Enrollment
Any student who has been accepted to South Dakota State University (SDSU) may enroll in Army ROTC as long as they participate in all required Army ROTC activities. Army ROTC scholarship applicants will be interviewed and will receive confirmation from the professor of military science that they have indeed been accepted to the Army ROTC program. Non-scholarship students need to simply register for the MSL 100 or 200 level class. As long as a cadet meets standards they may remain in the Army ROTC program to pursue a commission.
Contact the Army ROTC Enrollment officer at 605-688-6151. Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 0900-1700. When visiting South Dakota State University also consider conducting a campus tour, attending the Admissions Office information session, the academic major you are interested in and the SDSU Army ROTC Program.
Early Decision deadline is Nov.15. Jan.15 is the deadline for high school applicants and March First for transfer students.
No. Students who enroll in ROTC don't join the Army. They take an ROTC class for which they receive credit. It's considered a college elective.
Yes, if a prospect visits, he/she may join us for Army ROTC held Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 5:45 a.m.
Scholarships
Yes. Each year hundreds of students attending colleges nationwide receive ROTC scholarships. ROTC awards them to students studying science, engineering, nursing, business, as well as a variety of other majors.
No. Anyone can enroll in ROTC. And regardless of whether you're a scholarship winner or not, all ROTC books, supplies and equipment are furnished at no cost to you.
ROTC scholarships are not based on financial need. Instead, they're awarded on merit. Merit is exhibited in academic achievement and extracurricular activities, such as sports, student government or part-time work.
Students apply by October and selections are made continuously through May 15.
Scholarships are awarded at different monetary levels. At some schools an ROTC scholarship is worth up to $80,000, which goes towards tuition and educational fees. Also, scholarship winners receive an allowance of up to $1,500 a year.
ROTC Scholarships are awarded each semester. There are 2, 2 1/2, 3, 3 1/2 and 4 year scholarships available to qualified applicants. High school applicants compete on a national level for scholarships. The deadline is Jan. 10 for each year. After Jan. 10, applications are accepted at the local level only- directly to our department. The four year scholarship window is March of your junior year through Jan. 10 of your senior year in High school. Applicants for campus-based scholarship, please contact our department at 605-688-6151 or by email.
Other Questions
No. ROTC Cadets go directly to college where they earn their degree.
Quite simply, leadership and management skills needed to become a U.S. Army officer or have a successful civilian career.
Students in ROTC learn through a unique program that involves both classroom and "live" situations. For instance, an ROTC Cadet might be found leading classmates through adventure training, down a river in a raft or up a mountain wall.
During the first two years, ROTC Cadets have no military obligation (or the first year in the case of a four-year scholarship winner).
The ROTC program is divided into phases: the Basic Course studies Army history, organization and structure. The techniques and principles of leadership and management are stressed throughout. The Advanced Course concentrates on tactical operations and military instruction, as well as advanced techniques of management, leadership and command.
In college and after graduation, cadets find that the training and experience that they have received are assets - whether pursuing an Army or civilian career. Employers place high regard on the management and leadership skills that ROTC instructors stress. Plus, ROTC looks great on a resume. When cadets complete the ROTC course, upon graduation, they become commissioned officers in the U.S. Army.