Department of Military Science

Overview

The Army ROTC (AROTC) program at Texas A&M University is the oldest on campus. AROTC cadets are proud contributors to the heritage of the “Fightin’ Texas Aggies” also known as the “Warrior Battalion.” AROTC cadets are integrated in the Corps of Cadets and are leaders in a wide variety of university activities including Student Government, campus athletics, the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, Ross Volunteer Company, Rudder’s Rangers, and Parsons Mounted Calvary. Members of the Army ROTC Ranger Challenge Team are selected from the student organization’s Rudder’s Rangers. The Ranger Challenge team is a perennial contender at both Regional and National levels, finishing in the top five at the Sandhurst competition hosted by the US Military Academy at West Point, New York in consecutive years.

The Army offers a diverse career field to match a student’s education and interests, with virtually no restrictions on the major field of study or discipline with the exception of General Studies. The AROTC student may enter career fields such as engineering, military intelligence, communications, cyber, logistics, finance, personnel administration, medical services, transportation, aviation, law enforcement, artillery, armor or infantry. Engineering students are eligible to participate in the University’s chapter of the Society of American Military Engineers.

Highly qualified applicants may compete to take part in the delayed entry program while pursuing medical or law degrees and selected cadets may attend specialty military training including Airborne, Air Assault, Cold Weather Operations Course, Jungle Warfare Course, Combat Diver Qualification Course, and Basic Mountaineering.

Curriculum

AROTC classes are unique in the college curriculum in offering both classroom instruction and hands-on leadership development opportunities. AROTC is divided into two parts: The Basic and Advanced Courses. The Basic Course (MLSC 100-200 series) is taken during freshman and sophomore years. Coursework covers the areas of military customs, leadership fundamentals, fire team maneuver, map reading, marksmanship and land navigation. Students develop and refine their leadership by participating in weekly tactical leadership labs and field training exercises. Corps of Cadets provide basic uniform issue and lessons are delivered electronically. There is NO military obligation for participation in the Basic Course. When applicable, AROTC provides additional uniforms and equipment. In addition, any student participating in AROTC may attend Basic Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky during the summer after their freshman or sophomore year. For transferring students, attending Basic Camp provides an immersive experience in basic Soldier skills and may replace any Military Science MLSC 100-200 level AROTC requirements.

The Advanced Course (MLSC 300-400 series) is taken in the final two years of college and includes participation in Advanced Camp (off campus) during the summer after the junior or senior year. Advanced Course instruction emphasizes advanced leadership development, organization ethics, critical thinking and problem solving, administration, and military law. Summer Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky enables cadets to implement, in a field environment, the principles and theories acquired in the classroom. Those cadets taking the Advanced Course with a commissioning contract will incur a military obligation to serve as commissioned officers either in the Active Duty Army, Army Reserves, or Army National Guard upon graduation.

Stipends

All cadets in the AROTC program and who have entered into a commissioning contract receive a subsistence allowance. AROTC cadets are encouraged to take courses in strategic languages. Through the Army’s Culture and Language Incentives Program, students can earn up to $300 per credit hour for completing classes in qualifying languages. Strategic Language program in conjunction with AROTC offer study abroad program under Project Global Officer (GO) with Arabic, Japanese, and Russian languages.

Qualified students who join the Army National Guard or Army Reserve, may participate in the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) in which they earn approximately $250 per month. The total dollar amount for SMP cadets can reach $750 per month during their junior and senior years in ROTC. Tuition assistance, which pays between 75-100% of tuition costs, is available through the US Army Reserves and Texas National Guard.

Qualified veterans may enroll directly into the ROTC Advanced Course. Veterans in the Advanced Program receive a tiered subsistence allowance of up to $500 per month in addition to their veterans’ benefits.

Scholarships

The AROTC Scholarship program awards four-year and three-year advance designee scholarships on a competitive basis to students entering AROTC as college freshmen. Two-year, three-year, and 3.5 year scholarships also are available for college students already enrolled in AROTC. These scholarships pay the cost of tuition and required fees or room and board. Also included is a flat rate textbook allowance for the duration of the award. In all, a four-year scholarship can be worth over $70,000 at Texas A&M. Additional scholarship opportunities are available specifically for students participating in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math majors that pay the same benefits as four and three-year ROTC scholarships.

The U.S. Army Health Profession Scholarship Program offers a unique opportunity for financial support to cadets who desire to continue their education beyond their undergraduate work by enrolling in a program leading to a professional degree in medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine.

Contact

Texas A&M Army ROTC staff having served multiple combat and operational deployments overseas, are dedicated to developing academically superior and physically fit commissioned officers recognized as outstanding leaders of character for the U.S. Army Officer Corps. For more information on Army ROTC programs, contact the Military Science Department at (979) 845-2814.

Military Science (MLSC)

MLSC 121 Introduction to the United States Army I

Credits 2. 1 Lecture Hour. 3 Lab Hours. Introduction to the United States Army and the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC); its purpose in the Army and its advantages; Army customs, courtesies, traditions, and Army values; Army history and individual soldier skills with an emphasis on leadership; includes a leadership laboratory.

MLSC 122 Introduction to the United States Army II

Credits 2. 1 Lecture Hour. 3 Lab Hours. The second half of an introductory two-semester survey of the United States Army; principles of leadership, Army history, management theory and individual soldier skills; emphasis on critical thinking and problem solving skills; foundation for tactical and leadership concepts; includes a leadership laboratory.

MLSC 221 Tactics and Leadership Theory I

Credits 3. 2 Lecture Hours. 3 Lab Hours. Dimensions of creative and innovative leadership strategies through team dynamics and leadership theories that form the basis of the Army leadership framework (trait and behavior theories); infantry tactics, techniques and procedures; includes a leadership laboratory.

MLSC 222 Tactics and Leadership Theory II

Credits 3. 2 Lecture Hours. 3 Lab Hours. The second half of a two-semester survey on leadership theory and infantry tactics; emphasis on leading tactical teams in a complex environment; Army planning and orders process; adaptive leadership styles in the context of military operations; case studies on the importance of teamwork and tactics in real-world scenarios; includes a leadership laboratory.

MLSC 321 Adaptive Leadership and Tactical Operations I

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. 1 Lab Hour. Theoretical and practical application of adaptive leadership as it relates to planning, executing and evaluating complex tactical operations; ability to assess risk, ethical decision-making, managing people and critical thinking skills in a tactical environment; includes a leadership laboratory.

MLSC 322 Adaptive Leadership and Tactical Operations II

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. 1 Lab Hour. The second half of a two-semester survey on adaptive leadership and tactical operations; ethical decision-making, planning, executing and evaluating military operations at a tactical level; preparation to attend the Leadership, Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) for the Army's commissioning process; includes a leadership laboratory.

MLSC 421 The Army Officer and the Profession of Arms I

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. 1 Lab Hour. Advanced study, research and practical application of Army training, operations and doctrine; the military as a profession, functioning as a member of a staff, and officership; law of land warfare, principles of war, and rules of engagement and their application; duties and responsibilities of a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army; includes a leadership laboratory.

MLSC 422 The Army Officer and the Profession of Arms II

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. 1 Lab Hour. Dynamics of leadership in a complex world; cultural awareness, terrorism, non-governmental organizations, and operational security; off-site battlefield analysis and application of military concepts; maintaining an ethical climate in an organization, military support structures, and equal opportunity; duties and responsibilities of a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army; includes a leadership laboratory.

MLSC 485 Directed Studies

Credits 1 to 3. 1 to 3 Other Hours. Directed study of problems in the field of military science. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification with approval of department head.

MLSC 489 Special Topics in...

Credits 1 to 4. 1 to 4 Lecture Hours. Selected topics in an identified field of military science. May be repeated for credit.

MLSC 491 Research

Credits 1 to 4. 1 to 4 Lecture Hours. Research conducted under the direction of a faculty member in military science. May be taken three times for credit. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.