Armed Forces Services

Army ROTC is a program which offers qualified college students the opportunity to graduate as officers and serve tours in the U.S. Army, the Army National Guard or the U.S. Army Reserve.

The four-year program is divided into two parts called the basic course and the advanced course. The basic course, consisting of 6 credit hours, is usually taken during the first two years of college. No military obligation is incurred by enrolling in the basic course.

The advanced course, usually taken during the junior and senior years or during graduate school, involves 19 credit hours of study and a five-week Leadership Development and Assessment Course during the summer. Advanced course students incur a military obligation, and they receive up to $500.00 per month in tax-free subsistence throughout the academic year.

Army ROTC is not itself a major. Participants pursue the degree of their choice and take Army ROTC as an elective program. Those who complete the program may receive federal commissions from the President of the United States.

Army ROTC offers a military science minor. For the military science minor, the student must complete the core curriculum of 19 hours and 5 from Army ROTC electives offered from within the Department of Military Science.

The core curriculum is:

ARMY 3010, 3020, 3030, 4010, 4020, HIST 2020

Once course from each of the following categories:

ARMY 1020 or 3011

ARMY 3025 or 3026

ARMY 4015, 4016, 4025, or 4026

The military science minor, encompassing 24 credit hours, will prepare selected students for commissioning and establish a sound basis for their future professional development.

To be eligible for a commission, U. S. citizens must meet prescribed physical, intellectual, and moral standards in addition to completing Army ROTC studies and successful completion of Professional Military Education (PME) courses. These PME courses include written communication skills, military history and computer literacy. A two-year option is available for sophomore and junior students, students with prior military service (see below), and those completing a masters program.

In the Army ROTC classroom the student is exposed to a wide variety of subjects designed to instill confidence, self-discipline, integrity and responsibility. Students gain an appreciation for the role of national defense, and learn what a leader must be, know and do in order to gain the respect and support of their subordinates.

Veterans of active military service and members of the National Guard or U.S. Army Reserve may qualify to go directly into the advanced Army ROTC program if they will be an academic junior. In these cases, basic training fulfills the requirement of the first two years of ROTC (Basic Course). Academic freshmen and sophomores are not required to take basic course classes but are highly encouraged to do so. It is common for members of the National Guard to study to become commissioned officers via the ROTC program. The Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) is a formalized program for advanced course Guard members and Reservists to combine their unit training with ROTC training. In many cases the SMP program will result in increased financial benefit to the individual.

There is no military obligation for taking the basic course, freshman and sophomore years. When an individual starts the advanced course, he or she incurs an obligation. The nature of that obligation depends upon whether the individual elects to serve in the National Guard, the Army Reserve or the active Army, and whether the individual has an Army scholarship. Those who desire guard or reserve duty may contract specifically for that purpose. The guard and reserve obligation is eight years of monthly training meetings and two years of inactive ready reserve (IRR). The active duty obligation is four years Active duty, and four years of inactive ready reserve (IRR).

Army ROTC offers a variety of activities which are designed to promote an interest in the military and provide relaxing, enjoyable leisure activities for cadets.

The Cowboy Battalion has its own Ranger Challenge team, which is a varsity-level team that competes with other universities in military skills such as orienteering and soldier skills. The battalion also has a cannon crew, mounted color guard, 10-miler team, Bataan Death March team, and participates in intramural sports.

The department periodically sponsors other activities such as rapelling demonstrations, ranger weekends, battlefield tours, leadership exercises and other adventure training, such as mountaineering, land navigation exercises, patrolling and wilderness survival.

The four-year program is divided into two phases. The first two years comprise the General Military Course (GMC) consisting of one class period (1 hour) per week in the classroom and one class period (2 hours) per week in leadership laboratory. The GMC is a prerequisite for continuation in the Professional Officer Course (POC), the last two years in the program. Other prerequisites include passing the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT), maintaining at least a minimum grade point average required by the university, having the physical qualifications for an Air Force commission, and participating in a four-week field training session. The advanced course consists of one class period (3 hours) per week in the classroom and one class period (2 hours) per week in leadership laboratory.

Three-Year Program

Students may enroll in ROTC on a three or three and one-half year program where the GMC component is shorter. To complete the GMC requirements, the student must simultaneously enroll in AIR 1000 and AIR 2000 courses to complete all four academic terms of the GMC program or they can single enroll and then attend a six-week Field Training Program. The extra two weeks of Field Training duplicate the remaining academic content of the GMC program. After successfully completing the GMC program and Field Training, students may enter the two-year POC program. This program is especially suitable for sophomores and junior college transfers. Students that participated in high school Junior ROTC, or have prior-enlisted service, can apply documented participation toward a portion of the GMC requirement.

Students with prior, honorable military service or that completed the GMC program at another school and transferred to UW may complete AFROTC on a two or two and one-half year program. These students should contact the Unit Admissions Officer six months in advance of starting ROTC classes to complete the prerequisites, the admissions process, and compete for an enrollment allocation that is required to enter the POC. It is possible for students to pursue graduate studies and obtain a commission as long as the commission is attained by age 29 for students entering flight training or age 34 for non-flying students.

The concept of leadership laboratory is to provide leadership training experiences which will improve a cadet’s ability to perform as a USAF officer. Leadership laboratory is largely cadet planned and directed.

Field training is a four-week program conducted in residence at an Air Force base during the summer.  A six-week field training program is required for cadets who have not completed all GMC academic requirements.

While at field training, each cadet is provided subsistence, uniforms/equipment, and receives approximately $28.00/day plus reimbursement for travel to and from the field training base.

Freshmen and Sophomores on AFROTC scholarships receive $300 and $350, per month, respectively. Juniors enrolled in the Professional Officers Course receive $450 per month and seniors $500 per month tax-free during the school year for subsistence. Uniforms, required texts and all necessary Air Force equipment are furnished by the government. In addition, all POC and scholarship cadets are allowed to travel anywhere in the continental United States on military aircraft (on a space available basis).

Two-, three- and four-year scholarships are offered by AFROTC on a competitive basis. These scholarships pay for a $900 book allowance per year, tuition (amount dependent on type of scholarship awarded), fees and other required expenses except room and board. The university offers room awards to students who receive Air Force Scholarships and reside in university housing. Furthermore, on a limited basis, the State of Wyoming also offers room awards to Air Force ROTC cadets (who have or have not been awarded an Air Force ROTC scholarship) and reside in university housing. High School seniors seeking a four-year scholarship should contact their high school counselors or the Unit Admissions Officer, AFROTC Detachment 940, Dept. 3005, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071; telephone (307)766-3710; email at airforce.rotc@uwyo.edu, early in the fall of their senior year. Sophomore or transfer students interested in competing for a scholarship should contact the Unit Admissions Officer before the fall semester prior to junior standing.

Students enrolling in the first two years of the AFROTC Program (the General Military Course) are not obligated to military service of any kind, unless on an Air Force scholarship their sophomore year. Cadets accepting an AFROTC scholarship and those entering the Professional Officer Course become members of the inactive reserve of the United States Air Force. Upon being commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force, graduates in non-flying career fields agree to serve four years on active duty; pilot candidates agree to serve on active duty for 10 years after completion of flight training; navigator and air battle manager candidates agree to serve on active duty for six years after completion of their respective training.

To familiarize students with Air Force life and social customs, the AFROTC Program offers on a voluntary basis a wide range of extracurricular activities. Civil Air Patrol gives cadets an opportunity to experience flying first hand with a trained instructor pilot. The Arnold Air Society, a national professional honorary society, is a service organization active on campus. The color guard supports various university and local activities. Visits to Air Force bases across the nation provide insight into the function of Air Force operational units. Throughout the year, AFROTC teams participate in the university intramural sports program, while cadet-sponsored social events build the spirit of comradeship inherent in military life.