Summer Training Opportunities

Airborne School

Army ROTC cadets may attend the US Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia. This physically demanding three week course trains soldiers to conduct military parachute operations. During the final week of the course, cadets conduct five parachute jumps as a prerequisite to graduation. Cadets who graduate are awarded the U.S. Army Parachutist Badge. Airborne School adds to an officer's professional development regardless of future Branch or assignment choices. Airborne qualification is a prerequisite for assignment to Airborne units such as the 82nd Airborne Division and 173rd Airborne Brigade. Additionally, extra military schooling opportunities may be made available upon graduation from the Officers' Basic Course to officers who are already Airborne qualified.

Air Assault School

Army ROTC cadets may attend the US Army Air Assault School at any of a number of Army posts. This physically demanding 12 day course trains soldiers to conduct military operations with Army Aviation support. In addition to a challenging physical training program, the course includes instruction on preparing and inspecting external sling loads, rappelling from helicopters, and a 12-mile timed road march in full combat gear. Cadets who graduate are awarded the U.S. Army Air Assault Badge. Air Assault School adds to an officer's professional development regardless of future Branch or assignment choices. Air Assault qualification is a requirement for officers assigned to the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

Mountain Warfare School

Mountain Warfare School is a two-week course taught by the Vermont National Guard at Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho, Vermont. The training is designed to make you an expert in mountain operations. Mountain Warfare School is both physically and mentally demanding. Training is non-stop, 15 hours per day, for 14 days. If you can carry a 65-pound rucksack up to five miles per day in mountainous terrain and are competent with both day and night land navigation you may have what it takes to complete this course.

Northern Warfare School

Army ROTC cadets may attend the U.S. Army Northern Warfare Training Center at Fort Greely, Alaska. This three week course provides training in the skills required for survival, movement, and the conduct of military operations in mountainous terrain and cold regions. Students are taught basic mountain climbing and mountaineering skills including rock climbing, mountain walking techniques, basic knots, ice climbing, and route selection. The course culminates in a three day field exercise that takes place on Gulkana Glacier. Students learn the importance of trusting their equipment and build confidence in themselves. This professional development course is advisable for those considering assignment to units in Alaska.

Cadet Troop Leading Training (CTLT)

The purpose of the CTLT is to expose cadets to the life of a Platoon Leader in an active army TO&E unit, such as the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, and 1st Cavalry Division at Ft. Hood, and the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea. CTLT allows cadets to observe other leadership styles and allow them to develop their own. Cadets must have completed the Leadership Development and Assessment Course to be eligible. The Department of Defense Internships offer opportunities for cadets with special language, technical, or research skills with various agencies to include positions with the Central Identification Laboratory, Defense Information systems Agency, National Ground Intelligence Center, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Army Science Board, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine. Cadets receive an Officer Evaluation Report (OER) upon completion of CTLT.

Drill Cadet Leadership Training (DCLT)

The 4-week DCLT program provides Cadets serve in a platoon leader or executive officer positions in IMT companies and work closely with Drill Sergeants and other cadre. Cadets experience leadership training with Initial Military Training (IMT) Companies. Positions lengths vary in duration depending on the host unit and location. Cadets an opportunity to apply leadership skills, interact with highly skilled and experienced Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs) and drill sergeants, and improves common task skill proficiency in an Army training environment. Cadets must attend a Staff Cadre Training Course (SCTC) prior to training in IMT units .This program is exclusively designed for MSIII Cadets after completion of CST.

Cultural Understanding and Language Proficiency (CULP)

CULP is a cultural immersion program that allows selected cadets to travel to another country for the summer. Selection for the program is based on GPA and foreign language proficiency. This program provides cadets with the opportunity to study in foreign countries or within the United States with foreign military personnel. The goal of this training is to develop culturally competent leaders able to function in the contemporary operational environment. Cadets must have a basic knowledge of the language, as they may be placed in a position to interact with the indigenous populace and government and reflect the appropriate cultural sensitivities in positive interactions with the media. CULP Internship locations included China, Indonesia, Japan, Morocco, Russia, Senegal, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Botswana, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Vietnam, Panama, and Mongolia.

Sapper Leaders Course

The Sapper Leader Course is a 28-day course designed to train joint-service leaders in small unit tactics, leadership skills, and tactics required to perform as part of a combined arms team. The SLC will teaches cadets mountaineering, water jumping, demolitions, as well as many other engineer- and infantry-related tasks. This course is open to all qualified cadets and successful completion authorizes you to wear the Sapper tab.

Cadet Initial Entry Training

For Prospective Cadets who would like to join Army ROTC but did not enroll until the end of Sophomore year, the Cadet Initial Entry Training covers all the information instructed during MS101/102 and MS201/202, allowing interested students to enter the program at the beginning of their Junior year. From the Cadet Command Web Site:

  • The Soldier First Phase. This is a Basic "introduction to the Army" to teach cadets skills and knowledge necessary to successfully participate in the next three phases. Cadets have described this phase as "teaching them what right looks like". Specifically, cadets learn military customs and courtesies such as saluting, how to wear the uniform and how to march.
  • The Warrior Leader Phase. This part of their training covers adventure training, which builds both cadet self confidence and unit esprit-de-corps. Focus is on individual skills as a precursor to learning group dynamics. Cadets learn basic military skills in order to function as a small group member.
  • The Bold Leader Phase. This phase is the course's "Capstone Exercise". Cadets are exposed to squad level operations where cadre assesses the cadet's leadership ability in a field environment. The Field Training Exercise is intentionally tough and introduces the element of stress. Throughout the exercise cadets encounter physical and mental obstacles that challenge them as a person, cadet and leader.
  • The Future Leader Phase. This portion of the cadet's training introduces them to the social aspect of the Army. Final briefings are conducted as well as a Family Day in conjunction with a cadet run graduation ceremony.

Cadet Summer Training (CST)

From the Cadet Command Web Site:

The ROTC Cadet Summer Training is the most important training event for an Army ROTC cadet or National Guard Officer Candidate. The 33-day training event incorporates a wide range of subjects designed to develop and evaluate leadership ability. The challenges are rigorous and demanding, both mentally and physically. CST tests intelligence, common sense, ingenuity and stamina. These challenges provide a new perspective on an individual's ability to perform exacting tasks and to make difficult decisions in demanding situations.

CST places each cadet and officer candidate in a variety of leadership positions, many of which simulate stressful combat situations. In each position, cadets will receive evaluations from platoon tactical and counseling (TAC) officers and noncommissioned officers. In addition to proving their leadership ability, cadets and officer candidates must meet established standards in physical fitness, weapons training, communication, combat patrols and demonstrate their proficiency in many other military skills. Cadets and officer candidates must excel at CST to be considered competitive for a commission as an Army officer.