ROTC Program
New Mexico Military Institute offers a two-year Basic Course or Advanced Course of Senior ROTC in the college. The curriculum of the college program is administered by the Military Science Department as prescribed by the Department of the Army. Credit for each course of instruction is transferable among the institutions offering Army ROTC. All cadets are required to participate in the ROTC program, in drills, parades, reviews, ceremonies, inspections, and practical training exercises germane to the ROTC program. Cadets are required to enroll in the appropriate ROTC class (MS 1/3) in their first year of attendance.
In addition to Military Science (MSL) courses, requirements for the Army commission include completion of an undergraduate course in military history. This has to be taken prior to accessing on active duty at the completion of the four-year degree. Military Junior Colleges (MJC) are not required to finish this prior to commissioning. The Professor of Military Science (PMS) would prefer that ROTC contract cadets finish military history at NMMI if possible. Should scheduling conflicts arise or academic workload be such that taking one of these will head a cadet toward academic failure, then certainly using the exception allowed for MJC’s is in order.
Advanced Course Army ROTC
General: The Early Commissioning Program (ECP) offered at NMMI is one of only five ECP options in the nation. Officer training and ROTC curriculum is comprised of three phases. The Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC), Phase I includes Pre- Commissioning Training (ROTC). BOLC II is a six-week course conducted at one of two US Army posts that occurs after lieutenants’ graduate from their four –year university. The final phase (Phase III) is the Officer Basic Course where lieutenants learn their specific military skill before additional training opportunities or before joining their units. The Advanced Course at New Mexico Military Institute permits a junior college graduate to complete all the requirements for a U.S. Army commission and, unique to the MJC program, be commissioned in only two years. The program consists of the following major phases:
Leader’s Training Course (LTC): LTC is a 28 day course operated by the U.S. Army at Fort Knox, Kentucky, during the summer preceding entrance at NMMI as a college freshman. Applications for attendance must be made to the PMS prior to April 15 to permit adequate time for processing. Graduation from LTC qualifies cadets to enter the Advanced Course (MSL III)
In accordance with Army regulations and with the specific approval of the PMS, it is possible to waive the LTC requirement for participation in the Advanced Course program based on three or more years of prior accredited JROTC training or for completion of basic training with any branch of the Armed Forces.
The Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) (Warrior Forge): Warrior Forge is a 33-day course operated by the U.S. Army at Fort Lewis, Washington. Attendance is scheduled for advanced course cadets during the summer between the cadet’s freshman and sophomore years. Cadets may also request airborne, air assault, or other Army special courses, to include two/three weeks with an active Army unit for leadership training.
Eligibility: The program is open to all cadets who meet the following qualifications:
Academics: Have an acceptable score on either the ACT or SAT college entrance exam per ROTC guidelines, and be a high school graduate with a minimum GPA of 2.50 on the 4.0 scale or equivalent (C average).
Age: Be at least 17 years and able to complete the program before reaching age 30.
Physical: Pass a Department of Defense Medical Review Board (DODMERB) physical and successfully pass the US Army physical fitness test (APFT) consisting of push-ups/situps and a two-mile run. To contract into the SROTC program, a cadet must score a minimum of 60 points each in all three events of the APFT.
Loyalty: Be an American citizen and pass a National Security Agency check.
Obligation: A cadet who desires to pursue a U.S. Army commission is required to sign a contract which guarantees the cadet a commission in the Army Reserve, provided he or she satisfactorily completes the prescribed course of ROTC instruction. In turn, the cadet agrees to serve on active duty as a commissioned officer for four years plus four years with the Army Reserve. The cadet may also request the option of only three to six months of active duty and the remainder of the eight years with a reserve component.
Monetary Considerations: A contract cadet receives the following allowances: (Current dollar values are available from the NMMI Military Science Department).
Stipend: $450 per month while enrolled in college during the cadet’s freshman and $500 in the sophomore years at NMMI (nine-month school year). Ten months/ year $4500 /5000 total.
Uniform Commutation: Approximately $2724 males/ $3063 females.
LTC: Transportation is provided or travel expenses are reimbursed; food, clothing, and housing are provided, and the cadet is paid approximately $800 for the four-week course.
Warrior Forge: Transportation is provided or travel expenses are reimbursed; food, clothing, and housing are provided, and the cadet is paid at the same rate (Approximately $950) as a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy for the four-week period of summer training.
Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP): Cadets who are members of the National Guard or Army Reserve may be eligible for cadet status in pay grade E5 (242 per month) with the National Guard or Army Reserve while in the Advanced Course. These cadets attend monthly drills with their units or another unit at a time that does not interfere with ROTC or LDAC.
Commissioning options: Upon completion of MSIII and MSIV instruction (end of sophomore year), cadets will receive their commissions as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army Reserve. They then have up to three years to obtain their baccalaureate degree. During these three years, they are required to affiliate with National Guard or Army Reserve units as second lieutenants (earning time in service benefits and approximately $5000 per year). They may apply for active duty when they receive their baccalaureate degree.
Baccalaureate Degree: Upon receipt of the baccalaureate degree, a reserve officer from the ECP program may enter active duty for four years or may request duty for training (three to six months) and subsequent reserve force duty. Though granted on a very limited basis, they may also apply for an educational delay to attend graduate school.
Regular Army Commission: Advance ROTC cadets in the upper half of their academic class and in the upper third of their military class, possessing the required outstanding traits of leadership, character, and general military aptitude, may be designated a Distinguished Military Cadet (DMS). If they retain superior ratings until obtaining a baccalaureate degree, they can be designated a Distinguished Military Graduate (DMG).
Army ROTC Basic Course
College cadets not qualified for participation in the advanced course program (MSIII, MSIV) will be enrolled in the non-contract ROTC Basic Course (MSI, MSII). This program prepares cadets for advanced ROTC participation in their final two years of college. They take MSI and MSII at NMMI and MSIII and MSIV at a college of their choice. These cadets participate at NMMI in classroom instruction and may participate in practical field training exercises. There is no military obligation incurred by taking the basic course. (MSL 1 or 2)
Army ROTC Scholarships
The U.S. Army has authorized the PMS to process two-year Army ROTC scholarships. Competition for two-year scholarships is based upon academic performance, extracurricular and athletic activities and a telephonic or personal interview conducted by the ROTC Recruiting Operations Officer. The applicant must complete LTC in order to validate the two-year scholarship. Additionally, the PMS has scholarships that can be awarded based upon participation in Junior ROTC (PMS discretion) or completion of basic training. The scholarships provide for the payment of all tuition, most books and all fixed school laboratory fees for the scholarship period, or room and board. Scholarship winners must enroll in MS III and sign a contract (see obligations) if they desire to use their two-year ROTC scholarship.
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