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Catalog Index Search the 2000-2001 Catalog: |
University Academic Programs and Resources - Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)
Administration
Army ROTCThe U.S. Army ROTC program at George Mason is an elective program of instruction and training that offers qualified students the opportunity to earn a commission as an officer (second lieutenant) in the U.S. Army, Army National Guard, or U.S. Army Reserve, while pursuing a baccalaureate degree as a full-time student. The program emphasizes student learning and participation in applied leadership, leadership theory and assessment, decision making, management skills, time management, ethics and military law, logistics, military roles and national objectives, strategic and tactical planning and principles, and basic military knowledge and skills. Enrollment in military science (MLSC) courses is open to all students. Credits are not awarded for freshman through junior classes, although grades will appear on the transcript. Senior classes (MLSC 400 and 401) are three credits each and count toward degree completion as elective credit. No service obligation is incurred by enrolling in Army ROTC. Courses can be dropped or added just as any elective course at George Mason. The four-year program is organized into two
successive phases--the Basic Course and the Advanced Course.
For students seeking the opportunity to earn a commission
as an officer, several entry methods and participation
strategies can be used, as long as the student initiates
participation before the end of the sophomore year (a minimum
of four semesters must remain in the student's academic
curriculum to complete commissioning requirements).
Course descriptions appear under Military Science (MLSC) in
the "Course Descriptions" chapter of this catalog.
The Basic Course curriculum is a four-course series (MLSC 100, 101, 200, 201), usually taken in the freshman and sophomore years. The Basic Course trains students in the types of topics listed above as well as such applied topics as map reading, land navigation, first aid, physical fitness and health, writing, briefings, and more. Each lecture class meets once a week for 80 minutes. Textbooks are provided free of charge to all enrolled students. Uniforms and equipment are also issued (lent) to students at no cost. While only one section is listed per MLSC class, small sections or individual tutorials are offered when scheduling conflicts exist. The George Mason Army ROTC program has numerous experiential aspects. MLSC LAB 201, Leadership Laboratory, encompasses several different activities. Students enrolling in any ROTC lecture class must enroll in the required, nongraded lab section. Only the ROTC director can dismiss LAB 201 enrollment in certain circumstances (scheduling conficts, etc.) All LAB 201 sections meet as a combined unit on Tuesdays, 3 to 4:20 p.m. During this time, the unit trains in a variety of hands-on, practical military tasks ranging from drill and ceremonies to squad and platoon tactics. Upper-class cadets lead drills and training as part of their leadership training and experience. Other experiential aspects of LAB 201 include field training exercises (FTXs) and physical training (PT). Participation in one FTX per semester is required and involves some type of training on a weekend day at a nearby military base. PT classes are conducted every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7 to 8 a.m., at the Field House. Physical training for Basic Course students can be waived in certain circumstances, and Army PT standards do not have to be met until the junior year. Over the four-year program, there are progressive requirements for meeting physical fitness standards, weight limits, and assumed leadership positions. Much emphasis is placed on cadets to meet established academic standards. A student must be academically successful to participate in and complete ROTC. Army ROTC also organizes numerous optional adventure and social events including paintball, rappeling, orienteering, and helicopter orientations. A battlefield visit is offered every year, and a formal Military Ball is offered during the spring semester. The unit has an organized Color Guard and a Ranger Challenge Club. Airborne and Air Assault training, among other Army formal schools, is available to enrolled cadets. Enrolled students typically become progressively more involved to enhance their training, develop esprit de corps, and take part in social aspects of the program. The Advanced Course consists of a four-course series (MLSC 300, 301, 400, 401) taken during the junior and senior years. MLSC 400 and 401 are three credits each. Normally, Advanced Course cadets contract to become commissioned officers and thus incur some type of service obligation upon graduation and commissioning. An active duty tour is not guaranteed, although most cadets request and receive active duty tours upon graduation. The 300-level courses emphasize squad and platoon leadership, tactics, and preparation for Advanced Camp. Advanced Camp is a five-week training and evaluation activity required for contracted students. Cadets attend Advanced Camp in the summer between their junior and senior years. A salary, travel expenses, and room and board are all provided during camp. Advanced Camp is a critical part of the ROTC program that students must pass to receive a commission. There are also professional military education requirements in which contracted cadets must take and pass courses in written communications, computer literacy, and military history. These courses come from the general course offerings of the university and may also fulfill the student's general education or academic major requirements at the same time. Because all students may enroll in ROTC classes, students wishing to take an upper-level course have to declare their intentions when seeking enrollment approval from the ROTC director or instructor. Prerequisites exist for upper-level courses (see the "Course Descriptions" chapter). "Noncontract" students who wish to take MLSC 400 and 401 must have junior or senior standing in their majors and the appropriate prerequisites. Course requirements will be established between the ROTC director and students to tailor the class to the students' interests and needs. The 400-level courses are considered to be the "transition to lieutenant" phase. The courses focus on staff operations, logistics, military law, and ethics. Seniors are expected to organize and attend an additional one-hour staff and training meeting per week as part of their leadership experience and duties. Planning and implementation of training becomes the primary focus for seniors in LAB 201. Methods for Completing Program and Earning a Commission Students may enter Army ROTC to seek and earn a commission as a second lieutenant upon graduation by several methods: 1) a student may complete the four-year program; 2) the freshman and sophomore classes may be compressed into the sophomore year; 3) a veteran may enter directly into the junior year (when academically aligned as a junior); 4) a sophomore student may attend a five-week Basic Camp between the sophomore and junior years to gain experience equivalent to the Basic Course; and 5) a special four-semester program is available to nursing majors in which Basic Camp is not required. Students who complete the ROTC program may take up to two years to complete their baccalaureate studies, and education delays for graduate study also may be approved for graduating cadets before commissioning. Graduate students and resident aliens who become U.S. citizens by a certain time may become commissioned officers. Two- and three-year ROTC scholarships are available to sophomores and freshmen in all majors on a competitive basis (minimum 2.500 GPA to apply and under age 27 when graduating, unless they are active duty veterans). Scholarships pay tuition, a book allowance ($450/year), and a stipend of $150/month during the school year (to a maximum of $1,500), all tax free. On-campus scholarship applications are due by February 28 to begin the following fall semester. A student does not have to be enrolled to apply, and there is no service obligation incurred when applying. A two-year Reserve Forces Duty scholarship is available that guarantees reserve duty upon graduation and commissioning (no active duty tour). Contact the ROTC director to determine eligibility. Four-year scholarships are available for high school students, but they must apply by December 1 of their senior year for a scholarship that would start in the fall semester of their freshman year. Call 1-800-USA-ROTC for details and an application. Many students participate in ROTC as nonscholarship cadets. A nonscholarship cadet cannot contract to receive a commission until the junior year. For the junior and senior years, nonscholarship, contracted students receive the $150/month stipend for the school year (to a maximum of $1,500). George Mason Army ROTC is an extension center of the Georgetown University ROTC Program (Hoya Battalion). The unit is designated "The Patriot Company." Contact the ROTC director at (703) 993-2706 or send a fax to (703) 993-2708. Air Force ROTCAdministration
The Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps (AFROTC) provides two programs for college men and women to earn a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force while completing their university degree requirements. To enter the AFROTC program, students should contact (301) 314-3242 or www.inform.umd.edu/afrotc. George Mason students register for the appropriate courses through the consortium office located on the fourth floor of Enterprise Hall. Attendance of courses, located at the University of Maryland, is mandatory. Car pools among George Mason cadets are usually available. This program is composed of a General Military Course (GMC) and a Professional Officer Course (POC). The first two years (GMC), normally for freshmen and sophomores, give a general introduction to the Air Force and its various career fields. Students enrolled in the GMC program incur no obligation and may elect to discontinue the program at any time. The final two years (POC) concentrate on the development of leadership skills and the study of U.S. defense policy. Students must compete for acceptance into the POC. Students enrolled in the last two years of the program receive $1,000 per semester and $150 per month, tax free. Students in the four-year program who successfully complete the first two years of the program and are accepted into the POC program must attend four weeks of field training at a designated Air Force base during the summer after their sophomore year of college. This program is normally offered to prospective juniors but may be taken by seniors and graduate students. The academic requirements for this program are identical to the four-year program, and students receive the same benefits (approximately $4,000 annually). During the summer preceding entry into the program, all candidates must attend five weeks of field training at a designated Air Force base. Students should start the application process as soon as possible—not later than the summer before attending field training. AFROTC scholarship programs provide eight-, six-, and four-semester scholarships to students on a competitive basis. Scholarships are available in many fields and are based on merit. Those selected receive tuition, lab expenses, incidental fees, and a book allowance, plus a nontaxable monthly allowance of $150. Any student accepted by George Mason University may apply for these scholarships. AFROTC membership is required to receive an AFROTC scholarship. AFROTC AwardsAFROTC cadets are eligible for numerous local, regional, and national awards. Many of these awards include monetary assistance for school.
George Mason University:2000-2001 University Catalog: Catalog Index: University Academic Programs and Resources: Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) |
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