Professor and Head
Terrence J. O’Connor, M.S. (Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army)
General
The mission of the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) is to commission the future officer leadership of the United States Army. Through Army ROTC, a student can earn a commission as a second lieutenant in the active Army, Army Reserve or Army National Guard. The program is open to both male and female full-time students enrolled in four-year baccalaureate or two-year master’s degree programs.
The program is open to both male and female full-time students enrolled in four-year bachelor’s, two-year master’s or doctoral programs.
Florida Tech offers bachelor of science degrees with a military science option in communication and interdisciplinary science (department of education and interdisciplinary studies in the College of Science).
The Army ROTC program at Florida Tech is a general military science curriculum. Instruction covers military fundamentals common to all branches of the service. The program of instruction is designed to complement the student’s academic goals of acquiring a baccalaureate degree in a course of study of his or her own choosing. The curriculum stresses leadership development and management principles. Emphasis is placed on the development of leadership traits and skills that are essential to the student’s success in the Army, or as a civilian in his or her chosen profession. As such, the ROTC program of instruction cuts across conventional subject boundaries and involves elements of various disciplines that are designed to encourage students to interrelate their learning and to apply that knowledge in reflective thinking, goal seeking and problem solving.
The program is divided into the basic course (Military Science 1 and 2) and the advanced course (Military Science 3 and 4). All military science course grades are included in the student’s grade point average. A student wishing to use a military science course to satisfy a degree requirement should consult “Course Substitutions Authorized for ROTC” at the end of this section.
Florida Tech offers both four-year and two-year ROTC programs. The two-year program is particularly beneficial for students who have transferred to Florida Tech from junior colleges where military science training was not available. Such students are required to complete a basic ROTC course at the five-week Army National Leaders Training Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Students may then be enrolled in the advanced course. While attending the Leader’s Training Course, a student receives approximately $700 plus travel expenses to and from camp.
The four-year military science curriculum described below is applicable to both male and female students who meet the required age and physical standards. Students with prior military service or students who were enrolled in a high school JROTC program may be eligible to receive credit for the basic course (MSC 1001 and MSC 1002 ) and directly enter the advanced program, as determined by the professor of military science.
ROTC Training Credit
The military science program chair grants credit for successful completion of Junior ROTC, Leadership Training, U.S. military basic training and in the case of students receiving an alternate entry-level program waiver from the professor of military science. Interested students should contact their advisor. The following credit may be awarded as determined by the program chair:
Leadership Training, Basic Training: MSC 1001 (1), MSC 1002 (1), MSC 1003 (1), MSC 1004 (1)
Junior ROTC (2 years), Leadership Training, Basic Training Course, Alternate Entry-level Program Waiver:* MSC 2001 (2), MSC 2002 (2)
*The professor of military science may grant qualified students alternate entry-level program waivers, that are comprised of a pre-set program to compress MSC 1001 , MSC 1002 , MSC 1003 , MSC 1004 , MSC 2001 and MSC 2002 , and the leadership laboratories.
ROTC Credits Used for Graduation
A Florida Tech student who has been admitted to the ROTC program may elect to use one or more military science courses to partially fulfill requirements for graduation in the program in which the student is enrolled. The number of credit hours that can be substituted for other courses in a degree program depends on the particular program.
Army ROTC Scholarships
The Army ROTC program awards four-, three- and two-year merit-based scholarships to qualified applicants on a competitive basis. These scholarships provide for full tuition and medical fees annually. An additional scholarship benefit is a designated book allowance of $1,200. Army scholarship winners and all advanced course cadets receive a tax-free subsistence allowance ranging from $300-500 a month for up to ten months for each year the scholarship is in effect. Scholarships do not pay flight fees.
A student who enrolls at Florida Tech under contract with the U.S. Army as an ROTC scholarship student receives incentives from the university in addition to the benefits paid by the Army. Four-year scholarship winners receive a room and board scholarship from the university, and may qualify for a grant for tuition not covered by the Army. Three-year advanced designees receive 50 percent tuition assistance for the freshman year. Beginning in the sophomore year, three-year advanced designees receive a room and board scholarship, and may qualify for a grant to cover the tuition balance not covered by the ROTC scholarship from the university. Three- and two-year on-campus scholarship recipients will receive incentive packages similar to the above for all years the scholarship is in effect.
A student who transfers from another university to Florida Tech may be eligible for these incentive benefits as determined on a case-by-case basis by the professor of military science.
Military Science Curriculum
Military Science 1: This independent study course sequence covers the history, mission and organization of ROTC and the U.S. Army; basic customs, marksmanship, navigation and small-unit infantry tactics; and leadership development through practical exercises. Academic classes meet one hour per week. Leadership laboratory meets 1.5 hours per week. ROTC credit, four hours (2 hr/sem). Optional activities: Ranger Company, Color Guard, weekend field exercises and physical training (mandatory for scholarship winners).
Military Science 2: This independent study course sequence offers a more advanced study of map reading and small-unit infantry tactics, and continued leadership development by placement in leader positions within the cadet organization. Academic classes meet two hours per week. Leadership laboratory meets 1.5 hours per week. ROTC credit, two hours/semester. Optional activities: Ranger Company, Color Guard, additional weekend field exercises and physical training (mandatory for scholarship winners).
Military Science 3: This independent study course sequence covers operation orders and platoon tactics; weapons, land navigation, military skills, communications and instructional techniques; and the development of leadership through tactical exercises. Academic classes meet three hours per week. Leadership laboratory meets 1.5 hours per week. Physical training meets four hours per week (attendance required). ROTC credit, six hours (3 hrs/sem). Optional activity: Ranger Company.
Military Science 4: This independent study course sequence covers the conduct of training, ethics, military law and history. Cadet leaders gain practical experience in staff organization and planning while executing the unit’s training program. Academic classes meet three hours per week. Leadership laboratory meets 1.5 hours per week and physical training meets four hours per week (attendance required). ROTC credit, six hours (3 hrs/sem). Optional activity: Ranger Company.
Military Science 5: This independent study course sequence covers a detailed systems approach to studying and understanding military studies; the functions of military organizations and command structures; the functions of military decision-making; the characteristics, attributes and drivers of new telecommunications technologies and components that shape innovation and technological advancement in the military; the fundamentals of military leadership; and significant historical events and current topics.
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