Department of Military Science

MONTE YODER, Chair

Adjunct Professor

Monte Yoder, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army

Adjunct Assistant Professors

Vermele Belcher, Captain, U.S. Army, Admissions and Scholarship Officer

Calvin McCommons, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Operations Officer

Scott Walton, Major, U.S. Army, Executive Officer

Introduction

The UNC–Chapel Hill Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) offers training to any student in the principles of leadership. In academic and hands-on environments, students learn and utilize leadership skills in demand today in the private sector and in the military. Those who complete the course of instruction, and are otherwise eligible, can be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. In seeking the scholar-athlete-leader student, the program offers a wide variety of leadership experiences, academic challenges, and unique learning opportunities not available with any other department. Qualified students may receive scholarships, opportunities for study abroad in military exchange programs, adventure training such as Airborne and Air Assault School, or other leadership intern programs.

Students who successfully complete the program and meet Army requirements are commissioned in a branch within the active duty Army, Army National Guard, or Army Reserve. Those choosing active duty have guaranteed job placement, worldwide travel opportunities, and an average starting salary of approximately $42,000, of which approximately one-third is tax-free. Graduates can expect to be promoted to captain and have a salary of approximately $70,000 in their fourth year of service. There is a minimum three-year commitment in exchange for receiving a commission. Different options in the program have different minimum service requirements.

Academics

Four-Year Program

Students enrolled in the four-year program take one class during each semester of the four years of college study. The first two years comprise the basic course and concentrate on leadership development, writing and communication skills, ethics and values, orientation to the profession of arms, and basic military skills such as land navigation and small unit movement. As juniors, students enter the advanced course. Academic and hands-on instruction include application of leadership skills, advanced land navigation, military history, principles of military law, and small unit tactics. Between the junior and senior years, qualified students attend a four-week leadership development and assessment course at Fort Lewis, Washington. In their senior year, students submit their branch preferences and request either active duty or duty in the Army Reserve/National Guard (one weekend per month, two weeks a year). Those who meet all requirements for commissioning are promoted to the rank of second lieutenant upon graduation from UNC–Chapel Hill.

Two-Year Program

The two-year program provides an opportunity for students who did not attend the program in their first and sophomore years to meet the requirements for commissioning as officers in the United States Army. Students who have previously served in any of the armed services, active or reserve, are eligible to enroll directly into the advanced course at the Army Institute of Leadership. Others may attend a four-week leadership internship at Fort Knox, Kentucky, to complete basic course requirements. Attendance at this leaders’ training course is designed to introduce prospective cadets to the program and give them an understanding of the Army. A third way to receive basic course credit is through an accelerated on-campus training program tailored to prepare students for the advanced course. This option is available for select scholar-athlete-leaders. Qualifying by way of any of the above-mentioned avenues, a student is then eligible to contract and move to the advanced course leading to a commission.

Extracurricular Activities

Army ROTC offers a wide array of extracurricular activities. Students looking for excitement and action can volunteer to attend the basic airborne course, air assault, or mountain warfare training. Other opportunities include participation as a member of the Ranger Challenge Team or color guard as well as leadership opportunities in actual Army units both in the United States and around the world.

Program Eligibility

Army ROTC basic course classes are open to all first-year students and sophomores, with no eligibility requirements. Juniors and seniors may take basic course leadership classes with the permission of the course instructor. Those students who wish to obtain a United States Army commission upon graduation must meet minimum United States Defense Department requirements. These include being a United States citizen, having a minimum GPA of 2.0, being medically qualified, meeting the age requirement, and being recommended by the department chair.

Scholarships

Four-year scholarships are available for high school seniors. Three-and-a-half, three, two-and-a-half, and two-year scholarships are available to students already enrolled as full-time students at the University. These are merit-based scholarships. Successful candidates will meet the eligibility requirements listed above and have a GPA above 2.5. Scholarships pay full tuition and fees, a $600 per semester book allowance, and a monthly stipend between $300 and $500 depending on the student’s year at the University. The North Carolina Army National Guard and the United States Army Reserve also have programs that can pay costs associated with attending the University. Upon graduation, cadets may become officers either in the active Army or remain in the Reserves.

Service Obligations

Upon contracting (upon receipt of a scholarship or usually in the junior year), the cadet incurs an obligation to serve in the United States Army; that service can be either active or reserve duty. Different programs have different obligations. Service obligations range from three years to eight years. The admissions and scholarship officer can provide more information.

Students seeking a commission must complete one semester of military history and PHIL/POLI/PWAD 272 (The Ethics of Peace, War, and Defense).

Contact Information

Prospective students are encouraged to check the departmental Web site, http://www.unc.edu/armyrotc, and then call the admissions officer (919) 962-5546, or cell (919) 636-2200 for an individual program assessment.

ARMY

050 [006E] First-Year Seminar: Leadership in the 21st Century (3). This seminar is for all first-year students who desire to become better leaders, both on campus and after graduation. The course focuses on such topics as critical reasoning, creative thinking, problem solving, decision making, leadership theory and principles, followership, group dynamics, and goal setting.

100 [001] Leadership Laboratory (0). Drill and ceremony, marksmanship, land navigation exercises, first aid, small unit tactics, and confidence course training. Strongly encouraged for all basic course students and required for all advanced course students.

101 [011] Adventures in Leadership (1). This course offers an introduction to basic leadership in both corporate America and the Army, comparing and contrasting approaches. The curriculum includes leader attributes and values, leadership styles, leadership/management structure, written and verbal communications, time management, goal setting.

102 [012] Adventures in Leadership (1). A sequel building on the material in ARMY 101, this course offers an introduction to basic leadership theories and techniques common to both corporate America and the Army: understanding your own cognitive preferences and learning style, active listening, developmental counseling, problem solving, types and formats of briefings, communicating orally and in writing, leader values.

190 [099] Seminar in Selected Topics of Military Science (1–3). Permission of the department chair. A detailed examination of current topics regarding the United States Army. Provides a course for Army ROTC cadets who require additional course work to meet commissioning and/or scholarship requirements due to extenuating circumstances.

196 [096] Independent Study (1–3). Permission of the department chair and an interview with the professor. Any serious student unable to schedule military science courses during their allotted time frames may sign up for any Army course through independent study.

200 [002] Leadership Laboratory (0). Drill and ceremony, marksmanship, land navigation exercises, first aid, small unit tactics, and confidence course training. Strongly encouraged for all basic course students and required for all advanced course students.

201 [031] Leadership Discovery (2). Develops leadership styles for application in small organizations. Students identify successful leadership characteristics of others through observation and experiential learning exercises. Students maintain a leadership journal and discuss observations in small group settings. Required for cadets.

202 [032] Tactical Leadership (2). Introduction to planning, organizing, and leading small unit offensive and defensive operations. Also study of how application of leadership principles forges Army teams. Required for cadets.

301 [071] Military Science and Leadership (3). Prerequisite, completion of basic course (ARMY 101, 102, 201, and 202) or permission of the instructor. Analyzes the profession of arms and the role of the officer. Develops abilities to organize, plan, and execute military operations. Hands-on experience in troop leading procedures, supervising other cadets. Conducts squad-size battle drills. Required for cadets.

302 [072] Advanced Military Operations (3). Prerequisite, completion of ARMY 301 or permission of the instructor. Study of doctrine, organization, equipment, and training of threat forces around the world. Continued development of abilities to conduct offensive and defensive operations building to platoon level. Required for cadets.

401 [091] Leadership and Management (3). Prerequisites, ARMY 301 and 302 or permission of the department chair. Theory and practice in leadership, management, and counseling. Emphasis on multitask planning and execution. Required for cadets.

402 [092] Officership (3). Prerequisites, ARMY 301 and 302 or permission of the department chair. Studies include introduction to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and establishing an ethical command climate. Emphasis is on critical areas junior officers should be familiar with to be successful future leaders. Required for cadets.