ABSTRACT
ROTC programs are offered at many national colleges across each of the various branches. Service academies like ROTC programs offer pathways for students to graduate as commissioned officers with bachelor’s degrees. While there are many similarities, there are also many differences across these types of entrances to the military as a commissioned and ranked student officer.
Service academies prepare student cadets through rigorous and structured academic expectations. Cadets are held to strict standards. They are expected to wear uniforms while on campus, adhere to campus curfews, eat with their cohort cadets, and engage in full weeks of training. ROTC candidates may have more of a traditional college experience offering the flexibility between both cadet and civilian experiences. The ROTC cadets train about three to five hours per week, wear uniforms for special service programming, have much more flexibility in terms of curfew, and cohabitate in learning communities and residencies.
