The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) are a group of college-based officer training programs for training commissioned officers of the United States Armed Forces.
Marywood University offers students the opportunity to participate in Army ROTC through a partnership with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Army Reserve Officer Training Corps’ Royal Warrior Battalion located nearby at The University of Scranton. The primary objective of the Reserve Officer Training Program is to develop leadership capabilities in all students and to train future officers for the active Army, US Army Reserve, Army National Guard, and leaders for the country. The Royal Warrior Battalion continually ranks in the top 10% of all ROTC programs nationwide. The Battalion has recently celebrated seventy years of commissioning outstanding officers for the Army. The Army ROTC program can be tailored to fit almost any student’s schedule, particularly in the freshman and sophomore years.
Military Science instruction is offered to Marywood students at The University of Scranton with two, three, and four-year programs leading to a commission as an officer in one of the three components of the United States Army. Any Marywood University student may participate in any basic Army ROTC course without cost or obligation for the first two years. To be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, students must pass a physical examination and complete at least the final two years of the ROTC program of Military Science courses. Students normally take one course per semester during their normal four-year course of study, although there are numerous options to meet each student’s academic needs. All students receiving ROTC scholarships as well as sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are contracted with the Army receive a tax-free monthly stipend of $420 a month to cover living expenses. The stipend is paid directly to the student each month that they are in school or participating in Army ROTC summer training.
The Army ROTC Department provides all uniforms, equipment, and textbooks required for the classes. In addition to the academic classes, students may also participate on a voluntary basis in many additional training opportunities such as physical training and hands-on equipment training each week. Each semester there is a military social event and at least one-weekend training session that includes such events as military marksmanship, cross-country orienteering, military rappelling, leadership application courses, and obstacle/confidence courses. During breaks and vacations, students can volunteer for active Army training such as military parachute operations, helicopter operations, military mountain climbing, and training with active army units in the United States and overseas. There are also numerous opportunities for academic internships with state and federal agencies through Army ROTC. Army ROTC also offers language and cultural immersion programs offering incentives for language classes taken on campus as well as funded study abroad and summer foreign exchange internships to thirty countries. All Army-sponsored training is cost-free to the student, and students are paid for some summer training courses.
The ROTC program consists of two programs, the basic courses normally taken during the freshman and sophomore years consisting of MS 101/102, MS 201/202, and MS 111L/112L. The advanced courses normally taken during the junior and senior years consist of MS 301/302, MS 401/402, and MS 131/132. Students who have completed basic training in any U.S. service may qualify for placement in the advanced course depending on their university academic standing. Additionally, students who have not completed the ROTC basic course may qualify for the advanced course by attending a paid four-week long basic leadership training course (ROTC Basic Camp) conducted each summer at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Incoming freshmen, transfer students, and all enrolled Marywood University students can compete for one- to four-year ROTC scholarships that pay full tuition and fees regardless of cost and $1,200 per year for books in addition to the monthly stipend. The Army will commission successful graduates as a Second lieutenant (2LT) with a starting salary of over $42,000 per year plus housing allowance, food allowance, and medical and dental benefits, as well as 30 days paid vacation per year. For more information on the Army ROTC program at Marywood University contact the Army ROTC Department at (570) 299-0737 or (978) 815-4039.
Course Descriptions
Military Science (MS) MS 138 – Physical Fitness Training (1 credit) U.S. Army Master Fitness trainers supervise a comprehensive fitness program based on the latest military fitness techniques and principles. The classes are conducted on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Classes are conducted at The University of Scranton’s Fitzpatrick Field or Byron Fitness Center and are normally one hour each.
MS 101/102 – Concepts of Leadership I/II (1 credit each) Military Science 101 and 102 courses introduce Cadets to the personal challenges and competencies that are critical for effective leadership. Cadets learn how the personal development of life skills such as critical thinking, goal setting, time management, physical fitness, and stress management relate to leadership and officership. The courses help students develop basic knowledge and understanding of Army leader attributes and core leader competencies and understand the role of R.O.T.C. and its purpose in the Army. In addition to classroom instruction, all students enrolled in Military Science 101/102 will participate in Army Physical Training three days a week, Military Leadership Labs once a week, and a Battalion Level Field Training Exercise each semester. Classes are one hour and meet once each week.
MS 201/202 – Dynamics of Leadership I/II (2 credits each) The Military Science and Leadership 201 and 202 courses will highlight dimensions of terrain analysis, patrolling, and operation orders. Additional learning objectives of this course are to explore leadership in the operational environment incorporating tactical strategies and team development. Cadets will continue to explore theoretical foundations of the Army leadership framework and investigate adaptive leadership in the context of military operations. This course is designed to provide the student with a glimpse of future subjects and to provide the student with enough information to make an informed decision on their interest level for this course. In addition to classroom instruction all students enrolled in Military Science 201/202 will participate in Army Physical Training three days a week, Military Leadership Labs once a week, and a Battalion Level Field Training Exercise each semester. Classes are two hours and meet once each week.
MS 301/302 – Military Leadership (1.5 credits each) The Military Science 301 and 302 courses challenge Cadets to study, practice, and evaluate leadership skills as they are presented with the demands of preparing for the R.O.T.C. Cadet Summer Training (CST) Advanced Camp. Students are presented with challenging scenarios related to small-unit tactical operations to develop self-awareness and critical-thinking skills. Cadets are expected to apply effective oral and written communications skills to operations. Cadets receive systematic and specific feedback from peers and instructors on their leadership values, attributes, skills, and actions. In addition to classroom instruction all students enrolled in Military Science 301/302 will participate in Army Physical Training three days a week, Military Leadership Labs once a week, and a Battalion Level Field Training Exercise each semester. Classes are two hours each week. Prerequisite: Advanced placement credit required.
MS 401/402 – Advanced Military Leadership (1.5 credits each) Military Science 401 and 402 are designed to develop a student’s proficiency in leading, planning, executing, and assessing complex operations, as well as functioning as a member of a staff and providing leadership-performance feedback to subordinates. These courses provide students with situational opportunities to assess risk, analyze Military History, make ethical decisions and provide mentoring to fellow Military Science students. Students are expected to analyze and evaluate their own leadership skills, as well as those of fellow cadets to further develop those leadership abilities. In addition to classroom instruction all students enrolled in Military Science 401/402 will participate in Army Physical Training three days a week, Military Leadership Labs once a week, and a Battalion Level Field Training Exercise each semester. Additionally, all MS 401 Cadets will take part in a Military Staff Ride to a National Battlefield as part of the course and their professional development. Classes are two hours each week. Prerequisite: MS 301/302 or department chair approval.
MS 111L/112L and 131L/132L – Basic and Advanced Leadership Application Laboratory (No credit) Every Cadet enrolled in a Military Science course will normally enroll in and attend a weekly two-hour Leadership Lab conducted each Thursday afternoon. Leadership Labs are designed to allow Cadets to practice the skills and leadership traits they have received in the classroom in a tactical and hands-on setting. Cadets will be trained and tested on a wide range of Military skills at Leadership Labs throughout the semester. Cadets will receive training and instruction in areas such as Drill and Ceremony, First Aid, Small Unit Tactics/Patrolling, Land Navigation, Weapons Assembly and Disassembly, and much more. Leadership Labs are designed to prepare Cadets to be proficient in skills that they will be expected to demonstrate during ROTC Advanced Camp held between the MS III and MS IV years. This class meets at various locations in the Scranton area for two hours each week; it is highly encouraged for students in the basic course and is required for students in the advanced course.
MS 480 – Internship in Military Science Advanced Camp (2 Credits) This (internship is a paid four-week experience of training and evaluation conducted with ROTC cadets from across the country. It gives the student the opportunity to practice the leadership theory acquired in the classroom, as well as participate in a wide range of military skills and tactical training. Prerequisite: MS 301/302 or department chair approval.
MS 481 - Internship in Military Science Cadet Summer Training (1 Credit) This internship is a paid 3-6 experience of leadership training and mentoring. The intern leads and supervises Soldiers in the planning and execution of the unit’s scheduled training as an understudy to a military officer in the U.S. Army. Examples include; Nurse Summer Training Program, Cadet Troop Leading Training, Medical Internship Program, and Army Professional Placement Internship Program.
Recommended 4-Year Course Curriculum Army ROTC classes are normally taken over four years with eight total semesters (four basic and four advanced). A recommended schedule for both the Basic and Advanced Courses would be as follows:
BASIC COURSE
| First Semester (Credits) |
Second Semester (Credits) |
| MS 100 Physical Fitness Training (1) |
MS 100 Physical Fitness Training (1) |
| MS 101 Concepts of Leadership (1) |
MS 102 Concepts of Leadership (1) |
| MS 111L Basic Leadership Lab (0) |
MS 112L Basic Leadership Lab (0) |
| Third Semester (Credits) |
Fourth Semester Credits |
| MS 100 Physical Fitness Training (1) |
MS 100 Physical Fitness Training (1) |
| MS 210 Dynamics of Leadership (2) |
MS 202 Dynamics of Leadership (2) |
| MS 111L Basic Leadership Lab (0) |
MS 112L Basic Leadership Lab (0) |
Email marywoodclubs@marywood.edu if you are interested in joining a club.
