Reserve Officers' Training Corps'
General Military Science Program

Purpose
The senior ROTC program at LSU in Shreveport is voluntary. Successful completion of ROTC will qualify students who desire to serve their country to be commissioned as officers in the Army (on active duty), the U.S. Army Reserve or the Army National Guard upon graduation. Students may minor in but not major in Military Science.

Four-Year Program
The four-year program is divided into two parts: (1) Basic Course, first two years and (2) Advanced Course, including summer camp, last two years.

The Basic Course consists of classroom instruction for a minimum of one hour and a two-hour laboratory per week. With permission of the Professor of Military Science (PMS) students may substitute Physical Education activity courses in lieu of the military laboratory. No commitment is incurred by students who enroll in the Basic Course.

The Advanced Course consists of classroom instruction for a minimum of two hours per week, a two-hour laboratory for two academic years, and attendance at a four-week summer camp, normally between the junior and senior academic year. Advanced Course students are required to do physical training three hours per week as part of the laboratory. Also, Advanced Course students must take at least one course from each of the following academic areas: Written Communications skills, Military History, Computer Literacy, Mathematics, and Human Behavior (Social Science or Psychology). Specific requirements are available from the Military Science Department.
 

Two-Year Program
The two-year program allows qualified sophomores and juniors to enter the Advanced Course program in one of three ways:

1.  Completion of the Basic ROTC Summer Camp (MILS 207) in the summer before their junior year.
2. Honorably discharged prior service students, who were eligible to reenlist and who will be under the age of 30 on the date of commissioning and/or graduation.
3. Current members of the Army Reserve or Army National Guard who enroll in the Simultaneous Membership Program(SMP).

Enrollment
To be eligible for enrollment in the Basic Course, a student must:

1. Be accepted by the University as a full-time enrolled student.
2. Be at least 17 years of age at time of enrollment.

1. Be a citizen of the U.S.
2. Be physically qualified under standards prescribed by the Department of the Army.
3. Be enrolled as a full-time student.
4. Apply for admission into the Advanced Course.
5. Be accepted by the Professor of Military Science.
6. Be at least 17 and not more than 27 years of age at the time of enrollment and graduate before the age of 30. (Age waivers to age 34 are possible for exceptional students.)
7. Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.
8. Have completed the ROTC Basic Course or equivalent as listed under the two-year program.
9. Be classified as an academic junior by the University.

Scholarship Program
Two-, three-, and four-year Army ROTC scholarships as well as civic scholarships provide financial assistance for qualified and selected students who exhibit strong motivation toward careers as officers in the United States Army. An Army ROTC scholarship will pay all tuition expenses, $225 per semester for books, mandatory laboratory expenses (except Aviation fees), and provides a stipend of $150 per month during enrollment.

To apply for an ROTC Scholarship, the student must:

1. Display a strong desire for a career as an officer in the Regular Army.
2. Be a citizen of the U.S.
3. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 and an ACT score of 19 or higher.
4. Be at least 17 years of age by October of the year in which the application is made.
5. Pass the U.S. Army Officer physical entrance examination.
6. Agree to accept a commission if offered.
7. Agree to serve at least three years on active duty.

Commissions
Upon completion of the Advanced Course and graduation from the University, a student may be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant to serve on active duty or be offered a commission in the U.S. Army Reserve or National Guard. Commissions in the Army Reserve or National Guard can be guaranteed to individuals who express this preference. A delay to enter into active duty may be granted to students who desire to pursue full-time courses of instruction leading toward advanced degrees. Commissionees incur an eight year service commitment. Nonscholarship students can serve on active duty or serve in the National Guard or Reserves in an active or inactive status, or any combination thereof totaling eight years. Scholarship students are expected to serve on active duty for four years with a three- or four-year scholarship or three years with a two-year scholarship.
 

Uniforms, Texts, and Equipment
The government lends all uniforms, texts and equipment required at each level of the program. (These items must be returned upon leaving the ROTC program at LSU in Shreveport or upon commissioning.)

Allowances
Advanced Course students and ROTC Scholarship recipients receive non-taxable subsistence pay of $150 per month during the school year and one-half of a second lieutenant's pay (approx. $800.00) during ROTC summer camp. All travel expenses are reimbursed and room and board is provided during camp.
 

Special Summer Training
Special 3-4 week summer training opportunities are available to selected Basic Course and/or Advanced Course students who volunteer and are qualified. This training includes Airborne School, Air Assault School, Northern Warfare School, Mountain Warfare, and the Cadet Troop Leader Training Program. Travel expenses, room and board are provided for these U.S. Army Schools.
 

Distinguished Achievement
Distinguished Military Student is selected by the Chancellor of the University and the Professor of Military Science. To be selected the student must:

1. Be in the second year of the Advanced Course in Military Science.
2. Possess outstanding qualities of leadership.
3. Possess high moral character.
4. Exhibit a definite aptitude for military service.
5. Demonstrate leadership ability through various academic and non-academic accomplishments.
6. Be in the upper third of their military science class.
7. Be in the upper half of the university academically.

Those Distinguished Military Students who have completed the Advanced ROTC Course may be designated, upon graduation, as Distinguished Military Graduates by the Professor of Military Science, with the approval of the Chancellor of the University. Distinguished Military Graduates may be tendered commissions in the Regular Army of the United States. The Department of the Army encourages newly commissioned officers to pursue advanced degrees and permits qualified officers to enroll in accredited graduate schools before going on active duty. Under some conditions, the Army finances graduate study and provides full pay and allowances while the officer pursues an advanced degree.