Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is an on-campus commissioning program open to all students who are U.S. citizens and interested in service as an active-duty Army officer or Reserve officer in the National Guard or U.S. Army Reserve. APU’s ROTC program is an extension of the Claremont McKenna College (CMC) Army ROTC program. Most activities are conducted on campus at APU. Students may compete for full-tuition scholarships, fees for books, and a monthly stipend. See the Financial Aid section of this catalog for more information.

Army ROTC challenges students to develop leadership traits critical to any career but designed for the military environment. Classroom instruction and leadership laboratories give students an active role in learning and reinforcing course concepts. Additional events each semester include training exercises in leadership development, orienteering, rappelling, rifle marksmanship, and small-unit tactics.

Students also may participate in active Army training schools during the summer. The Cadet Professional Development Programs are designed to immerse cadets in various domains while allowing a unique training experience and opportunity that cannot be replicated in a university setting.

The Cultural Understanding and Language Proficiency (CULP) program and Cultural Awareness Training deployments produce a cadet who is culturally astute, and familiar with the methodology to analyze operational environment and cultures, then apply this information to plans and behavior. Culturally astute leaders recognize personal and organizational biases and are aware of the strategic impact of their actions. CULP cadets collaborate with diverse actors in a joint, interorganizational, and multinational setting, including host nation military and civilians, U.S. government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations.

The Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT) internship training program provides cadets the opportunity to experience leadership in Army Tables of Organization and Equipment (TO&E) units in a CONUS or OCONUS unit. Cadets serve in lieutenant-level platoon leadership positions in active-duty units. Cadets get opportunities to apply leadership skills, interact with company commanders, other junior offices, skilled senior noncommissioned officers (NCOs), and junior NCOs in an operational environment. CTLT is exclusively designed for MSIII cadets who have graduated from the Advance Camp. CTLT Cadets receive a formal evaluation/OER from their active-duty command at the completion of the course.

The Drill Cadet Leader Training (DCLT) internship program provides cadets the opportunity to serve in platoon leader or executive officer positions in Initial Military Training (IMT) companies and work closely with drill sergeants and cadre. Cadets experience leadership training with IMT companies, and get opportunities to apply leadership skills and interact with company commanders and other junior officers, skilled senior noncommissioned officers, and drill sergeants to improve common task skill proficiency in an Army training environment. DCLT is designed exclusively for MSLIII cadets who have graduated from CST Advanced Course. DCLT cadets receive a formal evaluation/OER from their active-duty chain of command at the completion of the course.

The cadet internship track provides cadets myriad opportunities to seek additional training in specialized areas such as scientific application, engineering, nursing, medicine, intelligence, and cultural awareness. The internship types, locations, and allocations change from year to year. There are typically 15 internships excluding CTLT and DCLT that range in length from two to four weeks. Priority is typically given to MSLIII cadets. Each internship has uniquely different requirements. Some are paid, some are not paid.

• Airborne Training, a three-week course at Fort Benning, Georgia, teaches military parachuting techniques and awards airborne wings to participants upon completion of their fifth jump.
• Air Assault Training, a two-week course at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, teaches insertion, evacuation, and Pathfinder missions that call for the use of multipurpose transportation and assault helicopters.
• Mountain Warfare is a two-week course taught in Jericho, Vermont. Students learn fundamental light infantry tactics, techniques, and skills necessary for survival in mountainous terrain.
• Northern Warfare is a three-week course held in Fort Greely, Alaska, and is designed to teach skills necessary to survive in arctic/winter environments.

Students meet basic requirements through class attendance in their freshman and sophomore years, or through attendance at a five-week intensive summer leadership training course at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Students with two full years of college remaining after completion of this training course may enroll in the advanced program. Advanced program students attend the Cadet Leadership Course (CLC; formerly the Leader Development and Assessment Course, LDAC) at Fort Knox between their junior and senior years of college. This camp, the capstone event of each student’s ROTC career, offers an opportunity to demonstrate leadership skills while working alongside fellow students from across the nation.

Qualified students can enroll in Army ROTC if they have at least two full years of full-time academic coursework remaining. Participation in the basic course (freshman/sophomore years) carries no military obligation, except for scholarship students. The service obligation is four years of active duty or eight years of Reserve duty. Students may apply for a guaranteed Reserve force duty. Graduate students may also participate in ROTC as long as they remain on full-time status and have two years remaining at their graduate institution. Education delays are available to complete advanced schooling, usually medical, dental, or law school.

Students with prior service time, prior ROTC training, or Reserve training may qualify for immediate advanced program placement. Selected students also may participate in a Reserve or National Guard unit while in ROTC, drawing pay from both.

For more information, visit the CMC ROTC website or contact the CMC Military Science Department at (909) 621-8102.

The following Military Science and Leadership (MSL) courses are offered through Claremont McKenna College and are open to all Azusa Pacific University students, especially those with an interest in physical and mental challenges, organizational leadership, management, history, and the military as a profession. Many of these courses are held on the APU campus.

MSL 99 Army Physical Training Program (1 unit)

This course aligns with the Army’s current physical fitness training philosophy of cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition training. It includes a wide variety of events: unit distance runs and ability groups, circuit training, upper- and lower-body strength drills, swimming, and road marching. The course helps instill the fundamentals of conditioning and exposes students to a variety of conditioning drills that can be incorporated into an individual fitness program for life. Additionally, the course teaches team building and esprit de corps utilizing standard Army training doctrine. This course fulfills APU’s General Education Fitness for Life requirement.

MSL 101 Introduction to the Army (1 unit)

This course focuses on the introduction to the Army and critical thinking. It introduces cadets to the Army and the profession of arms. Students examine the Army profession and what it means to be a professional in the Army. The overall focus is on developing basic knowledge and comprehension of the Army Leadership Requirements model while gaining a complete understanding of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program, its purpose in the Army, and its advantages for the student. Cadets also learn how resiliency and fitness support their development as an Army leader. Includes a weekly lab facilitated by MSL III cadets and supervised by Cadre.

MSL 102 Foundations of Agile and Adaptive Leadership (1 unit)

This course introduces cadets to the personal challenges and competencies that are critical for effective leadership. Cadets learn about the personal development of life skills such as critical thinking, time management, goal setting, and communication, and learn the basics of the communications process and the importance of leaders developing the essential skills to effectively communicate in the Army. Cadets begin learning the basics of squad-level tactics, which are reinforced during a weekly lab facilitated by MSL III cadets and supervised by Cadre. Prerequisite: MSL 101 or permission of instructor.

MSL 201 Leadership and Decision Making (2 units)

This course focuses on leadership and decision making. Outcomes are demonstrated through critical and creative thinking and the ability to apply troop leading procedures (TLP) innovative solutions to problems. The Army profession is also taught through leadership forums and a leadership self-assessment. Students are then required to apply their knowledge outside the classroom in a hands-on, performance-oriented environment during a weekly lab facilitated by MSL III cadets and supervised by Cadre. Prerequisite: MSL 102 or permission of instructor.

MSL 202 Army Doctrine and Team Development (2 units)

This course focuses on Army doctrine and team development. Cadets begin the journey to understanding and demonstrating competencies as they relate to Army doctrine; Army values, teamwork, the warrior ethos, and their relationship to the Law of Land Warfare and philosophy of military service are also stressed. The ability to lead and follow is also covered through team-building exercises at the squad level. Students are then required to apply their knowledge outside the classroom in a hands-on, performance-oriented environment during a weekly lab facilitated by MSL III cadets and supervised by Cadre. Prerequisite: MSL 201 or permission of instructor.

MSL 301 Training Management and the Warfighting Functions (4 units)

This course focuses on training management and warfighting functions. It is an academically challenging course in which students study, practice, and apply the fundamentals of training management and how the Army operates through the warfighting functions. At the conclusion of this course, students are capable of planning, preparing, and executing training for a squad conducting small-unit tactics. Includes a weekly lab using peer facilitation overseen by MSL IVs and supervised by ROTC Cadre. Prerequisite: MSL 202 or permission of instructor.

MSL 302 Applied Leadership in Small-Unit Operations (4 units)

This course focuses on applied leadership in small-unit operations. It is an academically challenging course in which students study, practice, and apply the fundamentals of direct level leadership and small-unit tactics at the platoon level. At the conclusion of this course, students are capable of planning, coordinating, navigating, motivating, and leading a platoon in the execution of a mission. Includes a weekly lab using peer facilitation overseen by MSL IVs and supervised by ROTC Cadre. Successful completion of this course prepare students for the Cadet Summer Training Advance Camp, which they attend in the summer at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Prerequisite: MSL 301 or permission of instructor.

MSL 401 The Army Officer (4 units)

This course focuses on the development of the Army officer. It is an academically challenging course in which students develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities to plan, resource, and assess training at the small-unit level. Students also learn about Army programs that support counseling subordinates and evaluating performance, values and ethics, career planning, and legal responsibilities. At the conclusion of this course, students are familiar with how to plan, prepare, execute, and continuously assess the conduct of training at the company or field grade officer level. Includes a weekly lab overseeing MSL III lesson facilitation, supervised by ROTC Cadre. Prerequisite: MSL 302 or permission of instructor.

MSL 402 Company Grade Leadership (4 units)

This is an academically challenging course in which students develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of junior officers pertaining to the Army in unified land operations and company grade officer roles and responsibilities. This course includes reading assignments, homework assignments, small-group assignments, briefings, case studies, practical exercises, a midterm exam, and an oral practicum as the final exam. The oral practicum explores students’ knowledge of how to prepare for the 20 Army warfighting challenges covered throughout the ROTC advanced course. Successful completion of this course will assist in preparing students for the BOLC B course and is a requirement for commissioning. Includes a weekly lab overseeing MSL III lesson facilitation, supervised by ROTC Cadre. Prerequisite: MSL 401 or permission of instructor.