The mission of the Department of Military Science is to train college men and women to become commissioned officers in the United States Army, Army National Guard, and United States Army Reserve.

The U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program consists of a voluntary two-year basic course (Freshman and Sophomore- no military obligation) and a two-year advanced course (Junior and Senior), which includes a five-week summer camp prior to the final year. Service veterans are eligible for academic credit (8 hours) and placement in to the advanced course if they are classified as academic juniors.

The objectives of the Army ROTC program are as follows:

1. To produce the future officer leadership of the U.S. Army
2. To provide an understanding of how the U.S. Army Reserve and the Army National Guard fit into the national defense structure.
3. To develop the leadership and managerial potential of students to facilitate their future performance as officers.
4. To develop the students’ abilities to think critically and to speak and write effectively.
5. To encourage the development of mental and moral standards that are essential to military service

Students do not “join” ROTC, they simply enroll in the ROTC courses like any other college courses. The Program is a four-year program taken in conjunction with courses that are required in a major field of study.

The ROTC Program of Instructions is divided into the Basic Course (freshmen and sophomore classes) and the Advanced Course (junior and senior classes). In addition to the lecture classes, students are also required to attend a Leadership Laboratory once a week. ROTC courses count as electives in all academic majors and may be substituted for physical education electives for non-physical education majors. Additionally, ROTC classes will not interfere with other college courses.

The Basic Course

The Basic Course includes Military Science I classes and Military Science II classes which are taught during the freshman and sophomore years. Freshmen students attend a one-hour lecture class and sophomore students attend two hours of lecture class each week. Both freshmen and sophomores attend a one-hour Leadership Laboratory one day per week. The Basic Course instruction introduces students to basic military subjects; ROTC organization and mission, military history, military rank structure, customs and courtesies of the service, organization, and functions of the military, principles, and techniques of leadership and command, and first aid. There is no military obligation for students enrolled in the Basic Course Program.

Students who complete the Basic Course are eligible to enroll in the Advanced Course which will lead to a commission as a Second Lieutenant.

The Advanced Course

The Advanced Course consists of Military Science III and Military Science IV classes and is composed of selected students who qualify for enrollment and demonstrate a definite potential for becoming effective leaders. Students classified as juniors and seniors are eligible to enroll in the Advanced Course. Both the juniors and seniors attend three hours of lecture classes each week and a one-hour Leadership Laboratory one day per week. Swimming classes, physical fitness training, and field training are also taught in the Advanced Course. Students who successfully complete the junior class attend a five-week summer internship at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

General Eligibility Requirements

All students enrolled at Jackson State University or at one of the cross-enrolled colleges, are eligible to enroll in the Army ROTC Program on the campus of Jackson State University. Cross-enrolled colleges to Jackson State University for the purpose of ROTC enrollment are: Tougaloo College, Mississippi Valley State University, Mississippi College, Millsaps College and UMC School of Nursing. Cross-enrolled students at each school except Mississippi Valley State University, must register for the class at Jackson State University under regular admission policies at their respective colleges, and they must take the ROTC classes on the campus of Jackson State University. ROTC courses are taught on the campus of Mississippi Valley State University.

There are no prerequisites to participate in the Army ROTC program. Any student who is enrolled full-time at our host school or one of our cross enrolled campuses can enroll in ROTC with no commitment to the US Army. A scholarship cadet must sign a contract and will serve their military service obligation upon graduation.

A contracted Army ROTC Cadet must:

• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Be between the ages of 17 and 26.
• Have a high school GPA of at least 2.50 or College cumulative GPA of a 2.0 (minimum)
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Meet physical standards (Pass the Army Physical Fitness Test).
• Have no medical issues preventing you from serving.
• Agree to accept a commission and serve in the Army on active duty or in a Reserve Component (Army Reserve or Army National Guard).