Army ROTC

Army ROTC students in field with training rifles.
 

Army ROTC

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What is Army ROTC?

Army ROTC offers the broadest path for young men and women seeking to serve the nation as Army Officers to achieve their goal. Its graduates comprise the majority of the newly commissioned Lieutenants entering the Active Army each year

Since 1968, Army ROTC at the Rochester Institute of Technology has provided students with the opportunity to combine world class leadership and management training with their other academic studies. The state-of-the-art curriculum which consists of a series of classroom and hands-on leadership training experiences. This gives students the necessary foundation to serve successfully in positions of responsibility in either America's Army or the corporate world.

Students with a strong academic background, who are physically fit, have an active mind set and the ability to rapidly assimilate information thrive in the program. These scholar-athlete-leaders (SALs) note that the leadership skills developed through their participation in the program are further honed during their period of service as Army Officers.

History

The proposal for an Army ROTC detachment in Rochester was initiated in 1967 when the Army advised RIT that they were interested in establishing an ROTC program in the area for school year 1969-1970. A committee headed by the Institute President met in 1968 to discuss implementation of the program and recommendations for its operation in relation to the rest of the Institute. In November, the Army approved RIT’s application for the program, and ROTC became a reality.

The first PMS (Professor of Military Science) and his staff arrived on the RIT campus in February, 1969 and by September of that year, began enrolling students in ROTC. The program kicked off the school year with 54 Cadets, 11 in the two-year program and 43 in the four-year program. By 1971, 8 of those first Cadets were commissioned as officers in the United States Army.

Today, our detachment represents the University of Rochester, Nazareth College, Saint John Fisher College, the State University of New York campus at Geneseo, Monroe Community College, and the Rochester Institute of Technology. Since 1969, ROTC has provided scholarships of varying lengths to Cadets who have studied at virtually all of these campuses (the exception is Monroe Community College).

Cadet Command began actively tracking Cadet performance at the Leadership Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis Washington. The Cadets from the Rochester Institute of Technology has placed in the top 5 programs nationally in every measurable event (Leadership Evaluations, Army Physical Fitness Test, Day and Night Land Navigation, RECONDO, and top 5 in the Platoon).

Cadre and Staff

Col Sim

LTC Michael Sim

Professor of Military Science mlsarm@rit.edu

Branch: Field Artillery
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Commission: ROTC
Education: BA, Political Science - New York University

JD, New York Law School

MA, National Security and Defense Studies - US Naval War College 

 

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CPT Samuel Lombardo

Assistant Professor of Military Science

Branch: Military Police

Commission: ROTC
 

Army Symbol

MSG Rusty Clifford

Assistant Professor of Military Science  hrcarm@rit.edu

MOS: 14Z, Air Defense Artillery

B.S. Cyber Security Technology

M.Ed- candidate

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SFC Herman "Trey" Corey III

Military Science Instructor hlcarm@rit.edu

MOS: 19K, Armor Crewman
Hometown: Williamston, NC
Education: 
B.A. Criminal Justice, Grantham University

M.S. Information Technology, Grantham University

male wearing dress shirt and tie.

Robert Hotchkiss

Human Resource Administrator
rgharm@rit.edu

MOS: 14Z, Air Defense Artillery
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Education:
A.S. Industrial Engineering - SUNY Canton

headshot of male wearing black shirt.

Donald Powell

Recruiting Operations Officer
dcparm@rit.edu

585-475-6817

Branch: Civil Affairs
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Commission: Officer Candidate School
Education:
B.A. History - SUNY Geneseo
M.A, History - SUNY Brockport

Beth

Beth Polmateer

RIT Senior Staff Assistant
beth.polmateer@rit.edu

585-475-5197

Hometown: Rochester, NY

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Brian Lilly

Assistant Professor of Military Science

Branch: Medical Services Corps
Hometown: Fairport, NY
Commission: ROTC
Education: 
BA Nutrition Management – Rochester Institute of Technology

Host and Affiliated Schools

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Scholarship Opportunities

Three scholarships are available through Army ROTC.

High School ROTC Scholarship: This scholarship covers full tuition and fees, as well as room and board, and is available to high school seniors.

Hip Pocket Scholarship: This program allows selected soldiers to complete their baccalaureate degree requirements and obtain a commission through participation in the ROTC Scholarship program. Division Commanders can nominate deserving soldiers for two-, three-, and four-year scholarships.

Green to Gold Scholarship: This program was designed to help enlisted soldiers get college degrees and become officers. Scholarships are awarded for two, three, or four years and cover tuition or room and board support, as well as additional funding for textbooks, supplies, and equipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

You should speak to our Enrollment Officer, Mr. Donald Powell, (585)475-6817, dcparm@rit.edu.

No, in ROTC your major does not affect you entering the military. However, your major may effect when you can commission and how long you will take to complete college when you add in your military science classes. At RIT a higher percentage of our STEM majors earn campus-based scholarships.

Yes! When you enter ROTC you will fill out a form called a 104-R, so we will know exactly when you will graduate when you begin ROTC and avoid any issues.

An enrolled cadet is a person who has filled out an enrollment packet an all the necessary documents. It allows a cadet to take the lab portion of ROTC and to try out ROTC without a military obligation.

A contracted cadet is a person who has completed the enrollment packet, finished and passed all the necessary contracting requirements (see our answer to: Contracting requirements for more information on the subject), and sign an Army ROTC contract.

To contract you need to complete:

Scholarship

  1. At least a 2.5 Overall GPA
  2. A 104-R Form
  3. A 139-R Form
  4. Pass an APFT and Army Height/Weight Standards
  5. Pass a DODMERB physical
  6. Surpass the peers competing against you for the scholarship in GPA, PT score, and a desire to contract.

Non-Scholarship

* Same requirements as Scholarship, with at least 2.0 Overall GPA

A 104-R Form is a standard Cadet Command Form that plans out all the remaining academic semesters in college for you and your instructors. The form allows us to place you in the correct ROTC academic track and also helps you plan your future semesters in college to meet all your graduating needs.

The purpose of a 139-R Form is to allow the ROTC instructors to determine the eligibility of everyone enrolling in ROTC.

DODMERB or Department of Defense Medical Examination and Review Board is the process by which ROTC uses to screen cadets and assess their medical eligibility to contract.

If you would like to speak to someone about starting the DODMERB process email Mr. Donald Powell at dcparm@rit.edu.

An Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) is a 3 event test to give yourself and your commanders an evaluation on your level of fitness. The three events are: 2 minutes of timed pushups, 2 minutes of timed sit-ups, and a timed 2 mile run. In addition, each student will be required to meet the US Army height/weight and body fat standard. Learn more about the APFT on GoArmy.com.

When you receive an Army ROTC Scholarship you will receive:

  • Either payment of your Tuition every semester or payment for your Room and Board
  • $600 every semester to pay for books (tax free)
  • A tax free stipend every month during the semester that increases each year

Accessions is the process by which the US Army ranks every Cadet Commissioning in a certain year.  Your Accession score includes GPA, APFT Scores, LDAC evaluations, Campus Cadet Evaluation Report, and any clubs or activities you have done. 

You accessed at the beginning of your senior year. Active Duty is extremely competitive and is based off your Accessions score and ranking on the National Order of Merit List. 

A GRFD Contract is an agreement between you and the Army guaranteeing that you go into the National Guard or Army Reserve.

Yes! This is called the SMP (Simultaneous Membership Program).

Yes! We have several students currently contracted with us that participate in varsity level sports.

Yes. A Military Science minor will ensure that you are familiar with Army style leadership and make you marketable in the private sector. If you are interested in taking ROTC for a minor please contract Ms. Beth Polmateer at eafaira@rit.edu.

ROTC gives you a career once you exit college, puts you ahead of your peers in the job market, and gives you an opportunity to serve your nation as an officer in the US Army. Aside from that, serving in the military gives you points on the Civil Service Exam if you are looking for a government job, and training in whatever branch you choose.

If you enroll in ROTC it gives you a chance to see our program and determine if this is something you are interested in pursuing. If you contract in ROTC you will earn a Commission and exit college with a career, along with other financial benefits throughout college that will help you mitigate the costs associated with college.

Absolutely, and we encourage it. Not only can you watch a leadership lab, but you can enroll in ROTC with no military obligation to see if it's something you're interested in.

Yes, you can as long as you have at least 4 academic semesters remaining.