Frequently Asked Questions

No, absolutely not. No prior military training or experience is required. Basic training is not part of the ROTC program. If you desire to go to basic training, contact your local National Guard or Reserve Recruiter. In Clemson, the Army recruiter's number is 864-654-3888.

Not a great deal for freshmen and sophomores, but a little more later on for juniors and seniors. For freshmen and sophomores, ROTC meets for one hour a week with a hands-on lab for two additional hours every other week. For junior and senior cadets, class is one hour in the fall and two hours in the spring, with lab for two additional hours weekly.

No, military science classes are scheduled just like any other class. We have a planned curriculum to work with the most common Clemson course requirements and accommodate the ROTC students at Southern Wesleyan and Tri-County Tech. It's not to say that it won't happen, but you will find us very flexible when working through conflicts.

Mainly, they are just like any other college student. They earn an academic degree and learn to think and reason at the college level. Along the way, they will learn leadership skills and have experiences that will set them apart from their peers. These skills and experiences will qualify them to become officers in the U.S. Army. Upon graduation, they are placed in job positions as second lieutenants, either on active duty or in the Reserves or National Guard.

No. ROTC is taken for elective credit, but you can receive a minor in military leadership by taking all four years of military science and a few other related courses. The military science department is part of the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business. ROTC students choose a major in any other course of study in which they are interested and qualified.

Yes! In fact, we highly encourage students to participate in other activities. We subscribe to the total person concept and want well-rounded individuals to lead the Army and the nation into the 21^st century. Participating in other activities is one of the criteria looked favorably upon when a student applies for an ROTC scholarship. Clubs, athletics and volunteer activities are all helpful endeavors in developing your leadership skills.

Yes. The Clemson Rangers, Pershing Rifles, Tiger Platoon and Scabbard and Blade are all activities that ROTC supports. The Ranger Challenge Team, the Army ROTC varsity sport, is another activity to participate in. Our students also form their own intramural sports teams, as well as participate in fundraising and community service projects.

ROTC is an equal-opportunity program. We encourage participation without regard to gender, race, origin or religious affiliation. NOTE: Certain eligibility requirements, including citizenship, age restrictions, medical qualifications, etc., must be met to earn a commission.

No. Any Clemson, Southern Wesleyan or Tri-County Tech student is free to try ROTC as an elective course offering.

No, you may wear civilian attire to class on Tuesdays. However, during Thursday's lab time, uniforms are required. You will be issued the uniforms and equipment you need free of charge.

Here is the deal concerning hair: we do not cut anyone's hair! You must, however, meet the Army's appearance standards. That may mean, for males, shorter hair than you currently have, but nobody gets his (or her) head shaved. Females must wear their hair up off the collar of their uniform.

No, it's not. Our juniors, seniors and scholarship students must partake in physical training (PT) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6-7 a.m. For the rest, it is considered an optional activity. We strongly encourage a healthy lifestyle that incorporates a regular fitness program. Incidentally, we do more than run during our time together. We play sports, do aerobics, complete obstacle courses and participate in many other fun activities that get us into good physical condition.

Not entirely; we do a good portion of our training outdoors. We do enjoy adventure activities such as hiking, rappelling and orienteering. If these types of activities excite you, then register for a class. You have nothing to lose!

Yes, once a semester, usually. These trips are called field training exercises, or FTXs for short. These trips are designed for ROTC students to enhance their leadership skills in a field environment. These trips include training on real Army bases, rides on tanks and helicopters, visits to historic battlefields, etc.

Yes. During the summer between your junior and senior years of college (typically), all ROTC students will attend LDCA. This five-week leadership experience is the culmination of your training thus far and goes a long way in determining your future as an officer. Many other summer training opportunities are entirely optional, such as the Army Airborne or Air Assault schools or the Northern Warfare training camp, to name a few.

For most students, it's the start of your junior year of college. This is when you decide whether or not you want to pursue a commission in the Army. At this time, you would sign a contract with the U.S. Army. This applies to two-year scholarship students and all non-scholarship students in the program. A three-year or four-year scholarship winner becomes obligated at the start of their sophomore year.

Eight years, but let's break it down so it does not appear quite so daunting! These eight years can be fulfilled in several ways: three or four years (depending on scholarship status) on active duty and the remainder in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). Essentially, the IRR is a non-active status with no drill requirements. The other option is six years in a drill unit of the Reserves or National Guard, meeting one weekend monthly and two weeks each summer, followed by two years in the IRR. This obligation is federally mandated and is the same obligation across all services.

We accept students with prior experience, and, in fact, in some cases, prior service may be counted toward your ROTC basic course.