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ROTC

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At Carroll College, the ROTC program can pay for your college tuition. Army ROTC is an elective, so you can participate during your freshman and sophomore years without any obligation to join the Army.

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The Program

The ROTC program at Carroll gives you the tools, training, and experience that will help you succeed in any competitive environment. The curriculum is elective and you are allowed to take your courses alongside your required college classes.

The ROTC program at Carroll is neither a major nor a minor. All cadets who seek a commission must graduate with one of Carroll College’s recognized majors. Cadets may enroll in a minor program if they choose or take any elective classes. If the student completes all ROTC requirements and Military Science classes, they will receive an additional minor in leadership.

ROTC Students in class

Why Carroll?

At Carroll, the ROTC program can pay for your college tuition. While participating, you'll experience the full college life on campus, as you can join clubs and team sports and take part in community service projects. After graduating, you will be commissioned as an officer in the Army with a wide range of specializations.

Courses and Student Learning Objectives

In addition to classes, and to adhere to ROTC requirements, cadets will participate in the following courses:

  • Field Training Exercise (FTX): For one week, each semester, cadets will practice squad tactics, land navigation, and important cadet training in a forested area.
  • Leader’s Training Course: A four-week summer course at Fort Knox, KY, ONLY for students who enroll in Army ROTC without having taken the first two years of Military Science classes.
  • Cadet Leadership Course: All cadets who enter the Advanced Course must attend this four-week summer course at Fort Knox, KY, between their junior and senior years.
  • Other students enrolled in the ROTC program may participate in the FTX if they choose. The FTXs are completed with our Army ROTC host school at the University of Montana Grizzly Battalion.

Professional Educational Outcomes

You'll graduate with the skills necessary to lead. The ROTC program at Carroll College is set to produce students who have:

  • The leadership skills to meet problems head-on and solve them quickly.
  • The ability to adapt to rapidly changing situations and take charge.
  • The traits sought are in a military career and by civilian employers.
Tug Smith
From Nelson Stadium, to ROTC labs, Tug Smith’s Carroll Adventure is full of perseverance and community.

Program Highlights

ROTC courses are either categorized as a Basic Course (Freshman and Sophomore courses) or Advance Course (Junior and Senior courses). Any student may take Basic Courses and physical fitness classes without military obligation or prerequisites. Advance Course classes are limited to qualified contracted students. Commissioning Requirements coming soon.

Typically, with an ROTC scholarship, students take one three-credit class (2 to 3 hours per week), one workshop/leadership laboratory per week, and one overnight field exercise per semester in addition to their other classes. ROTC requirements also have students participate in physical fitness training (5 hours per week). The program provides opportunities to attend confidence-building courses during the summer such as the Air Assault or Airborne Schools, and summer internships.

Army ROTC classes normally involve one elective class and one lab per semester. Although the classes involve hands-on fieldwork and classroom work, they are standard college classes that fit into a normal academic schedule. These courses can help students with personal and academic decision-making while giving them the tools to exercise leadership in college life, even before graduating and becoming Officers.

I want to become a leader today

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Frequently Asked Questions

Carroll’s ROTC program offers two, three, and four-year scholarships, which pay full tuition and fees. Carroll College graciously covers room and board at the basic rate and the scholarship includes a separate $600/semester allowance for books and a monthly stipend of $420/month. Army ROTC scholarships are not retroactive.

Scholarships and stipends in Army ROTC help you focus on what's important. Namely, getting that college degree — not how you'll pay for it.  Scholarships are awarded based on a student's merit and grades, not financial need.

Carroll ROTC scholarships

  • Two-, three-, and four-year scholarship options
  • Full-tuition and fees scholarships
  • Additional allowances for books and materials
  • Carroll provides a partial room and board grant (for students who submit a Federal FAFSA before December 1 yearly).

Living Expenses

Army ROTC scholarships also provide a monthly living allowance of $420 per month during the school year.

Contracted students can also earn an additional $1,000 a month by participating in the Simultaneous Membership Program through the Montana Army National Guard or U.S. Army Reserve.semester allowance

For High School students, apply through the online Financial Aid 4-year Scholarship application. All other applications for 2 to 3.5 year scholarships, contact CPT Clark for application materials.

Yellow Ribbon Program

Veterans who are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill may qualify for the Yellow Ribbon program. Under this program, Carroll will contribute up to 50% of the remaining tuition after GI Bill benefits. For more information, visit our Yellow Ribbon program page.

SMP Program

The Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) allows enlisted National Guard and Reserve soldiers to continue to serve and drill while enrolled in ROTC. In addition to the ROTC stipends and book allowance, SMP Cadets will receive their drill pay at an E-5 rate. Educational assistance is available in the form of Tuition Assistance and the GI BIll.

2- and 3-year GRFD/SMP scholarships may be available. Contact our faculty for more information.

The Army ROTC program is one of the only college programs that teaches leadership. This training is invaluable for any career that involves leading, managing, and motivating people or fostering teamwork. Young Army Officers are typically responsible for hundreds of soldiers and millions of dollars in equipment; this kind of management experience can be very appealing for post-Army employers, opening the door to a range of career opportunities for you that include:

  • Public Affairs Specialist 
  • Special Forces Medical Sergeant 
  • Commissioned Officer Candidate 
  • Computer/Detection Systems Repairer 
  • Criminal Investigations Special Agent 
  • Engineer Officer 
  • Air Traffic Control Operator

See the cost of attendance information for full-time students.

Students with different financial backgrounds choose to attend Carroll College every year. There are many ways to fund your college experience and invest in your education and future. 

Find Out More

We are happy to answer any questions you may have! Request information or call us at (406) 447-4384.

Army ROTC Cadets are allowed to major in nearly all academic areas.

Yes. Selected Cadets may choose to serve part-time in the U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard while pursuing a civilian career. For more details, see: Active Duty & Army Reserve or the Army National Guard website.

Starting by exploring the Army experience from our Home Page is a great start.

  • Army ROTC Cadets have the same lifestyles and academic schedules as any other college students. They join fraternities and sororities. They participate in varsity team and individual sports. They take part in community service projects. But there are two intensive Army ROTC courses that take place on Army Posts, usually during the summer: 
  • Leader's Training Course—This four-week summer course at Fort Knox, KY is ONLY for students who enroll in Army ROTC without having taken the first two years of military science classes. 
  • Cadet Leadership Course—All Cadets who enter the Advanced Course must attend this four-week summer course at Fort Knox, KY between their junior and senior years.

Enrolling in Army ROTC is not, strictly speaking, "joining the Army." You will not be sent to "boot camp." However, the primary purpose of the Army ROTC program is to produce its Officers, so young adults must agree to serve as Officers in the Army after graduation in order to go through the entire program, or if they have received an ROTC scholarship. Enrolling in the ROTC Basic Course (the first two years of college) does NOT obligate someone to serve unless they have also received a scholarship. For more details, see: Service Commitment.

Army ROTC classes normally involve one elective class and one lab per semester. Although the classes involve hands-on fieldwork as well as classroom work, they are standard college classes that fit into a normal academic schedule. These courses can help students with personal and academic decision-making while giving them the tools to exercise leadership in college life, even before graduating and becoming Officers. For more details, see: Curriculum.

It depends on the Army branch the Cadet chooses and the unit to which he/she is assigned. However, Army missions and challenges are always changing, so there's no way to know in advance which specialties and units will be needed where. All Soldiers in the Army or Army Reserve face the possibility of deployment at some point during their careers. But all Soldiers are fully trained and proficient in the tasks and drills of their units. And Officers are specifically trained to make the right decisions so that missions can be carried out safely and successfully.

Army ROTC is one of the only college programs that teaches leadership. This training is invaluable for any career that involves leading, managing and motivating people or fostering teamwork. Young Army Officers are typically responsible for hundreds of Soldiers and millions of dollars in equipment; this kind of management experience can be very attractive for post-Army employers. For more details, see: About Army ROTC.

Scholarship winners must serve for four years; non-scholarship Cadets who enroll in the ROTC Advanced Course must serve for three years. All who graduate and complete ROTC training are commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the U.S. Army. For more details, see: Service Commitment.

Army ROTC graduates are commissioned as U.S. Army Second Lieutenants. They then receive specialized training in one of 17 different Army branches. During their Army careers, they'll receive regular professional training as they advance through the ranks, and they'll have many opportunities for advanced leadership positions and post-graduate education.

Army ROTC offers two-, three- and four-year scholarships, which pay full tuition and fees. Carroll College graciously covers room and board at the basic rate and the scholarship includes a separate $600/semester allowance for books and a monthly stipend of $420/month. Army ROTC scholarships are not retroactive.

The Army offers a wider range of career opportunities, in more places around the world, than any other U.S. military branch.

Ask an ROTC Professor