Your ROTC Commitment

ROTC gives students the skills and training to become great leaders. But what if you aren’t sure about the commitment?

Taking ROTC courses will not automatically enlist or qualify you for military service. Unless you receive an ROTC scholarship, you can take the ROTC Basic Course (the first two years of ROTC) without being obligated to serve.

In order to continue into the Advanced Course and be eligible for your officer’s commission (or if you receive an ROTC scholarship), you will be obligated to serve following graduation.

Here’s the way your commitment breaks down:

  • If you receive an ROTC scholarship, you’ll serve four years as an officer in the National Guard following graduation, drilling one weekend a month and training two weeks a year (usually during the summer).
  • If you don’t receive a scholarship, but still complete the four-year Advanced Course, you’ll be required to serve three years as a National Guard officer.

Every Soldier commits for a total of eight years, but beyond your three- or four-year requirement, you can choose to serve the remainder in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR)—which means you won't train with a unit, but you can still be called up in the event of an emergency.

You’ll need to declare by the end of your junior year of college whether you intend to enlist in the National Guard, Army Reserves or Active Army (if you choose Active Army status, you’ll also need to qualify for Active Duty).

Learn more about your commitment.