The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) prepares college students for a career in the military by offering them field training. Students who take ROTC classes also have to complete their college coursework like other students. Admittedly, juggling grueling ROTC field training and the demands of schoolwork can be quite challenging. However, the rewards of overcoming such challenges are enormous. For instance, with the ever-increasing cost of college education, ROTC offers students some much-needed financial assistance besides equipping them with numerous important lifelong skills. Some of the other benefits of ROTC in college include the following:

College Scholarships

Students who enroll in ROTC programs stand a chance of receiving financial aid that they can use to pay for their college tuition expenses. In some cases, the ROTC offers full scholarships that cover tuition costs, living expenses and stipends for personal expenses. In view of this, students interested in military careers who qualify for ROTC can pay for their education and avoid debt.  However, because the ROTC offers scholarships based on merit, students who receive these scholarships have to maintain excellent academic scores for the entire duration of their course.

Guarantee Promising Careers

Upon graduation, college students who are part of the ROTC program can begin their military careers as second lieutenants immediately.  Depending on the skills different graduates have, they can easily rise through the military ranking system and start enjoying the benefits of a successful military career. Additionally, even in the rare cases where ROTC members decide not to pursue careers in the military after graduation, the skills they develop while they were members of the ROTC may make it easier for them to find employment in other sectors.

Developing Valuable Skills

Military officers require a specific set of skills in order to have a successful career. These include management, discipline, leadership, teamwork, communication and time management skills. It is highly unlikely that college students can gain these skills merely by focusing on their college coursework but students who are members of the ROTC can develop these skills by undergoing ROTC field training.  By developing these valuable skills while still in college, students learn how to motivate lead by example and formulate strategic plans. The skills that students acquire through ROTC programs look good on their resumes and come in handy in their military careers upon graduation.

Invaluable Hands-On Experience

Students who are members of the ROTC get an opportunity to experience firsthand the challenges of being a professional military officer and learn the expectations they will have to meet once they become military officers after graduation. By learning how to deal with the challenges of military life early on, students can start adapting to the nature of the future career and lay a good foundation for a successful career.

Opportunity to Interact with Peers

Students who join the ROTC program learn that there is more to getting a well-rounded college education besides getting good grades and preparing for their future career. After attaining ROTC membership, students get access to a group of peers who have the same aspirations establishing a military career.  Different ROTC programs plan different social events and volunteering activities that act as the perfect meeting points for peers. By interacting with peers who have the same career goals, students can form mutually beneficial relationships that can last a lifetime.

Overall, students who attain ROTC membership enjoy the wide range of short term and long-term benefits highlighted herein. It is important to note that ROTC members do not have to spend time undergoing intense military training. In fact, most ROTC members only take one ROTC course per semester. As such, students can enjoy ROTC benefits and still find time to hang out with their friends and enjoy other fun activities that are part of the normal college experience.

 ___________________

Ryan Ayers is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he describes a few benefits of choosing to join ROTC in college and aims to encourage further study through Norwich University Military History Graduate Programs.