Military Science
Lieutenant Colonel George Belin, Head
Assistant Professors Lieutenant Colonel Johnson, Major Porter, and Major Ehlers; Instructors Master Sergeant Hedges and Sergeant First Class Inman.
785-532-6754
Fax: 785-532-6778
E-mail: armyrotc@k-state.edu
The Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a nationally acclaimed leader-development program that educates and trains aspiring young professionals to attain critical organizational and interpersonal leadership skills, knowledge, and attributes necessary to lead in military and corporate settings. This program includes a progressive, structured curriculum that provides the theoretical and practical application of military leadership in and out of the classroom.
ROTC students can earn a federal commission as a United States Army officer and be placed in a professional occupational specialty area of their choosing upon graduation. Students can choose to serve full-time or part-time as U.S. Army officers and are fully qualified for continuing education benefits.
Due to the dual requirements of academic degree programs and the military science program, the Department of Military Science provides lucrative financial support to include full-tuition scholarships and monthly stipends to qualified students. Additionally, all students enrolled in this program are managed using a mentor system where a faculty leader takes personal interest and effort toward promoting the students' professional development.
The courses are open to all students. Students, both undergraduate and graduate, with two years remaining at K-State are eligible to pursue an officer commission through Army ROTC. Military science courses are credit-awarding courses and fulfill elective credit requirements in any degree program. Cadets may pursue any curriculum offered by the university.
The military science curriculum consists of the basic course, normally completed during the freshman and sophomore years, and the advanced course, oriented toward the junior and senior years.
Basic course
The basic course consists of a series of four 2-hour courses open to all students and may be counted as electives. Enrollment in basic course classes does not obligate a student to military service. Freshmen will normally enroll in MSCI 100 and 101. Sophomores will normally enroll in MSCI201 and 202. Freshman and sophomore courses may be taken concurrently by sophomores.
Advanced course
The U.S. Army ROTC advanced course is structured to develop the leadership potential of students choosing to pursue an officer commission. Prerequisites for the advanced course may be satisfied in a number of ways; specific questions on individual eligibility should be addressed to the department staff.
Students accepted into the advanced course agree to complete the curriculum and to accept an Active Army, U.S. Army Reserve, or Kansas Army National Guard commission, if offered. Each advanced course cadet receives a $450- to $500-per-month allowance during the school year in return for this agreement. A five-week national advanced leadership camp, with pay, is an integral part of the advanced course and normally is completed between the junior and senior years. Airborne, Air Assault, and the Northern Warfare training courses are U.S. Army schools available to qualified volunteers in addition to other training opportunities. Additionally, two-week and four-week leadership internships are available with military units located worldwide.
Leadership training camp
A five-week leadership training camp, with pay, is available. This allows ROTC participation by students who have not taken basic course classes. Application should be made to the Department of Military Science early in the spring semester. Students will attend camp during the summer. Satisfactory completion of the ROTC leadership training camp earns 4 hours academic credit and satisfies all prerequisites for entry into the advanced course. A two-year full-tuition scholarship and benefit package will be available to all successful leadership training camp students.
Discharge of duty
Federal laws provide that ROTC graduates may discharge their military obligation in one of two ways: (1) three to four years of active duty with the remainder of the statutory eight-year obligation completed with the Army Reserve or National Guard organizations; or (2) three to six months active duty for training with the remainder of an eight-year obligation completed with Army Reserve or National Guard organizations. Preferences indicated by the graduate for a particular form of service are normally respected. Members of Army National Guard and Army Reserve units may enter the Simultaneous Membership Program. This program allows cadets to serve with a National Guard or Army Reserve unit while in Army ROTC, receiving both financial assistance and valuable experience.
Scholarships
The Army provides two-, three- and four-year scholarships to selected high school and college students. These scholarships provide full tuition and fees, an allowance for books and supplies, and $300 to $500 per school month. The scholarships are available on a competitive basis to all students, regardless of present enrollment in Army ROTC, who wish to receive commissions as officers. They must have two years remaining towards undergraduate or graduate programs. These scholarships, applied for during the spring semester, become effective the following fall. In addition to the Army ROTC scholarships, the Kansas Army National Guard offers one-, two-, three-, or four-year scholarships to selected high school and college students. The Kansas Army National Guard ROTC Scholarship is for Kansas residents and pays in-state tuition only.
Voluntary organizations
The department sponsors three voluntary organizations: KSU Wildcat Battalion Color Guard, the ROTC Recondo Club, and Officer Christian Fellowship. The Color Guard performs both university and non-university ceremonies as well as home football and basketball games. The ROTC Recondo Company provides additional tactical training and leadership experience. It supplements ROTC classroom instruction and field training to better prepare cadets for advanced camp and to be Army officers.
Recommended courses
In recognition of leadership's many facets, the department requires that students enrolled in ROTC select from a number of university courses that complement the leadership program. One course in military history is required. In addition to the required course, one course each in national security policy and management is recommended. The majority of these courses may be applied as elective classes for the student's degree requirements and the leadership studies minor. A list of acceptable courses is available at the Department of Military Science.
Courses
MSCI 100. Introduction to Military Science and ROTC. (V) I. Basic drill, physical fitness, rappelling, army values, military presentations and basic marksmanship. Two classroom hours, a required leadership lab, and three one-hour sessions of physical fitness per week. Participation in a weekend exercise is optional, but highly encouraged.
MSCI 101. Introduction to Military Leadership. (V) II. Principles of effective leading. Communication skills to improve individual performance and group interaction. Relation of military organizational ethical values to the effectiveness of a leader. Two classroom hours, a required leadership lab, and three one-hour sessions of physical fitness per week. Participation in a weekend exercise is optional, but highly encouraged.
MSCI 200. Self/Team Development. (V) I. Ethics-based military leadership skills that develop individual abilities and contribute to building effective teams. Oral presentations, leadership, land navigation, and basic military tactics. Two classroom hours; a required leadership lab; participation in three one-hour physical fitness sessions. Participation in a weekend exercise.
MSCI 202. Individual/Team Military Tactics. (V) II. Introduction to individual and team aspects of military tactics in small unit operations. Safety assessments, movement techniques, military orders process, rifle marksmanship, rappelling. Two classroom hours; a required leadership lab; participation in three one-hour physical fitness sessions. Participation in a weekend exercise is optional, but highly encouraged.
MSCI 206. Leadership Training Camp. (0-4) S. A five-week summer camp conducted at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The U.S. Army provides pay, travel, lodging and meal costs. No military obligation incurred. Open only to students who have not completed all four of MSCI 101, MSCI102, MSCI201, and 202, and who pass a physical examination (paid for by ROTC).
MSCI 301. Leading Small Military Organizations I. (V) I. Series of practical opportunities to lead small groups in situations of increasing complexity. Uses small unit defensive tactics and opportunities to plan and conduct training. Three classroom hours, a leadership lab, participation in three one-hour physical fitness sessions. Participation in one weekend exercise is required, and one or two additional weekend exercises are offered for optional participation. Pr.: Completion of the basic course. Instructor permission required for enrollment.
MSCI 302. Leading Small Military Organizations II. (0-4) II. Continues methodology of MSCI 301. Military missions and task analysis. Ethical decision making and lessons from leadership case studies. Three classroom hours, a leadership lab, participation in three one hour physical fitness sessions. Participation in one weekend exercise is required; two other weekend exercises optional. Pr.: Completion of MSCI 301 and instructor permission.
MSCI 306. ROTC National Advanced Leadership Camp. (V) S. A five-week camp conducted at Fort Lewis, Washington, by members of Kansas State University and other university Army ROTC faculty. The U.S. Army provides pay, travel, lodging and most meal costs. Highly structured and demanding, stressing leadership at small unit levels under varying, challenging conditions. Pr.: MSCI 301 and 302.
MSCI 351. Military Leadership Studies and Practical Applications. (V) I, II. Independent research, analysis and monthly discussion on related military topics. Small unit tactics and practical application of leadership skills and individual research projects. Three classroom hours per week, a leadership lab, participation in three one-hour physical fitness sessions. Participation in one weekend exercise is required; two other weekend exercises optional. Pr.: MSCI 301 or 302. Instructor permission.
MSCI 401. Leadership Challenges and Objective-Setting. (V) I. Plan, conduct, and evaluate activities of the ROTC cadet organization. Articulate goals, put plans into action to attain them. Assess organizational cohesion and develop strategies to improve it. Develop confidence in skills to lead people and manage resources. Learn and apply various Army policies and programs. Three classroom hours, a two-hour leadership laboratory, and weekly physical fitness activities. Cadets will also participate in a weekend field training exercise (FTX) and a formal military social event. Pr.: MSCI 301 and 302 or department head permission.
MSCI 402. Transition to Lieutenant. (0-4) II. Continues the methodology from MSCI 401. Identify and resolve ethical dilemmas. Refine counseling and motivating techniques. Examine aspects of tradition and law as relate to leading as an officer in the U.S. Army. Prepare for a future as a successful U.S. Army lieutenant. Cadets will also participate in a weekend field training exercise (FTX) and a formal military social event.
MSCI 501. Advanced Transition to Lieutenant I. (Var.) I. Independent research, analysis and monthly discussion on related military topics. Personal, academic, and professional goals and objectives, development and maintenance of an officer evaluation report support form. Pr.: MSCI 401 and 402 or department head permission.
MSCI 502. Advanced Transition to Lieutenant II. (Var.) II. Independent research, analysis, and monthly discussion on related military topics. Personal, academic, and professional goals and objectives, development, and maintenance of an officer evaluation report support form. Pr.: MSCI 501.