Military Science

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Chairman: Lt. Col. Samantha Ross

The Department of Military Science offers an elective program to qualify male and female students for commissions as officers in the U.S. Army. The Army ROTC program has two phases; a basic course, normally taken during the freshman and sophomore years, and an advanced course, normally taken during the junior and senior years. Selection for the advanced course is competitive.

Laboratory and extracurricular activities include numerous optional confidence-building activities such as white-water rafting, group historical trips, Ranger Challenge military stakes competition, airmobile operations, paintball games, and rappelling.

During the senior year, the student has the option of applying for one of two types of commissions. The first type, a Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) commission as a citizen soldier with the Reserve Forces, is for graduates wishing to serve as a U.S. Army Reserve or U.S. Army National Guard Officer while pursuing a civilian occupation. The second option enables the graduate to go on active duty, perhaps after completing graduate and/or post graduate scholastic requirements.

Laboratories offered by the Department of Military Science focus on the application of leadership methods and techniques that are taught in the classroom. Laboratories stress adventure and outdoor activity as a means to build personal confidence. This is an optional activity for students who are enrolled in the basic course. Labs are mandatory for students in the advanced course and for those who are receiving scholarship benefits.

All students accepted into the advanced course must attend the Leadership Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) during the summer after their junior year. The purpose of LDAC is to evaluate the leadership potential of officer candidates who wish to pursue a commission in the United States Army. This five-week course builds upon the skills and methods taught during the junior year.

Exciting internships are offered to sophomores and juniors who qualify. Military internships offer students the ability to become certified in skills taught by U.S. Army Schools. Some of these skills are parachutist certification (Airborne), rappelling certification (Air Assault), and winter survival certification. Other internships include foreign exchange programs which allow students to participate in officer commissioning programs in other countries. Most of the internships offer job experience in multiple career fields found in the United States Army, including infantry, transportation, medical, and legal areas. Applicants who are selected serve as junior leaders in a designated career field for a period of four to six weeks. Travel, pay, and benefits are included with all internships.

Army ROTC scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis and applications can be accepted as late as the senior year. Participation by non-contracted or non-scholarship students in the basic course incurs no military commitment.

Students must take Army ROTC for a letter grade. To register, the student should visit the Department of Military Science, Room 407, AS & RC Building. For further information, call collect at (518) 276-6254.

Faculty*

Professor: S. Ross
Assistant Professor: C. Layton

*Departmental faculty listings are accurate as of the date generated for inclusion in this catalog. For the most up-to-date listing of faculty positions, including end-of-year promotions, please refer to the Faculty Roster section of this catalog, which is current as of the May 2012 Board of Trustees meeting.

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