What It Is
Army ROTC are college courses in Military Science which you can take while you complete the degree of your choice. It is not a college major. Anyone can take freshman and sophomore level Military Science courses. Only cadets who intend to become an officer in the U.S. Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard can take junior and senior level courses. These cadets sign a contract and agree to serve in the military after they graduate from college.
Freshman classes, MLSC 101 & 102, meet for a 1-hour lecture and for a 2-hour lab each week. Sophomore classes, MLSC 201 & 202, meet for a 2-hour lecture and a 2-hour lab each week. Junior classes, MLSC 301 & 302, and senior level classes, MLSC 401 & 402, meet for a 3-hour lecture and a 2-hour lab each week. Some classes may be arranged specially with the Professor of Military Science. In the classroom cadets learn about leadership, organization, military structure, physical fitness and nutrition, Army history, strategy and tactics, and Army principles.
All cadets from all classes gather once a week to participate in Lab. The Lab is organized by the senior cadets, called MSIV's, and lead by the MSIV's and MSIII's (juniors), with the help of the cadre (faculty). This provides cadets the opportunity to practice leadership and organization while directing in the field training. Labs are fun and often take place outdoors. Cadets learn land navigation, patrolling, survival skills, rappelling, and more fun skills.
On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, all cadets meet for physical training (PT). PT can be quite rigorous and is a good way to learn healthy habits that will last a lifetime. Again, older cadets organize PT for younger cadets. Once a month, an Army Physical Fitness Test is given, but don't worry if you don't pass right away. Only scholarship and contracted cadets are required to maintain Army PT standards. Our cadre will work with you to build your physical condition over the course of the school year.
Army ROTC can be a way of life, if you want it to be. Cadets form a family and are often very close. There is an ROTC Learning Community in Abel Hall, where Army, Navy, Marine, and Air Force Cadets live together. Cadets can also participate in the Ranger Club and Color Guard with other Army cadets and the Pershing Rifles together with cadets from the Navy, Marines, and Air Force.
One of the best things about being an ROTC cadet is the football games! All cadets serve as stadium security at the Nebraska Cornhuskers home football games, which means you get in for free. Cadets also perform stadium cleanup two or three times a year. This earns money for the cadet battalion fund, which is overseen by the cadets. It is used to purchase T-shirts, awards, items for The Bunker (cadet lounge), and pay for the annual Dining In and Military Ball.
In the Pershing Military and Naval Science Building, on the corner of 14th & Vine Streets, cadets have access their own computer lab and The Bunker. Textbooks are provided by the Military Science Department free of charge. All cadets receive a full set of equipment including uniforms (BDU's and dress), boots, backpacks, sleeping bags, helmets, etc. Everything is provided by the department.
Once each semester cadets participate in Field Training Exercises (FTX), which last from Thursday through Sunday. Cadets train at a Nebraska National Guard Base in urban warfare, land navigation, and weapons training with M16s. Once a year cadets participate in an Air Assault mission, with the help of the helicopters of the Nebraska National Guard, the cadets fly to the Ashland Guard Base and participate in the 'rescue' of a downed pilot. See the photo gallery to get a better idea of cadet activities.
