Department of Military Science and Leadership

LTC Anthony Struzik, Department Chair

Academic-Athletic Building #1 E.A. Diddle Arena, Office 1512
Phone: 270-745-4293; Fax: 270-745-6050
Email: army.rotc@wku.edu
Website: http://www.wku.edu/rotc

The Department of Military Science and Leadership prepares well-educated students with leadership potential to serve as officers in the United States Army, the Army Reserve, or the Army National Guard through progressive, hands-on training with the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). Academic instruction and supervision are provided by a career Army officer in the grade of Lieutenant Colonel, who serves as the department chair and the Professor of Military Science (PMS). A staff of Army commissioned and non-commissioned officers assist the PMS.

The military science program is voluntary and is open to both male and female students. Students do not incur a military obligation by participating in the basic course.

The military science curriculum consists of basic and advanced courses.

Basic Course

The basic course consists of a four-semester block of instruction normally taken during the freshman and sophomore years. The emphasis in these courses is on team and leadership development, “hands-on” equipment instruction, land navigation, and leadership skills training. In order to receive credit for completing the basic course in residence at Western Kentucky University, the student must complete MIL 101, MIL 102, MIL 201, and MIL 202.

The student also may gain credit for the basic course by taking MIL 210. This course is the 28-Day Basic Course conducted at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and instructs students in those subjects taught during the basic course of the ROTC program.

Students with prior military service, or membership in the National Guard or Reserves, also may receive advanced placement for part of or the entire basic course, depending upon the amount and character of service performed. Regardless of the option, advanced placement, or prior military training completed, a student must complete the basic course or its equivalent to gain eligibility to enroll in the advanced course.

Advanced Course

The advanced course is designed to commission officers for service in the United States Army, both active duty and reserve. Successful completion of the advanced course at Western Kentucky University earns the student a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. The advanced course consists of four semester-long courses and a 33-day summer course. An additional military history course, normally taken during the junior or senior years, must also be completed prior to being fully qualified for commissioning. 

The student must graduate from Advanced Camp (AC) prior to being eligible for commissioning. AC is normally attended during the summer break between the end of the junior and the start of the senior year.

While attending AC, students receive training pay. The U.S. Army furnishes travel expenses to and from AC, uniforms, quarters, medical care, and rations during the course period.

Additionally, advanced course cadets may be eligible to attend Army schools such as Airborne, Air Assault, and Northern Warfare. They may also spend several weeks during the summer with active Army units located in Europe, Asia, and throughout the United States. These activities are voluntary, and students must meet high standards to be eligible for attendance.

The applicant for the advanced course of instruction must:

1. Be a citizen of the United States or an alien in a category approved by the Department of the Army. Approval must be granted prior to enrollment.
2. Be at least 17 years of age at the time of enrollment and not reach 30 years of age at the time of commissioning in the U.S. Army (this may be waived).
3. Be medically qualified in accordance with standards prescribed by the Department of the Army.
4. Have satisfactorily completed the basic course, attended Basic Course, or have equivalent military or ROTC training in lieu of. Veterans holding honorable discharges may qualify for the advanced course.
5. Have a minimum overall academic average of 2.0 and have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours.
6. Be selected by the Professor of Military Science.
7. Execute a written agreement with the government to complete the two-year advanced course of training; attend AC; agree in writing to accept an appointment as a commissioned officer in the Army Reserve; and serve a prescribed tour of active or reserve component duty as a commissioned officer.

Simultaneous Membership Program

This program is designed to allow selected members of the Army National Guard and Army Reserve to enroll in the Advanced Army ROTC Program. These students serve in their units as officer trainees while completing the advanced course of instruction. Upon completion of the advanced course and college graduation, they are commissioned as Second Lieutenants. Please contact Brandon Smith at Brandon.Smith@wku.edu or call (270) 745-6054.

Financial Assistance Program

Army ROTC offers a scholarship program to provide financial assistance to outstanding young men and women who are interested in the Army as a profession. Scholarships may be awarded for periods of two, three, or four years. Four-year scholarships are awarded to selected high school applicants who plan to attend a university hosting Army ROTC. Applicants must apply prior to the deadline during their senior year in high school. Contact the Recruiting Officer for the deadline.

Two- and three-year scholarships are awarded to university sophomores or freshmen who desire to earn an officer’s commission. Each scholarship provides tuition, textbooks, classroom supplies, and laboratory fees in addition to tax-free allowances of $420 per month. Budget dependent, four-year scholarship recipients may receive room and board scholarships from the University. Two- and three-year scholarship recipients may receive room scholarships from the University.

Applicants are not required to be enrolled in the ROTC program to apply. Competition is very keen and is open nationwide. Students wishing to apply for these scholarships must submit a completed application to the Department of Military Science and Leadership.

Degree

Minor

Military Science (MIL)