Classes & Training
Classes
The Army ROTC curriculum at the University of Idaho is a General Military Science (GMS) curriculum. This means the curriculum is not branch-specific, but rather represents basic subjects common to all Army officers.
The core ROTC curriculum consists of a lecture course, accompanying lab, and physical fitness class. The physical fitness class is required for contracted Cadets. It is optional for others, but highly recommended for those considering a future as an Army officer. Labs meet at least ten times per semester and focus on building fundamental characteristics of leadership using a military model: hands-on leadership training in a small group setting.
The labs cover challenging outdoor activities such as small unit tactics, rifle marksmanship, and land navigation skills. As Cadets progress through the program, they get ready to become U.S. Army Second Lieutenants by taking an increasingly hands-on role in implementing and overseeing Cadet training exercises while under the guidance and supervision of the cadre.
Fall: MS 101 (1 credit)
Spring: MS 102 (1 credit)
Overviews basic leadership fundamentals such as setting direction, problem-solving, listening, presenting briefs, providing feedback, and using effective writing skills. Cadets explore dimensions of leadership attributes and core leader competencies in the context of practical, hands-on, and interactive exercises. Labs include orienteering, a teambuilding exercise, first aid, cultural protection, and ethics problem solving. One lecture hour and one leadership lab hour; lab is optional – but highly encouraged – for non-contracted cadets.
Participation in this course entails no military obligation.
Fall: MS 201 (2 credits)
Spring: MS 202 (2 credits)
Examines the challenges of leading teams in the complex operational environment. The course highlights dimensions of terrain analysis, patrolling, and operation orders. Further study of the theoretical basis of the Army Leadership Requirements Model explores the dynamics of adaptive leadership in the context of military operations. Prepares Cadets for third year MS classes. Cadets develop greater self awareness as they assess their own leadership styles and practice communication and team building skills. Case studies give insight into the importance and practice of teamwork and tactics in real-world scenarios. Labs deepen understanding of orienteering, teambuilding exercise, first aid, cultural protection, and ethics problem solving. Two lecture hours and one leadership lab hour; lab is optional – but highly encouraged – for non-contracted cadets.
Participation in this course entails no military obligation.
Fall: MS 301 (3 credits)
Spring: MS 302 (3 credits)
Uses increasingly intense situations applying team leadership challenges to build Cadet awareness and skills in leadership tactical operations at the small unit level. Cadets review aspects of full spectrum operations. They also conduct military briefings and develop proficiency in the operation orders process. The focus is on exploring, evaluating and developing skills in decision-making, persuading, and motivating team members in the contemporary operating environment. Cadets help lead joint labs with the first two MS levels. Three lecture hours and one leadership lab hour. Prepares Cadets for the four-week Cadet Leadership Course at Fort Knox.
Fall: MS 401(3 credits)
Spring: MS 402 (3 credits)
Explores the dynamics of leading in the complex situations of current military operations. Cadets will examine differences in customs and courtesies, military law, principles of war, and rules of engagement in the face of international terrorism. Cadets also explore aspects of interacting with non-government organizations, civilians on the battlefield, the decision making processes and host nation support. The course places significant emphasis on preparing Cadets for BOLC B and their first unit of assignment. It uses mission command case studies and scenarios to prepare you to face the complex ethical demands of serving as a commissioned officer in the United States Army. Three lecture hours and one leadership lab hour.
Training
Army ROTC Cadets are offered the chance to participate in a variety of summer training opportunities, typically between their sophomore and junior years. Click below to see some of the exciting training possibilities U of I Army ROTC has to offer.
The LDX is conducted once a semester and is where Cadets do a multi-day practical exercise demonstrating what they have learned thus far in the semester. The fall LDX will focus on skills at the squad level. The spring LDX will focus on operations at the platoon level and will generally be conducted with Cadets from one or more neighboring universities.
The Cadet Summer Training (CST) is held annually during the summer at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The U.S. Army’s largest training exercise, CST is the U.S. Army Cadet Command’s capstone training event. The purpose of the course is to train Cadets to Army standards, to develop their leadership skills, and to evaluate their officer potential. Most Army Cadets attend CST between their junior and senior undergraduate years after having contracted to join the Army. Successful completion of CST is a prerequisite to becoming an Army officer through ROTC.
The 29-day course starts with individual training and leads to collective training, building from simple to complex tasks. This building-block approach permits integration of previously-learned skills into follow-on training. This logical, common-sense training sequence is maintained for each training cycle. Every day at CST is a day of training.
Visit the Future Army Officers site for more information.
CTLT is a four-week leadership experience conducted at real Active Army units in the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, Europe and Korea. This training provides Cadets with some of the best real-world experience available before commissioning as an officer. Cadets serve in lieutenant-level positions and interact with Soldiers in platoon-level elements. The Cadets perform the leadership and management tasks necessary to train the platoon’s Soldiers and maintain equipment.
While in CTLT, Cadets continue to receive a rate of pay and allowances equivalent to that received at the Cadet Leadership Course.
Visit the U.S. Army Cadet Command’s Cadet Leader Training site for more information.
Recognizing the need for young leaders to develop more cultural awareness and foreign language proficiency skills, the CULP Program gives Cadets the opportunity to spend up to three weeks immersed in foreign cultures learning more about how other others around the world view the U.S. and, in the process, learning more about themselves.
Visit the U.S. Army Cadet Command’s CULP Program site for more information.
Drill Cadet Leadership Training (DCLT) is a four-week program that provides Cadets an opportunity to apply leadership skills, interact with highly skilled and experienced Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs) and drill sergeants, and improves common task skill proficiency in an Army training environment. Cadets serve in positions with the cadre of Initial Entry Training (IET) and One-Station Unit Training (OSUT) units—Basic Combat Training.
Visit the U.S. Army Cadet Command’s Drill Cadet Leader Training site for more information.
Cadet Field Training (CFT) is a 4-week event conducted at the United States Military Academy at West Point during their Cadet Summer Training (CST) Cycle. The purpose of CFT is to integrate ROTC Cadets into the West Point Corps of Cadets during CST, where they will train on individual and collective small unit tasks.
The benefit of this program is two-fold. One, this is an incredible training opportunity for less-experienced ROTC Cadets to fully immerse themselves into Army training and operations for an extended period of time. Two, this is a great opportunity to integrate ROTC and West Point Cadets before they are commissioned together into the officer corps.