Air Force ROTC

Marquette University students may pursue a commission in the United States Air Force through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) program. Required AFROTC courses are offered at Marquette University and are taught by resident full-time Aerospace Studies faculty.

Through this program, Marquette University offers its students the opportunity to prepare for initial active duty assignments as Air Force commissioned officers. In order to receive a commission, AFROTC cadets must complete all university requirements for a degree, complete courses specified by the Air Force and maintain Air Force moral, academic and physical fitness standards. AFROTC courses are normally taken for credit as part of a student’s electives. The amount of credit applied toward a degree for AFROTC academic work varies as determined by the students' college and major. AFROTC offers three and four-year programs leading to a commission as an Air Force officer. AFROTC cadets complete the General Military Course, a four-week summer Field Training encampment between their sophomore and junior years and the Professional Officer Course on their way to obtaining their commission upon graduation from Marquette.

General Qualifications

• Be a full-time student.
• Maintain a minimum 2.000 GPA
• Be a United States citizen (for scholarship appointment).
• Be in good physical condition.
• Be of good moral character.
• For pilot or navigator training, fulfill all commissioning requirements before age 29.

General Military Course

The first and second-year educational program in Air Force Aerospace Studies consists of a series of one-hour courses designed to give students basic information on the role of the U.S. Air Force in the defense of the free world. All required textbooks and uniforms are provided free. The General Military Course is open to all students at Marquette without advance application and does not obligate students to the Air Force in any way.

Field Training

Students pursuing a commission must successfully complete Field Training in order to advance to the Professional Officer Course. Students are competitively selected to attend Field Training based on their performance in the AFROTC program including academic success, physical fitness record and program performance. Traditionally, Field Training is conducted during the summer months following a cadet’s sophomore year at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, AL. The Air Force pays all expenses associated with Field Training.

The major components of Field Training include physical training, drill and ceremonies, leadership skill development and application, and an introduction to Air Force expeditionary training and Air Force deployment environment.

Professional Officer Course

The third and fourth years of Air Force Aerospace Studies instruction are designed to develop skills and attitudes vital to the professional officer. Students completing the Professional Officer Course are commissioned as officers in the U.S. Air Force upon college graduation. All students in the Professional Officer Course receive a nontaxable subsistence allowance of $450 per month during their junior academic year and $500 per month during their senior year.

Leadership Laboratory

Leadership Laboratory is a cadet-led activity. Lead Lab provides leadership-training experience in order to enhance a cadet’s ability to perform as an Air Force officer. The freshman and sophomore Leadership Laboratory program introduces Air Force customs and courtesies including drill, ceremonies and wearing the uniform. In addition, underclassmen in Leadership Lab perform problem-solving exercises, explore Air Force career options, education and training benefits, plus learn about the life and work of an Air Force officer. Experiences prepare the cadet for individual, squadron and flight movements in drill and ceremonies and for success in the summer field training assignment prior to the junior year.

The junior and senior Leadership Laboratory program involves cadets in advanced leadership experiences. Cadet responsibilities include planning and directing the activities of the cadet corps, preparing briefings, providing feedback and creating written communications. Cadets also coordinate career officer interviews, offer guidance and information and work to increase the performance and motivation of underclassman cadets. All Leadership Laboratory students attend two sessions of physical fitness each week.

AFROTC College Scholarship Program

This program provides scholarships to selected students participating in AFROTC. While participating in AFROTC, scholarship students receive tuition assistance, fees, laboratory expenses and $900 per year for textbooks. Additionally, scholarship students receive a tax-free monthly stipend of $300 per month as freshmen, $350 per month as sophomores, $450 per month as juniors and $500 per month as seniors. Traditionally, competitive scholarships are awarded in the first and second years in the program.

In order to be eligible for this scholarship, students must:

• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Be at least 17 years of age on the date of enrollment and under 40 years of age on Dec. 31 upon commissioning.
• Maintain a minimum 3.000 cumulative and term GPA
• Pass an Air Force physical exam.
• Have no moral objections or personal convictions that prevent students from bearing arms and supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic (Applicants must not be conscientious objectors.).
• Achieve a qualifying score on the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test.
• Scholarships are awarded at the national level and are highly competitive.

AFROTC High School Scholarship Program

High school students may also apply for an AFROTC scholarship from July through January of their senior year. These dates are subject to change. Interested students are encouraged to submit applications early. Please see the  U.S. Air Force ROTC website to learn more about the application process and to apply online for the High School Scholarship Program. High school students may also receive merit-based scholarships from Marquette University in conjunction with Air Force High School Scholarships.

For more information on the Air Force ROTC program at Marquette University, please see the AFROTC website

Army ROTC

A Path for College Students to Serve as a Lieutenant and Leader in the U.S. Army

The Department of Military Science and Leadership (Army ROTC), has a long and proud history and lineage at Marquette University since its establishment in 1951. Always located in the halls of Marquette University’s historic “Old Gym” and through the course of over 65 years, this program has produced senior leaders for our military (Generals and senior officers), leaders in business, industry and civil servants across the country. The Army ROTC is composed of three interconnected components:

1. on-campus;
2. off-campus; and
3. the Leadership Development Program (LDP).

By design, these three components dovetail for seamless, progressive and sequential leader development and prepare students to receive commissions as Second Lieutenants in the U.S. Army, Army National Guard or the U.S. Army Reserve.

On-Campus Component

The on-campus component is the Military Science and Leadership (MISL) Curriculum. The curriculum consists of classroom learning, applied leadership labs, leader developmental exercises, Army ROTC Battalion command and staff roles and physical fitness training program. Far more comprehensive than traditional curricula, each cadet has access to digital learning products, interacts with the instructor during lessons and engages with multi-media technology. Instructors are vested in the leader development of each of their students and provide leader developmental counseling on a consistent basis during each term.

Off-Campus Component

The off-campus component consists of a summer course designed to assess and develop cadet leadership potential. The Advanced Camp is a capstone training event that usually occurs at the end of a cadet’s third (junior) year. Advanced Camp is about 30 days of training that is designed to assess a cadet’s ability to demonstrate proficiency in basic officer leadership attributes and competencies. Advanced Camp is keen on placing each cadet in a variety of leadership positions, many of which simulate stressful tactical scenarios and situations. In addition to proving leadership abilities and military skills, each cadet must meet established standards in physical fitness, land navigation, weapons qualification, communication, first aid, confidence obstacle course completion (to include rappelling) and tactical patrolling techniques. Marquette University cadets often earn the highest leadership performance scores in the Nation when compared to their cadet peers as Advanced Camp is a prerequisite for commissioning.

The other summer training event is Basic Camp. Every year about three first- and second-year cadets, that have signed a contract or been approved to sign a contract with Army ROTC, attend this course. Basic Camp is about 30 days of training designed to introduce cadets to the basic principles and basic individual training fundamentals of the U.S. Army. The objective of Basic Camp is to develop cadet leadership skills and train them on individual and junior leader tasks to develop and reinforce a Warrior Ethos and our Army Values (Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage). Basic Camp refines the critical thinking skills and individual training necessary to succeed in Army ROTC, and, ultimately, in the Army. Basic Camp cadets graduate from the Basic Camp course prepared to lead at the team (2-4 cadets) and squad (8-11 cadets) level.

Additionally, each cadet is required to participate in two Field Training Exercises (FTXs) off campus, one each term, usually in September and April, from Thursday to Sunday. These exercises implement practical lessons learned throughout the year derived from classroom, leadership lab and physical training curricula.

Leadership Development Program

The Leadership Development Program (LDP) is the cornerstone of Army ROTC training and leadership development. The LDP is an individual-focused assessment process that standardizes leader performance measures. It organizes complex components of leadership into a useful learning model – standards of performance and a methodology to achieve them. The model accommodates all levels of proficiency and assures personalized development throughout a cadet’s Army ROTC experience from program entry to commissioning as an officer. Within the LDP, experienced and qualified faculty and staff (Military Science and Leadership Instructors) maximize individual potential by administering structured, progressively complex leadership experience and cadet leadership skills are refined through self-assessment, peer assessment and instructor feedback (complemented by frequent one-on-one counseling). Army ROTC extracurricular activity is another important dynamic to the LDP; Cadets are also given opportunity and are encouraged to participate and lead activities in a variety of events that contribute to their development and include: national level Army ROTC competitions (Ranger Challenge, Northern Warfare Competition, Buddy Ranger Competition, Army ROTC Basketball Tournament at Notre Dame University) Army 10-miler Run in Washington D.C., German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge testing, Norwegian Foot March Event, Cadet Color Guard, Army ROTC RECONDO Club, Service Committee.

We understand that today’s students need flexibility, so we offer a variety of options in completing this leadership development program. The two primary options are: the four-year program and the two-year program.

Four-year Program

The four-year program is divided into two phases: the Basic Course and the Advanced Course.

1. The Basic Course is taken during students’ freshman and sophomore years. These coursed are open to all students on an elective basis and upon successful completion students receive university credit. Students incur no military obligation for completing basic course requirements. These courses are the same cost as any other standard undergraduate course. These courses are available to undergraduate and graduate Marquette University students;
2. The Advanced Course is taken during students’ junior and senior year. Students in this program must have completed the Basic Course, have two years remaining in college and enter into a contract with the U.S. Army that gets them on a path to commissioning as an officer. Advanced Course students take classes in leadership and participate in leadership laboratories to prepare for Advanced Camp during the summer between junior and senior years. Students receive monetary compensation for attending this training.

Two-year Program

The two-year program is designed for students at four-year institutions who did not take Army ROTC during their first two years of college, students entering a two-year graduate course of study or students who have previous military experience. Students begin formal training by attending Basic Camp. Successful completion of this training is a pre-requisite for enrolling in the Army ROTC Advanced Course.

Scholarships

The Army offers a number of scholarship opportunities to Marquette University students enrolled in the Senior Army ROTC Program. High School seniors can apply for four-year, three-year, advanced designee and four-year nursing scholarships. Scholarship applications are available on the Army ROTC website and are awarded based on merit, not financial need, by the U.S. Army Cadet Command. These scholarships have various incentives:

1. pays full-tuition and mandatory fees annually or $10,000 for Room and Board;
2. pays $1,200 annually for textbook allowance ($600 each semester); and,
3. pays a tax free $420 monthly stipend during each semester their scholarship is in effect.

Marquette University provides additional incentive funds for national and campus based scholarship winner. Four-year scholarship winners receive $7,000 annually toward university housing and board. Three-year advance designee winners receive $28,000 in benefits for the freshman year toward tuition. Campus based scholarship winners receive up to $3,500 per each term of their scholarship toward university housing and board.

Prospective students interested in a four-year Reserve Officer’s Training Corps Scholarship should start the application process during their junior and senior year of high school. Four-year scholarship applications on the Army ROTC website. Current college students may apply for four, three and two-year on-campus scholarships through participation in Army ROTC and the Marquette University Department of Military Science by first completing an online form located on our Marquette University Army ROTC website .

In order to be eligible for a scholarship, students must:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be under 31 years of age at the time of commissioning
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.500 on a 4.000 scale
• Submit all SAT and ACT scores.
• Have a minimum score of 1000 on the SAT or 19 on the ACT
• Satisfactorily explain any record of minor civil infractions
• Pass a Department of Defense Medical Evaluation
• Have no moral obligations or personal convictions that prevent students from bearing arms and supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States

On-campus applications are submitted to the Department of Military Science. On-campus applications may be submitted at any time during the school year. Students that apply are subject to a board of review by a panel of Army ROTC staff and university administration for selection.

Non-scholarship Program

All students enrolled in the Advanced Course receive a monthly stipend of $420 (juniors and seniors) to cover expenses during the school year. Successful completion of the Advanced Course leads to commissioning the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve or U.S. Army National Guard. Veterans: students at Marquette University with prior military service may enroll directly into the advanced course with the permission of the Professor of Military Science and proper academic alignment. Veterans must be able to meet the age, citizenship and physical standards of the Army ROTC program.

Graduate Education Delay

Students may request that their active duty service be deferred to attend graduate school, law school, medical school or physical therapy school.

Cross-enrollment

Students enrolled in other southeast Wisconsin universities and colleges may, with approval of the Dean of the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, enroll in Military Science courses and participate in the Army ROTC program at Marquette University while continuing their major curricula at these neighboring institutions.

For course description, course credit and other information, see the Arts and Sciences section of this bulletin. For complete information, contact the Department of Military Science; Gymnasium, A100; Marquette University; P.O. Box 1881; Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881 or call either (414) 288-7195 or (800) 563-7339 or visit the Marquette Army ROTC website. For a more comprehensive understanding of Marquette Army ROTC, please also visit our Facebook page or Instagram.

Naval ROTC

The Naval ROTC Unit, established at Marquette University in 1940, provides qualified commissioned officers for the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Marquette’s Naval ROTC (NROTC) program is also one of the largest in the country for commissioning Navy Nurse Officers. The NROTC 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 toward 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. Graduates who complete all requirements receive commissions and serve on active duty in the Navy or Marine Corps; scholarship recipients have a 4-8 year commitment depending on which community assigned.

Academically, the Naval Science Department, in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, teaches naval science courses and administers the program. All midshipmen are required to register for and participate in a two-hour weekly drill period. A naval science class is required each term, with few exceptions, for which Marquette grants credit toward graduation requirements and towards a Minor in Naval Science. Midshipmen on scholarship or advanced standing also attend paid summer internship training for four to six weeks each summer. This summer training introduces midshipmen to the fleet and the life of a junior naval officer. Summer training also provides an orientation to each of the different warfare specialties (air, surface, submarine and Marine Corps).

All NROTC students fall into one of two broad categories: scholarship or non-scholarship (college program). Some students enter Marquette with a four-year scholarship earned on a competitive basis while still in high school. Scholarships are for full tuition, fees, a textbook stipend, laboratory expenses and include a subsistence stipend of $250 to $400 per month, depending on class year. In addition, Marquette provides incentive funds for scholarship winners. Four-year scholarship winners receive about $7,000 per year toward university housing. For more information visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions' website.

Students not on scholarship are termed College Program students. They receive uniforms and naval science textbooks the same as scholarship students from day one and receive a monthly stipend during their junior and senior years, if the student remains qualified to participate in the program. All college program students are eligible to compete for Naval Education and Training Command scholarships. Students are selected on a competitive basis after completing a minimum of one term as an NROTC college program student. Selection boards meet once or twice per year to consider students based on their most recent term. Students may receive scholarship benefits ranging from one to three years. Once selected, the students receive all the benefits and incur the same active duty requirements as students in the regular scholarship program.

All scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit and personal qualifications. The FAFSA is not required for consideration for naval scholarships.

In addition to completing the Marquette University degree requirements, the Department of Naval Science has specific requirements (listed below) for the three NROTC options: Navy, Nurse and Marine Corps.

Navy option students must complete eight Naval Science courses, two terms of English, one cultural awareness course, as well as one course covering National Security Policy or American Military History. Navy scholarship students must complete two terms of calculus by the end of the sophomore year and two terms of calculus-based physics by the end of their junior year. Navy option college program students must complete one year each in mathematics and physical science.

Nurse option students must complete four Naval Science courses, two terms of English and one course covering cultural awareness.

Marine Corps option students must complete seven Naval Science courses, one of which is a six-week officer training course at Quantico, Va., during the summer between the junior and senior years. In addition, students are required to complete two terms of English and one course covering National Security Policy or American Military History.

For a more detailed listing of courses and program information, contact the Department of Naval Science; Marquette University; 1532 West Clybourn St., Milwaukee, WI 53233. Or, call (414) 288-7076 or visit the NROTC website.