The Marine Corps Reserve Officers Training Program, also known as MCROTC, is a leadership development program designed to commission high-quality leaders for the United States Marine Corps. Participants undertake this program in addition to their undergraduate academic program and attend specific Naval Science and leadership classes. In 1932, the Marine Corps became part of the Navy ROTC program, which offered qualified Navy ROTC graduates the opportunity to commission into the U.S. Marine Corps. The MCROTC program and NROTC program are jointly administered and share a similar curriculum. The MCROTC program specializes in courses more relevant to a career in the Marine Corps.
The Air Force ROTC Program requires cadets to meet academic standards throughout the entire program. Cadets on scholarship must maintain a 2.5 grade point average, and non-scholarship cadets must maintain a 2.0 grade point average.
An important component of academic eligibility for the AFROTC is the Air Force Officer Qualification Test (AFOQT), which is a critical measure of a cadet's aptitude that qualifies them for Officer Training School and the positions of Pilot, Combat Systems Officer, and Air Battle Manager.
The AFOQT is taken during a cadet’s sophomore year and may only be taken twice. It can be compared to the SAT or ACT as it measures verbal and mathematical aptitudes but measures additional aptitudes that are relevant to career fields within the Air Force
After taking the test, cadets will receive results in the areas of: Pilot, Combat Systems Officer, Air Battle Manager, verbal, quantitative, and academic aptitude.
Physical fitness is an important and constant requirement for an Air Force ROTC cadet. The Physical Fitness test (PFT) is taken in the fall and spring semesters each year to ensure that cadets continue to meet the Air Force fitness requirements.
The PFT consists of an abdominal measurement, a minute of push-ups, a minute of sit-ups, and a 1.5 mile run. While there is a rest period of up to five minutes between events, cadets must earn 75 points overall and meet minimum requirements in each category.
Another component of eligibility for the Air Force ROTC program is meeting the medical standards laid out by the Air Force. Cadets must undergo a medical examination conducted by a military doctor or a designated civilian contractor. The examination is scheduled and reviewed by the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB).
It is possible to obtain a waiver for the medical component of the AFROTC. For students who apply for AFROTC through the High School Scholarship program, a waiver request will automatically be forwarded from DoDMERB to the Air Education and Training Command Surgeon General (AETC/SG) for consideration.
College students or cadets who are submitting a waiver request must do so through the Air Force ROTC Detachment Commander at your school to Air Education and Training Command Surgeon General (AETC/SG) for consideration. Should the waiver request be denied, there are certain extenuating circumstances that justify further consideration of the instructions in the DoDMERB notification letter about rebuttals.
The Army Reserve Officers Training Corps program, commonly known as Army ROTC, is a leadership training and development program for college-enrolled students designed to train and commission officers into the United States Army. Army ROTC programs began partly due to laws enacted in the 19th century, including the 1819 National Defense Act and The Land Grant Act of 1862. This Civil War-era law provided federal lands to state-supported colleges on the condition that the colleges provide military training to students. The modern ROTC program came with the passing of the National Defense Act of 1916, which brought military instruction on college campuses under a single, federally controlled program. The first cohort of the ROTC program produced 133 officers who served in World War I. As of today, the Army ROTC program has enabled over 600,000 men and women to become commissioned officers in the Army. Some notable alumni of the Army ROTC Program include former Secretary of State Colin Powell, General Anne E. Dunwoody, and General David Petraeus.
Returning to school is something to consider if you're weighing your options for your next steps after service. It's easier than ever to find a college program that is right for you, whether you are looking for a traditional classroom education, an online program, or a hybrid mix. Which online programs are best? These are a small sample of major colleges and their online degree programs. We encourage you to contact them and learn more about their offerings. The following features are common practices among the best online schools for active duty military: Accreditation: the best schools will be regionally accredited or, in some cases, depending on a student’s long-term goals, nationally accredited. GI Bill Acceptance: top schools will accept the GI Bill and follow the Principles of Excellence. This program requires schools that get federal funding (through programs such as the GI Bill) to follow certain guidelines. Additional Tuition Assistance: schools should take part in additional assistance for tuition, such as the Yellow Ribbon Program or Tuition Assistance for active duty military, which can help pay for school costs not covered by the GI Bill.
