a monthly subsistence allowance are available for selected students. Students enrolled in the Army ROTC program may compete for scholarships of two, three, three and one half, or four year duration. Students enrolled in Air Force ROTC may compete for scholarships of two, three, three and one half, or four year duration.

Eligibility

In order to be considered for enrollment in an ROTC program, a student:

• must be full-time;
• must be a U.S. citizen or an applicant for naturalization;
• must have good moral character as required by military regulations;
• (for the advanced program) must be physically qualified to participate as prescribed by the Department of Defense;
• must be at least 14 years of age upon enrollment in the Air Force ROTC program, at least 17 years of age upon enrollment in the Army ROTC program, and at least 17 years of age upon enrollment in the Naval ROTC program;
• must be under 30 years of age at the time of commissioning (selected cases may be waived to age 35); for Army ROTC and Naval ROTC, and under 32 years of age (may be waived to age 42) for the Air Force ROTC program; and
• must take and sign the Oath of Allegiance.

Four-Year Program

The four-year program is divided into two phases–the freshman/sophomore phase and the junior/senior phase. These two phases are officially called the Basic and Advanced Course by the Army; the Air Force designates them as the General Military Course and the Professional Officer Course. Students who have completed the freshman/sophomore phase may apply for the junior/senior phase. Selection for enrollment into the latter is made from those who have demonstrated that they possess the qualities necessary to qualify for a commission.

Veterans and students who had junior ROTC training while in high school may be granted placement credit for the freshman and sophomore phase and may enter the junior and senior phase if their application is approved by the Professor of Military Science. For Air Force ROTC, you must have one year of ROTC in order to compete for entry into the Professional Officer Course.

Military Obligation

Except for ROTC scholarship cadets or contract cadets, LSU students do not incur a military obligation by enrolling in the Army ROTC Basic Course or the Air Force ROTC General Military Course. Naval ROTC members not under scholarship are referred to as College Programmers, and do not incur a military obligation, but are able to be commissioned upon graduation if they have satisfied requirements and wish to become officers.

One-Year and Two-Year Program

The two-year program extends the advantages of ROTC to junior-college graduates, transfer students, graduate students, and LSU students who did not enroll in the freshman/sophomore phase. For Army cadets, upon successful completion of a five-week summer training period, the student applying for the two-year program may enter the junior/senior phase. For Air Force ROTC, depending on the needs of the Department of the Air Force, AFROTC may establish abbreviated programs to include 1- or 2-year AFROTC programs. These programs are intended for university students who are within one or two years of degree completion, including AFROTC classes.

Army ROTC Summer Training

Army ROTC Advanced Course cadets attend a five-week camp between the junior and senior years of college. At this camp, cadets receive training and evaluation in troop leadership, marksmanship, land navigation, small unit tactics, physical training, and adventure training. In addition to this camp, cadets have the opportunity to attend Airborne School, Air Assault School, Northern Warfare School, and Cadet Troop Leadership Training.

Air Force Field Training

Air Force ROTC field training is offered during the summer months between your sophomore and junior years. It is located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Students participate in a two week long field training program prior to enrollment in the Professional Officer Course. The major areas of study in the two-week field training program include drill and ceremonies, career orientation, survival training, expeditionary leadership activities, and physical training.

Army Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)

This program combines service in the Army National Guard or U.S. Army Reserve with enrollment in the Army ROTC program. It is open to eligible Guardsmen and Reservists who have attained sophomore academic standing. ROTC cadets also may enter this program after entering the Advanced Course. SMP participants will attend ROTC instruction and train with their military unit one weekend per month and two weeks in summer.

SMP participants will receive the ROTC subsistence allowance, plus the equivalent of a sergeant’s pay for the monthly drill attendance and two weeks annual training. They will also receive the tuition exemption extended to all Louisiana residents in the Louisiana Army National Guard who maintain a 2.00 GPA. At the end of the Advanced ROTC program, these students will apply for commissions in the Active Army, Army National Guard, or the Army Reserve.

Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps

Through a cross-enrollment agreement between LSU and Southern University, LSU students are eligible to enroll as midshipmen in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) and earn a commission in the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps. There is no additional cost to full-time LSU students to cross-enroll in the NROTC program. Scholarship students incur no obligation while participating in their first year. Full tuition scholarships and monthly stipends are available to college students enrolled in the program who demonstrate satisfactory academic performance and aptitude for commissioned service.

Scholarship midshipmen are required to complete two semesters of calculus (MATH 1550  and MATH 1552 ) and two semesters of calculus-based  physics (PHYS 2110  and either PHYS 2112  or PHYS 2113 ). All midshipmen are required to take Naval Science courses at Southern University.

Naval ROTC offers a wide range of career opportunities in the Navy including naval aviation; submarine warfare, surface, and special warfare. Marine options are eligible to commission into combat arms, aviation, or combat service support branches.

Information on the Naval Science curriculum and a listing of Naval Science courses may be found in the Southern University catalog. Additional details may be obtained from the Professor of Naval Science/Commanding Officer, NROTC Unit, Southern University, P. O. Box 9214, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70813; 225-771-2898; FAX 225-774-3604.