Benedict College offers Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) through a crosstown agreement with the University of South Carolina Gamecock Batallion in the following branches of the military: Army, Air Force, and Navy.
Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (AROTC)
Mission
The mission of the program is to provide basic military education and, in conjunction with other college disciplines, to develop individual character and attributes essential to any Army Officer. Benedict College offers an Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program to all qualified students on a voluntary basis through a partnership agreement with the University of South Carolina. classroom instruction for military science courses on the University of South Carolina campus.
All students who are interested in ROTC are encouraged to pursue Basic Course ROTC studies for a period of two (2) years as an elective. Students of the College who successfully complete the Basic Course may apply for admission to the Advanced Course ROTC, which is pursued during the final two years of their college enrollment. Those students who elect not to enroll in the Basic Course may also apply for admission into the Advanced Course but must successfully complete a four-week basic summer camp between their second and third years of college. Students who have Reserve, National Guard or active-duty military service experience may apply for advanced placement in the program once they are academically aligned.
Requirements for enrollment in Basic Course ROTC:
- Be a regularly enrolled student of the College.
- Be morally qualified as prescribed by the Department of the Army.
- Sign a loyalty oath.
Requirements for enrollment in Advanced Course ROTC:
- Be a citizen of the United States.
- Be at least 17 years of age.
- Successfully complete the first two years of a 4-year ROTC course; or complete a basic summer camp of 4 weeks duration; or receive credit in lieu of or as a result of previous military service.
- Basic summer camp is held for new cadets between the second and third year of school.
- Be eligible to qualify for appointment as Second Lieutenant prior to reaching 30 years (non-veterans) of age.
- Be selected by the Professor of Military Science.
- Agree to accept a commission if offered and serve for the period prescribed. Enlist in the Army Reserve; secure parents’ or guardian’s consent if under age 18. Satisfactorily comply with loyalty requirements.
- Meet all requirements prescribed by the Department of the Army.
- All Army ROTC classes and trainings are held at the University of South Carolina and transportation is provided to University of South Carolina and other training areas.
Scholarships
The Army ROTC Scholarship Program is designed to offer financial assistance to outstanding young men and women who meet all qualifications and are interested in the Army as a career. The three-year scholarship may be offered to rising sophomores who have completed one year of Army ROTC Training. The two-year scholarship is offered to students in their sophomore year who will complete two years of Army ROTC Training and plan to enter the Advanced Course.
General Information
All ROTC students enrolled in the Advanced Course receive pay and student stipends that total over $9,000.00 during their junior and senior years. The student stipends are provided only during the months they are enrolled in school.
Summer Camp Training
ROTC students enrolled in the Advanced Course attend a six-week advanced camp training period at the Department of the Army Selected Army training camps between the third and fourth years of Military Science. Students applying for admission into the advanced course without having completed the Basic Course are required to attend a four-week basic camp between their second and third year of college in addition to the four-week camp mentioned above.
- Basic Camp: Designed for cadets who’ve missed a portion of the basic Army ROTC classes. This camp will give cadets the basic knowledge of the 1st and 2nd years of ROTC.
- Advanced Camp: A six-week camp, designed for students who’ve completed the basic courses and requirements of Army ROTC and are preparing to enter their 4th year of ROTC. Advanced Camp, unlike Basic Camp, is a competitive camp and the cadets are evaluated on their leadership abilities based on the training they’ve completed during the ROTC Basic course.
Simultaneous Membership Program (ROTC/SMP)
The ROTC/SMP is a voluntary officer training program which requires Reserve Component (USAR) or National Guard (NG) enlisted status for eligibility. It is an enlistment option available to prior and non-prior service applicants qualified for enlistment in the USAR or NG who can meet the criteria for enrollment in the ROTC Advanced Course. The ROTC/SMP program allows cadets to participate with a reserve component unit during weekend Inactive Duty for Training assemblies and two-week Annual Training (normally during the summer months) performing the duties of a commissioned officer under the supervision of a commissioned officer. ROTC/SMP provides cadets with pay in the grade of E5 (Sergeant) as well as ROTC pay, plus advanced leadership training with USAR/NG units.
Uniforms and Equipment
The necessary training equipment, including uniforms and textbooks, is loaned to the College by the Department of the Army and issued to ROTC students by the College at no extra cost. Each student is responsible for the care and maintenance of equipment issued to him or her. All uniforms, less specified pieces, must be turned in before leaving for the summer or earlier if a student drops any ROTC course. If students fail to turn in all assigned equipment, the University of South Carolina will place a hold on their transcripts/records.
Grading
The system of grading utilized by the instructors of Military Science is similar to that used in academic departments and conforms to that prescribed by the College.
Academic Credit
Academic credit toward the granting of a degree is given for the completion of military courses on the same basis as for non-military courses. With permission of the student’s advisor, department head and the Vice President for Academic Affairs, military science courses may be taken in lieu of other social science courses to help satisfy the College’s General Education requirements. MS 232 U.S. Military History and MS 431 Theory and Dynamics of Military I are particularly suitable courses.
Distinguished Military Students and Graduates
Outstanding students are designated as Distinguished Military Students at the beginning of the fourth year of Military Science. These students may apply for commissions in the Regular Army. Upon graduation, if these students have continued to remain outstanding, they may be designated as Distinguished Military Graduates. They then are eligible for consideration and appointments as Regular Army Officers by the Department of the Army.
Program of Instruction
The general objective of the course of instruction is to produce quality junior officers who, by their education, training, and inherent qualities, are suitable for continued development as officers in the United States Army. Instruction will cover military fundamentals common to all branches of the service. The complete course of instruction comprises four years with not less than 30 hours of instruction in each of the first two years of the course and 60 hours of instruction in each of the last two years of the course.
- In the first year of the Basic Course, instruction consists of 3 hours per week: 1 hour lecture and 2 hours leadership laboratory.
- In the second year of the basic course, instruction consists of 4 hours per week: 2 hours lecture and 2 hours leadership laboratory.
- In the two years of the Advanced Course, instruction consists of 5 hours per week: 3 hours of classroom instruction and 2 hours leadership laboratory.
Special courses and drill formations may be held as deemed appropriate and necessary by the Professor of Military Science with the concurrence of the College administration.
Clubs, Organizations and Special Programs in the Military Science Department
Each year, over 800 special training opportunities are extended to cadets through the Cadet Professional Development Training (CPDT) program. The CPDT program supplements campus training with practical leader development experiences and some additional skill identifier awarding courses. Cadets train in Army schools and with Active and Reserve units. CPDT consists of two subprograms, Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT) and Cadet Practical Field Training (CPFT).
Cadet Leader’s Training Course (CLTC)
Location: Fort Knox, Kentucky. CLTC is four weeks of intense classroom and field training held in the summer at Fort Knox, KY. This course is an accelerated version of the two years of leadership development training Cadets receive in the Basic Course. By transforming yourself through rigorous training, you will qualify for enrollment in Advanced Army ROTC on campus - provided you have two years of college remaining (undergraduate or graduate).
The benefits of this leadership training will extend well beyond your college years into any career field you choose. You may even qualify for a two-year scholarship that may take care of your college tuition and many other expenses. For more information, go to the CLTC Website: http://www.goarmy.com/rotc/leaders_training.jsp.
Basic Airborne School (BAC)
Location: Fort Benning, GA. The Basic Airborne Course is a three-week training program conducted by the Airborne Department, USAIC, Fort Benning, GA that trains students in the use of the parachute as a means of combat deployment. Successful completion qualifies cadets to wear the Parachutist Badge.
Students begin their first week on the ground, learning the basics of parachute landings and start a vigorous training program. During the second week, called tower week, proper exiting of the plane will be mastered. As a cadet, you will then be given the opportunity to parachute from a 250-foot-high tower. The third and final week is the jump week. Cadets make five jumps from either a C-130 or C-141, including one night jump and two combat jumps with full combat gear.
Air Assault School (AAS)
Location: Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. The AAS is a 10-day course of instruction that trains cadets on Combat Assault Operations involving associated equipment and U.S. Army rotary-wing aircraft. Successful completion qualifies cadets to wear the Air Assault Badge.
This course is available at several installations, but the largest is located at the air assault home of Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. This course is very demanding both physically and mentally, involving obstacle courses and several long foot/ruck marches. You will learn the basics of aircraft familiarization and recognition, sling load operations, and rappelling.
Cultural Understanding and Language Proficiency (CULP)
Primarily following their sophomore year, CULP enables Cadets to spend one month in support of Army Security Cooperation programs for U.S. Embassies worldwide, including military exercises, humanitarian aid missions, and military to military contacts. During the summer of 2014, the Gamecock Battalion Cadets supported military missions in Thailand, Ukraine, Africa and Kosovo. All participants are required to complete a short research paper and presentation on a topic related to their country of study, in addition to their practical field work.
Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT)
CTLT provides select advanced camp graduates the opportunity to increase their leadership experience through assignments to platoon leadership positions with active-duty Army units for 3 or 4 weeks. This challenge is a definite learning experience, allowing you to gain a perspective on what you will be facing as a future officer. Generally, you are placed in a platoon leader position, leading 30+ soldiers and responsible for millions of dollars of equipment. While there, the cadet will enhance leadership skills and learn tasks associated with being an officer in the Army. If a cadet is assigned to a unit on jump status, and the cadet is already Airborne qualified, the cadet may participate in unit jumps on a permissive basis with approval by the Commanding General and Cadet Command. The cadet receives an Officer Evaluation Report (OER) upon completion.
Nurse Summer Training Program (NSTP)
This training is only available to nurse cadets and provides opportunities to develop and practice a clinical phase of instruction at Army Medical Command Treatment Facilities worldwide. The cadets receive an OER upon completion.
Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC)
Mission
AFROTC is a nationwide program that allows students to pursue commissions (become officers) in the United States Air Force (USAF) while simultaneously attending college. AFROTC classes are held on college campuses throughout the United States and Puerto Rico; students can register through normal course registration processes. AFROTC consists of four years of Aerospace Studies classes (Foundations of the USAF, Evolution of USAF and Space Power, Air Force Leadership Studies, and National Security Affairs/Preparation for Active-Duty), and a corresponding Leadership Laboratory for each year (where students apply leadership skills, demonstrate command and effective communication, develop physical fitness, and practice military customs and courtesies). College students enrolled in the AFROTC program (known as “cadets”) who successfully complete both AFROTC training and college degree requirements will graduate and simultaneously commission as Second Lieutenants in the Active-Duty Air Force.
The AFROTC program is currently offered at the University of South Carolina, but they have a crosstown agreement that allows Benedict College students to enroll in AFROTC and become full-fledged cadet participants.
Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC)
Mission
The Navy ROTC Program was established to develop midshipmen mentally, morally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty and loyalty, and with the core values of honor, courage and commitment in order to commission college graduates as naval officers who possess a basic professional background, are motivated towards careers in the naval service, and have a potential for future development in mind and character so as to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.
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