Military Science
Entering the Program
Army ROTC is open to all full-time undergraduate and graduate students at Boston University. Although it is primarily a four-year program, students may enter at any point in their academic careers, provided they have two years of full-time University study remaining before graduation. A two-year accelerated program is designed for juniors, transfer students, and graduate students. Advanced placement may be awarded for prior military service. Students who choose to enter ROTC after the sophomore year attend the annual Leader Training Course (LTC). This is a five-week summer program designed to develop leadership skills in order to continue in the advanced program as a junior and a senior. At LTC cadets will participate in Leadership Development, Military Skills, and Adventure Training.
Cadets at Boston University can earn a 100% tuition and fees scholarship. Criteria to receive a scholarship award are determined by academic accomplishments, individual physical fitness, and a demonstrated potential as a leader. Contracted cadets receive a monthly tax-free subsistence allowance and a flat rate for books each year.
Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Recruiting Officer in the Department of Military Science at 617-353-4025 or 4026 or by visiting 128 Bay State Road. Additional information is available on the Web at either www.goarmy.com/rotc or www.bu.edu/armyrotc/.
ROTC Basic Course:
Military Science and Leadership MS 101, 102, 201, 202
The Army ROTC Basic Course consists of two distinct components, The Army Profession and Officership (MSL-I) year, and the experiential examination of leadership, decision-making, and group process of the MSL-II year. MSL-I lessons provide an overview of the key subjects of pre-commissioning, which will be treated in much greater depth in the Advanced Course. The MSL-II year places cadets in a wide variety of exercises designed to emphasize various professional leadership competencies and insights. These events are held both inside the classroom and in outdoor settings. The instructor helps guide student evaluations of the events to derive the leadership, group dynamics, and problem-solving lessons that the exercises offer. In addition to military skills, practical “life skills” are emphasized throughout the two years. By the end of the Basic Course, cadets possess an understanding of the unique aspects of the officer corps, fundamentals of leadership and decision-making, Army institutional values, and principles of individual fitness and living a healthy lifestyle. The lessons are designed to maximize cadet participation, inspire intellectual curiosity, and stimulate self-study.
- OTP MS 100 Introduction to Leadership
- OTP MS 101 Foundations of Officership
- OTP MS 102 Basic Leadership
- OTP MS 201 Foundations of Leadership
- OTP MS 202 Leadership and Teamwork
Overview of the ROTC Advanced Course
MS 301, 302, 401, 402
The Army ROTC Advanced Course is comprised of four Military Science courses, and the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) at Fort Lewis, WA.
The ROTC Advanced Course is designed to teach knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for commissioning a new second lieutenant. It also establishes a sound foundation for a career as a commissioned Army officer. The content and methods of the Advanced Course assume no prior cadet experience or other military training. This approach is taken because the Advanced Course comprises the minimum curriculum that an individual must complete in order to be commissioned.
Advanced Course lessons are carefully sequenced, linked, and progressive in their treatment of key officer knowledge and competencies. Students are encouraged to integrate learning to form broader perspectives, deeper insights, and more robust problem-solving abilities. This is accomplished in part through the use of case studies and simulations that require skills and knowledge learned in earlier lessons. The sequencing lesson is designed to meet the immediate needs of cadets by addressing topics required for mastering cadet responsibilities. The MSL 301 and 302 curricula are organized for success at the LDAC, with essential topics developed to facilitate entry into active military service during the MSL 402 term.
- OTP MS 301 Leadership and Problem Solving
- OTP MS 302 Leadership and Ethics
- OTP MS 401 Adaptive Leadership
- OTP MS 402 Leadership in a Complex World
The OTP MS 402 course starts with an introduction to the final semester and an overview of the semester-long Senior Leadership Project. An ethics module is introduced that consists of lessons that expand on concepts and principles introduced in MS 302. The lessons focus on how an officer needs to assess, to establish, and to maintain a unit’s ethical climate; the lessons underscore the crucial role played by a commander in ensuring that his or her unit acts morally in combat situations. A module addressing military law, leadership, and Army organization, including task organizing for operations follows, which includes both the tactical and the strategic levels. The next set of lessons focuses on emerging technology and the management of technology at the unit level. This is followed by practical sessions on administrative, operational, and logistics management involving basic soldier and unit-level support. Additional lessons on counseling, leadership, financial planning, and developing a personal leadership vision are included. There are lessons on the administrative requirements for entering the Army which cover how to report to the initial assignment duty station and the Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) expectations for success. The demonstration activity of the Senior Leadership Project is the capstone activity of MS 402. The final lesson encourages review and evaluation of the entire course, including a “lessons learned” brainstorming session for the ROTC training program. Upon completion of this course the cadets should be prepared to shoulder the responsibility of being a commissioned officer in the United States Army.
Summer Camps
Leader Training Course (LTC)
Conducted at Fort Knox, Kentucky, this five-week training period provides instruction equivalent to that received by U.S. Army ROTC students in the Basic Course. Satisfactory completion is necessary for entering the Advanced Course.
Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC)
Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) is a five-week training period at Fort Lewis, Washington. This camp is mandatory for all cadets in the Advanced Course and is normally attended during the summer between junior and senior years of college. See the department personnel for complete details on camps.
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance for U.S. Army ROTC cadets takes various forms—for example, the monthly subsistence allowance for advanced course cadets, and the allowance for summer camp. Several scholarships, described below, are available to cover a student’s regular college tuition and fees. To learn more about scholarship eligibility and obligation requirements, contact the Department of Military Science, 128 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215.
Four-Year Scholarship
The U.S. Army ROTC Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to highly qualified and motivated high school seniors who are considering military service as an army officer. These scholarships and a Boston University tuition supplement pay for tuition, laboratory, and academic fees, and provide a flat rate of $600 for books per semester, and an indexed, progressive monthly tax-free subsistence allowance ($300–500).
Applications for a four-year scholarship must be made during a student’s high school senior year. The application window opens on February 1 of the student’s junior year and closes on January 10 of the senior year. After January 10 please contact the BU Army ROTC office for campus-based scholarships. For scholarship updates, please visit www.bu.edu/armyrotc. Application packets may be obtained by contacting U.S. Army ROTC Scholarship, Fort Monroe, VA 23651; 1-800-USA-ROTC or at www.armyrotc.com. Packets are also available in the Military Science Department, 128 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215.
Three- and Two-Year Scholarships
Three- and two-year scholarships are awarded to outstanding college students either already enrolled or planning to enroll in the U.S. Army ROTC Program. Interested students may apply to the Enrollment Officer of Military Science, 128 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215.
Active Duty Benefits
While on active duty with the Army, officers may take advantage of a number of benefits. The Army provides opportunities for management experience and for advanced education (master’s and doctoral degrees). The pay is competitive with that offered by nonmilitary organizations. Normally, pay raises are approved each year, and a retirement pension is available after 20 years of service. Free medical care, dental care, and legal counsel are provided. Commissary and post exchange privileges are available. Expenses are paid for duty or change-of-station travel. Free personal travel is provided on a space-available basis.
