U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army ROTC Programs Preparing Students for Professional Military Careers
The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs provide physical and mental challenges that are not offered anywhere else on campus. These nationwide programs allow students to pursue commissions (become officers) in the United States Air Force (USAF) and Army (USA) while simultaneously attending college.
U. S. Air Force ROTC
The Air Force ROTC program is currently offered at the University of Arkansas, which has a crosstown agreement with JBU that allows our students to enroll in Air Force ROTC and become full-fledged cadet participants by attending the classes held on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville. Students can register through normal JBU course registration processes.
Air Force ROTC consists of four years of Aerospace Studies (ARO) classes (Heritage and Values of the United States Air Force; Team and Leadership Fundamentals; Leading People and Effective Communication; National Security Affairs/Preparation for Active Duty), and a corresponding Leadership Laboratory for each year (where students apply leadership skills, demonstrate command and effective communication, develop physical fitness, and practice military customs and courtesies).
College students enrolled in the Air Force ROTC program (known as “cadets”) who successfully complete both Air Force ROTC training and college degree requirements will graduate and simultaneously commission as Second Lieutenants in the Active Duty Air Force.
Additional information about Air Force ROTC can be found at www.afrotc.com and for specific information about the ThunderHawgs of Detachment 030, please review http://afrotc.uark.edu/. Also, interested students can contact the Air Force ROTC at the University of Arkansas by calling (479) 575-3651.
U.S. Air Force Aerospace Studies (ARO) course descriptions can be found at http://www.jbu.edu/catalog.
U.S. Army ROTC
In addition to the first two years of academic study (see above), John Brown University, in cooperation with the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville and the U.S. Army, offers two years of advanced instruction in Military Science. The advanced instruction prepares students for the responsibilities and privileges of a commissioned officer. This advanced instruction offers four hours of academic credit per semester for Army cadets. Additionally, all students enrolled in the final two years of ROTC receive a monthly tax-free allowance ranging from $350 to $400.
Army ROTC cadets attend a 33 day Leadership Development and Assessment Course between their junior and senior school year. Cadets may attend professional development training such as airborne, air assault, British Exchange Program, northern warfare, and mountain warfare. During summer field training, cadets receive room and board.
For students having a minimum of two academic years in school remaining (undergraduate, graduate, or a combination of the two), an alternate two-year program is offered. Students entering the two-year ROTC program attend a 28-day Leaders Training Course (LTC) during the summer. Rising juniors, seniors and graduate students who meet the US Army Cadet Command’s Scholar-Athlete-Leader criteria and are unable to attend the LTC may be eligible to participate in an Accelerated Cadet Commissioning Training (ACCT) program conducted on the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville campus. Students with high school-level military schooling (ROTC, NDCC, or Military Academy) may qualify for the advanced ROTC program without completing the freshman or sophomore courses. All veterans who have completed basic training and 180 days of service with any component of the U.S. Armed Forces can receive full credit for the freshman and sophomore courses and may enter ROTC at the advanced level, once junior academic standing has been achieved.
Financial assistance is also available to qualified students enrolled in ROTC courses. The Army offers 2-, 2.5-, 3-, 3.5-, and 4-year scholarships. Freshman or sophomore students who are not enrolled in Army ROTC may qualify for on-campus 2- or 3-year scholarships. Juniors, seniors, and graduate students who have at least two full years of college remaining may also qualify for on campus 2- or 3-year scholarships. Scholarships can be used to pay for graduate schooling. Scholarship students receive a monthly tax-free allowance ranging from $250 to $400, payment of all tuition expenses, textbook payment, and payment of certain other fees. Engineering and nursing students are highly encouraged to apply.
Army ROTC scholarship and advanced course students must agree to successfully complete at least one semester of American Military History prior to commissioning.
A unique financial assistance program is available to all Army ROTC sophomore (MSII), junior (MSIII) and senior (MSIV) students through the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP). This program allows these students to be enrolled in Army ROTC while simultaneously serving with a Reserve or National Guard unit. Financial benefits of this program presently provide approximately $600-$1,100 per month to SMP students. In addition, ARMY ROTC SMP students will also receive Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) which will pay 100% of tuition up to $4,500 per year. Eligible Army National Guard students may also receive additional financial assistance through the Guard Tuition Assistance Program (GTAP).
All students who successfully complete the Advanced Course in either ROTC program and receive a degree may be accepted for a Regular or Reserve Commission in the United States Air Force or in one of the 16 branches of the Army.
All textbooks, instructional material, and equipment required for ROTC courses are furnished at no cost to the student. Exception: Army ROTC MSIII (junior) and MSIV (senior) cadets are required to purchase their textbooks. U.S. Army Military Science (MSC) course descriptions can be found at http://www.jbu.edu/catalog.
ROTC Contact Information
John Brown University students interested in ROTC should contact the US Army ROTC Office at the University of Arkansas at (479) 575-4251 http://armyrotc.uark.edu/.
For questions related to financial aid at John Brown University, please contact David Burney by phone (479) 524-7427 or by email at DBurney@jbu.edu.
|