Leadership Studies and Military Science Program
Program Description
East Stroudsburg University offers students the opportunity to participate in Army ROTC through a partnership with the Northeast Pennsylvania (NEPA) Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Battalion. The primary objective of the Army ROTC program is to offer exceptional Leadership Development Training that will serve its students in every aspect of their career, both in the military and civilian positions. The commissioning track program prepares the student to serve as an officer in either:
- Active Army
- U.S. Army Reserves
- Pennsylvania (or other state) Army National Guard
Whichever component you choose to serve in, there are more than 20 different specialty fields and career paths to choose from. With as little as seven hours a week you can earn as many as 21 elective credits in this extensive Leadership Development Program that concentrates on developing leaders through the demonstration and hands on practice of the seven Army Values and 16 Key Leadership Dimensions. Through this program each student will learn to lead by using a crawl, walk, and run hands-on progressions. They will plan, communicate, organize, and execute events such as marksmanship training, small unit tactics, land navigation, rappelling, paint ball, obstacle and confidence courses, and many other practical hands-on training opportunities.
The NEPA Army ROTC Battalion continually ranks in the top 10 percent of all ROTC programs nationwide and was ranked third in the Eastern United States in 2006. The NEPA Battalion has recently celebrated 50 years of commissioning officers for the Army.
The Army ROTC program can be tailored to fit any student’s schedule, particularly in the freshman and sophomore years. Military Science instruction is offered at East Stroudsburg University with two-, three- and four-year programs leading to a commission as an officer in one of the three components of the U.S. Army. Any East Stroudsburg University student may participate in any basic Army ROTC course without cost or obligation.
To be commissioned as a second lieutenant, students must pass a physical examination and complete at least the final two years of the ROTC program of Military Science courses. The commissioning track consists of three components that the student will typically take each semester; Physical Training (PT), Leadership Lab, and classroom instruction. All together, the program takes as much as seven hours each week and can earn the students as much as 21 elective credits toward graduation.
The Army ROTC provides all uniforms, equipment, and textbooks required for the classes. Each semester there is a military social event and at least one optional weekend training session that includes such events as military marksmanship, cross country orienteering, military rappelling, leadership application courses and obstacle/confidence courses, even paint ball or rock climbing.
Additional Training Opportunities
During breaks and vacations students can volunteer for active army training such as military parachute operations, helicopter operations, military mountain climbing and training with active army units in the United States and overseas. There are also numerous opportunities for leadership internships with state and federal agencies through Army ROTC. All training is cost free to the student and, students are paid for some summer training courses. See the Department of Leadership Studies – Army ROTC to receive specific information about courses available
Students who have completed basic training in any U.S. service may qualify for placement in the advanced course. Additionally students who have not completed the ROTC basic course may qualify for the advanced course by attending a paid four-week long Leadership Training Course conducted each summer at Fort Knox, Ky.
Scholarships, Stipend, and Book Money Available
Freshman and sophomore students can compete for two, two and one-half, and three year ROTC scholarships that pays full tuition and fees regardless of cost and up to $1,200 per year for books in addition to the monthly stipend The Army will commission successful graduates as a second lieutenant with a starting salary of more than $35,000 per year plus housing allowance, food allowance, medical and dental benefits as well as 30 days paid vacation per year.
All students receiving ROTC scholarships, as well as sophomores, juniors and seniors who are contracted with the Army receive a monthly stipend. The stipend starts at $300 per month during the freshman year, increases to $350 during the sophomore year, $450 during the junior year and $500 during the senior year. The stipend is paid directly to the student each month that they are in school.
For more information on the ROTC program at East Stroudsburg University contact the Department of Leadership Studies - ROTC at 570-422-3349 or visit www.esu.edu/rotc.