Join the Army ROTC

 

How to Apply

Enroll in University 

To join Army ROTC at Louisiana State University or one of the crosstown universities (BRCC, Southern, Southeastern), students must enroll full-time with a minimum of 12 hours. 

For freshman, the way to start is by enrolling in MILS 1011 or MILS 1012 'First Year Basic Army.' This is the basic ROTC class; it does not require any military obligation from those students who choose to enroll. 

The great part about this class is that you get to see the many incredible opportunities the Army ROTC has in store for you. In addition, ROTC classes count as electives in most major degree programs.

At the end of the year, if you are still interested in becoming a contracted member of the Army ROTC program, you can continue to take Basic ROTC courses until the end of your sophomore year. (Still, with no military obligation!).

If you think Army ROTC and the prestige of an Army Officer's Commission is for you, you would then follow a sequence of courses that will take you through your junior and senior years in the Advanced Army ROTC program. As a junior you will be required to contract with the Army and obligate to at least 4 years of service. 

Upon completion, your course work will result in a commission in the United States Army (Active Duty, National Guard or Army Reserve). 

A sophomore is someone who has completed at least 30 credit hours. Sophomore courses do not require any military obligation.

Below we have listed the options available to a student who is at this stage of their collegiate career. The options are:

  • Take MILS 1011 or 1012, "First Year Basic Army" and attend the Leaders Training Course in the summer. When you complete the Leaders Training Course you are able to contract and receive financial assistance from the ROTC program.
  • Take MILS 2161 or 2162 "Second Year Basic Army" and attend the Leaders Training Course in the summer. When you complete the Leaders Training Course you are able to contract and receive financial assistance from the ROTC program.
  • Take no Army ROTC course. Wait until the end of the Sophomore school year when you have more than 60 credit hours; then attend the Leaders Training Course during the summer. After successful completion of the LTC you can contract and receive financial assistance from the Army ROTC program.
  • You can request to be exempted from the Basic Course classes by substituting in your JROTC experience (any service) or active/guard/reserve duty experience. This requires the LSU Professor of Military Science (PMS) approval.

A junior is defined as someone who has completed more than 60 credit hours. Students who are classified as a junior have several options to entering the Army ROTC program:

  • Attend the Leaders Training course over the summer, prior to the junior year. The course is held a FT Knox, KY, requires no obligation to the Army, and you receive pay while attending the course.
  • Attend the junior level ROTC classes. At the end of your junior year attend the Leaders Training Course. At the end of your Senior Army ROTC year you would attend the Leadership Development Assessment Course (LDAC) and be commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant at the completion of LDAC that summer.
  • Be recommended for Accelerated Cadet Commissioning Training by the ROTC staff. The Professor of Military Science must give final approval for a cadet to be enrolled in this program. An enrolled cadet will be assigned an Army ROTC senior cadet as a trainer and be taught the basic course information outside the classroom during one on one training sessions. This path requires an additional 30 hours of training during the first month of school. Only highly qualified and motivated cadets will be recommended for this training.
  • Request exception through the PMS to allow JROTC, (4yrs) experience, to substitute for the freshman and sophomore courses.
  • Request exception through the PMS to allow basic training (any service) to substitute for the freshman and sophomore courses.

Senior students with less than two years of college remaining have the following options:

  • Stretch your academic work out to make you eligible to be a full time student for at least two years (4 semesters).
  • Attend a two-year graduate program following graduation and then follow one of the graduate options.
  • If qualified, request an exception to policy to compress your junior and senior year ROTC courses into two semesters. You must have received credit for the basic course classes (Freshman – Sophomore courses, basic training, JROTC for 4yrs or attend the summertime Leaders Training Course (LTC) before your senior year).

This is for students who are currently enrolled in a two year graduate program. The options for these students include: 

  • Attend the Leaders Training course for 6 credit hours at no charge. The course is held a Ft. Knox, KY, requires no obligation to the Army and you receive pay while attending the course.
  • Attend the junior level ROTC classes and at the end of your first graduate year attend the Leaders Training Course. At the end of your Senior Army ROTC year (second graduate year) you would attend the Leadership Development Assessment Course (LDAC)and be commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant at the completion of LDAC that summer. Be recommended for ACCT training by the ROTC staff. The Professor of Military Science (PMS) must give final approval for a cadet to be enrolled in this program. An enrolled cadet will be assigned an Army ROTC senior cadet as a trainer and be taught the basic course information outside the classroom during one on one training times. This course requires an additional 30 hours of training during the first month of school. Only highly motivated cadets will be recommended for this training.
  • Request an exception to policy through the Professor of Military Science to allow JROTC (4yrs) to substitute for the basic course classes or have completed basic training (any service).

Prior Service students, or currently serving service members (Reserve & National Guard), are classified as students who have gone through Basic training (in any service) in the Active Duty, Reserve or National Guard. 

Prior service members do not have to take any of the basic courses (MILS 1011,1012, 2161, 2162) classes or attend the Leaders Training Course. Once a prior service student has attained 60 credit hours they are eligible to contract and receive financial assistance from the ROTC program. However, we encourage prior service students to enroll in the basic courses if they have less than 60 credit hours so that they can get to know their fellow cadets and the cadre that will be assisting them through the program. Additionally, they have valuable military experience that they can impart to the younger cadets. 

Additionally, we can assist you in joining the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP). This will allow you to be a member of your guard unit and the ROTC battalion at the same time. This program is great for currently serving reserve and guard soldiers. 

Contact our office at 225-578-3564 for assistance.