Department of Military Science and Leadership

Lieutenant Colonel Rodric M. McClain, Professor of Military Science
109 ROTC Building
731-881-7153
fax 731-881-7161

Faculty

Lieutenant Colonel Rodric M. McClain, Captain Darren Ekey, Sergeant First Class William Johnson

Mission

Recruit, retain, motivate, develop, lead, educate and commission a sufficient number of scholar athlete leaders (SAL) to mark the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps programs as one of the top officer commissioning sources in the region.

Expected Outcomes

Graduates who are commissioned Army officers at the University of Tennessee at Martin are expected to possess the values, judgment, leadership skills and physical stamina indicative of leaders of character committed to service to the Army and the Nation. Student Learning Outcomes are as follows • The Army Profession: Live honorably and build trust.

Professional Competence: Demonstrate intellectual, military and physical competence.
Adaptability: Think critically and creatively, make sound and timely decisions.
Teamwork:
- Develop, lead, inspire.
- Communicate and interact effectively.
Lifelong Leaning and Comprehensive Fitness: Pursue excellence and continue to grow.
Comprehensive Fitness: Seek balance, be resilient and demonstrate a strong and winning spirit.

Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC)

Army ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) is a program which combines college electives in military science and leadership with summer leadership internships to develop future Army leaders. Upon successful completion of the program of instruction and graduation, the President of the United States may appoint qualified graduates as second lieutenants in either the U.S. Army, the Army National Guard or the U.S. Army Reserve.

History

The ROTC program (the basic course) began at the University of Tennessee at Martin in September 1952. The Army awarded the University “senior” ROTC status (the advanced course) in 1964. ROTC is a leadership development program and as such prides itself as one of the best leader development programs in the United States. ROTC incorporates the latest adult learning methods and pedagogy to facilitate the leader development of its cadets by examining leadership fundamentals (during class) and the practical application of leadership fundamentals during laboratories and other off-campus exercises. Since ROTC is an officer producing source students are also exposed to the Army as a profession from the viewpoint of a junior officer. Small unit, tactical “team building” exercises serve as a vehicle to afford students an opportunity to practice and hone their leadership skills.

Program Design

The Army ROTC Program at the University of Tennessee at Martin is based upon a four-year model divided into two parts called the Basic Course (taken during the freshman and sophomore years) and the Advanced Course (taken during the junior and senior years). Students taking electives in the Basic Course are under no military obligation (unless the student is under contract as an ROTC scholarship winner). Students who meet the prerequisites and want to take a Basic Course elective (or complete the entire Basic Course) may choose from among the electives listed below.

The Advanced Course is only open to qualified students who agree to contract with the U.S. Army to accept a commission, if offered, upon completion of their degree requirements. Students contracted into the Advanced Course are also required to attend the four-week long Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky, during the summer between their junior and senior years or between their first and second year of graduate school.

The Army ROTC Program is flexible enough that students may pursue and earn commissions as Army officers in four, three, or two years. The Army even has a one year program (highly selective) for undergraduate or graduate students with one full year remaining on campus. In addition, veterans may apply their military experience as credit toward the ROTC Basic Course. If the Professor of Military Science awards a veteran constructive credit for the Basic Course he/she may skip to and enroll in the Advanced Course at the beginning of his/her junior year or first year of graduate school. A scholar athlete leader (who wants to become an Army officer but never took a Basic Course elective) can qualify for the Advanced Course by attending the four-week Basic Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky, during the summer before the beginning of his/her junior year. There are many ways for qualified students to earn commissions as Army officers (scholarship or non-scholarship participation) while attending UT Martin. For more information call the Department of Military Science and Leadership or stop by and visit the department at Graham Stadium.

University Credits

The University of Tennessee at Martin grants general elective credit for Military Science and Leadership courses.

MSL 101 , MSL 102 , MSL 201 , MSL 202	3 semester hours per course
MSL 301 , MSL 302 , MSL 401 , MSL 402	4 semester hours per course
Military Science and Leadership Electives	3 semester hours per course
Advanced Camp	6 semester hours
Basic Camp	6 semester hours
Nurse Summer Training Program Course	6 semester hours

The Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)

SMP is a program whereby members of the Army National Guard or the U.S. Army Reserve can participate in Army ROTC and continue training with their guard or reserve units at the same time. The SMP program is worthwhile because SMP students qualify for additional financial aid and can earn commissions while building additional leadership skills as officer candidates in the units they are assigned to. The SMP program is only open to Advanced Course students.

Army ROTC Scholarships/Financial Assistance

See the Scholarships section for a detailed description.

Enrollment and Continuation Requirements

Students desiring to participate in the Basic Course must:
1. have an ACT score of 19 or higher.
2. be a United States citizen or be able to obtain citizenship by graduation.
3. be enrolled as a full-time student (12 credit hours minimum).
4. be physically fit (demonstrated athleticism).
5. not have any disabilities that require accommodations.
6. have a high school GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for entering freshmen (MSL 101 ).
7. maintain a university cumulative GPA of at least 2.0.
8. have no prior civil convictions.
9. not be older than 30 years of age prior to graduation.
10. demonstrate a propensity toward leadership and service to others.
11. complete a physical exam (student health center).
Students desiring to participate in the Advanced Course must:
1. have successfully completed basic course curriculum or have been granted credit for same.
2. have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00. Scholarship students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 and 3.00 in ROTC.
3. sign a written agreement with the federal government to complete the advanced course; to complete Advanced Camp; and to accept a commission as an Army officer, if offered.
4. be able to complete the advanced course program before reaching 30 years of age.
5. be accepted by the Professor of Military Science after completing any general survey or physical exams as may be prescribed.
6. successfully complete MSL 301 , MSL 302 , MSL 401 , MSL 402 and Advanced Camp, to include passing the Army Physical Fitness Test and meeting prescribed medical and weight standards at the time of commissioning.
7. prior to graduation, complete one course in written communications, one course in human behavior, one course in military history, one course in math reasoning and one course in computer literacy. One course in management and one in national security studies are also highly recommended. A list of specific courses which meet those requirements is available from the Department of Military Science and Leadership.
The two-year program is offered to college students who transfer to UT Martin with two years remaining prior to graduation or students who did not finish the basic course during their first two years at UT Martin. Applicants must successfully complete a four-week summer Leader’s Training Course. Additionally, the applicant must satisfy the other general requirements noted above for advanced-course enrollment.
Students with prior ROTC training, either high school or college, students with prior active military service, or students currently serving in National Guard or Army Reserve units may qualify for advanced standing upon approval of the Professor of Military Science.

Student Entitlements

The Department of Military Science and Leadership furnishes all Basic Course students necessary texts, equipment, uniforms, meals, transportation, lodging and supplies for all ROTC related activities. In addition, students under scholarship (or otherwise contracted in ROTC) earn a subsistence allowance of $420 per month for up to 10 months of each school year.

Military Obligation

Basic Course: No military obligation.

Advanced Course: Varies depending upon personal preference. For details contact the Department of Military Science and Leadership.