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Military Science (Army ROTC)

The Military Science Program administers Iowa Army ROTC. It gives students who wish to serve on active or reserve status in the U.S. Army the opportunity to earn commissions as army officers. It also administers merit scholarships from the United States government to qualified students.

Although the Military Science Program does not offer degrees, its courses provide education in the military's role and instruction in leadership and management. The program's courses are an essential part of the Iowa ROTC program, which competes annually in national leadership assessments.

Military Science courses are open to all students. Course credit that counts toward graduation varies by college. Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences may count up to 20 s.h. toward graduation.

Programs

Basic Course

The ROTC basic course is designed primarily for first- and second-year students. It provides the fundamentals of leadership and management and introduces the roles of the military as influenced by national and foreign policy. Students incur no obligation to the military for participation in the basic course.

The following courses satisfy the basic course requirement. Some of these courses are prerequisites to others, so students must be careful to take courses in the correct order. Courses 023:101 Leadership and Personal Development MSL101 and 023:102 Introduction to Tactical Leadership MSL102 are prerequisite to 023:103 Innovative Team Leadership MSL201; courses 023:101 Leadership and Personal Development MSL101, 023:102 Introduction to Tactical Leadership MSL102, and 023:103 Innovative Team Leadership MSL201 are prerequisite to 023:104 Foundations of Tactical Leadership MSL202.

The basic course requirements may be taken over a one- or two-year period or during a four-week paid summer camp, the Leader's Training Course (LTC), at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Students with prior military training normally are exempt from the basic course requirements.

Advanced Course

The ROTC advanced course is open to any student who meets the prerequisites, but is designed primarily for cadets who wish to pursue a commission as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army upon graduation. It is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Most cadets in the advanced course incur an obligation to the military that can be satisfied in the Active Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard.

To enter the advanced course, students must satisfy the basic course requirements, earn at least 54 s.h., and have a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 2.00. In order to become U.S. Army officers, cadets must complete the Leadership Development and Assessment course (LDAC), a five-week session held at Fort Lewis, Washington. Cadets normally attend LDAC during the summer between their third and fourth years. With the military science professor's permission, cadets may delay LDAC until the summer after their final ROTC class.

A tax-free monthly stipend is provided to cadets who enter a contractual agreement with ROTC to serve in the armed forces. Additional financial assistance may be provided through scholarships.

The following courses are the academic requirements for completion of the advanced course. Some of these courses have prerequisites and corequisites, so students must be careful to take courses in the correct order. Prerequisites and corequisites for each course are listed with course descriptions; see "Courses" at the end of this section.

Additional Course Work

Cadets whose aim is a commission must satisfy a Professional Military Education (PME) requirement. They must complete at least one course in military history from the following list. This course may be the same as one used to complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program. Cadets may use other courses to meet the requirement, with the military science professor's approval.

Financial Aid

Military Science offers two-, three-, and four-year ROTC scholarships for students who enter the ROTC program. These scholarships pay tuition at The University of Iowa, an allotment for books and supplies each semester, most mandatory educational fees, and a tax-free monthly stipend during the academic year. Scholarships also are available for nursing students who wish to become Army nurses.