About ROTC

Earn a commission with your degree

Army ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) is a college elective that allows you to earn a commission straight out of college as a second lieutenant in the active-duty Army, Army Reserve or Army National Guard. ROTC consists of both academic classes and hands-on training. The mental and physical challenges of ROTC will help you succeed in college and beyond.

Participation takes just a few hours a week, so it won't interfere with other studies, sports, or your social life. You'll learn about leadership and teamwork, and you'll have the opportunity to learn skills like mountaineering, rappelling, and orienteering.

ROTC is now a part of the RIVR Program

Please visit The River Program - Columbus State University for more information!

The ROTC River class will fulfill the CSU freshman RIVR requirement as part of the student’s academic major.

RIVR1101: Entering the Forge: This section replaces MSAL 1215 and MSAL 1215L and focuses on an introduction to the Army and basic soldier skills. Students are introduced to the Army Profession and examine what it means to be a professional in the U.S. Army, committed to the ideal that America and its founding documents remain a powerful force for good in human history. The course emphasizes developing foundational knowledge of the Army Leadership Requirements Model (LRM) while building an understanding of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) as a commissioning pathway. Students will also learn map reading and land navigation, along with introductory fieldcraft, first aid, and team-building skills. A weekly lab, facilitated by junior cadets and supervised by senior cadets and cadre, is included.

If you decide to complete the program, you will graduate with a four-year degree and be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army with a starting salary exceeding $60,000 for active-duty second lieutenants.

CSU, which historically enrolls 70-80 cadets in its Cougar Battalion, has been home to ROTC since the early 1970s.