Military Science - Army Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps

Professor of Military Science LTC Matthew D. Pride • Office: MR 016A • Tel: 212-650-6478 ROTC@cuny.edu

Programs and Objectives

Through its Military Science courses the Army Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program complements most academic programs. ROTC seeks to educate and equip leaders with to become critical thinkers, communicators and planners. Military Science courses teach leadership as a deliberate, continuous, sequential and progressive process to develop confident, competent, and adaptive leaders with a basic understanding of military decision-making. The ROTC program consists of eight 3-credit courses of Military Science taken in sequence, and a course in military history. The program seeks to commission Cadets as 2nd Lieutenants upon graduation.

Requirements for Admissions

Army ROTC Basic Course sequence (Military Science MSCI 10100, MSCI 10200; MSCI 20100, MSCI 20200, the first 12 credits) are open to all students; no ROTC or military service commitment is required. Military Science courses are taught at CCNY and York College. Students from across CUNY can register through e-permit. Military Science courses are general electives that count towards full-time status with regard to academic load and financial aid.

Army ROTC Advanced Course sequence (Military Science MSCI 30100, MSCI 30200; MSCI 40100, MSCI 40200, totaling 12 credits) are restricted to eligible students who have contracted with the Army as ROTC Cadets. Cadets enrolled in the Advanced Course will have successfully completed the Basic Course or its equivalent. Contracted Cadets are effectively in the U.S. Army Reserve (ROTC) at the rank of Cadet and will commission into the U.S. Army as 2nd Lieutenants upon graduation. Contracted Cadets are required to attend ROTC training events and physical training. Earning a contract is a competitive process. Please see Contracting into ROTC and Army military service obligation below.

Program Requirements

Military Science Basic Course

Open to all CUNY students.

No military commitment is required. Participation in field trips and Leadership Labs are optional and encouraged. Attending Physical Training is encouraged.

Military Science Advanced Course is restricted to contracted Cadets.

The minimum standards to be considered for contracting include:

• minimum GPA of 2.0 for non-scholarship Cadet

• minimum GPA of 2.5 for scholarship consideration

• ability to pass an Army Physical Fitness assessment test based on Cadet Command's guidance in order to contract

• academic alignment to complete the ROTC program and graduate college at the same time*

• U.S. citizenship

*Students who completed Junior ROTC in high school, have prior military service, or are in the Reserves or National Guard have options to waive some or all of the Basic Course.  It is very difficult for a student without military service to join and complete the ROTC program with only two years of college remaining. 

Contracting is a competitive process; and meeting only the minimum standards above does not guarantee that a contract will be offered. The Professor of Military Science and Senior Military Instructor will interview and assess all candidates to select those best qualified for service. Please see Contracting into ROTC below.

Contracting into ROTC

All service obligations are 8 years, but are broken down according to what options you choose. There are three forms of service:

1. Active duty (a competitive process). Active duty means you are a full-time soldier. You work 5 days a week (sometimes more, sometimes less). Active duty soldiers live on or near a military base.

2. National Guard or Reserves. This is part -time. One weekend each month and two weeks out of the summer you will assemble with your unit and train. The rest of the time, you are a civilian. The vast majority of American companies have programs to accommodate service requirements of the National Guard and Reserves.

3. Inactive Ready Reserve(IRR). The IRR is the backfill and emergency force for the nation. While you are in the IRR you do not train at all, you do not have to report to anyone, but in the event of a major need for soldiers, you may be recalled to service.

A Cadet who earns Active duty, without a scholarship, will owe 3 years Active and 5 years in the IRR.

A Cadet who earns Active duty with a scholarship will owe 4 years Active and 4 IRR.

A Cadet who chooses Reserve duty will owe 6 years as a Reservist or National Guardsman, and 2 years IRR.