Before you start an application, here are a few things that apply across every pathway into Army ROTC.
Army ROTC scholarships and commissioning as an officer require U.S. citizenship. Lawful permanent residents may enroll in the Basic Course (the first two years of ROTC) with no service obligation, but cannot contract for a scholarship or enter the Advanced Course without U.S. citizenship.
The Basic Course (freshman and sophomore years) carries no service obligation. You can try ROTC for up to two years and decide whether to continue. Once you contract for the Advanced Course or accept a scholarship, you commit to commissioning and serving after graduation.
The Moccasin Battalion serves cadets from three institutions: Florida Southern College, Southeastern University, and Polk State College. You'll be enrolled as a student at one of these three partner schools and train with the battalion at Florida Southern.
All scholarship contracts and Advanced Course enrollment require passing the Army Fitness Test (AFT) and the DoDMERB Physical, along with meeting the Army's height and weight standards. We work closely with cadets to help them meet the standards.
You must be at least 17 years old to begin the program, and under 31 in your year of commissioning.
Below are the several enrollment pathways into the Moccasin Battalion. Each one connects to the same program, just with different starting points and timelines.
If you're in high school and interested in Army ROTC, your first step is to apply and be accepted to Florida Southern College. The application process is the same as any FSC applicant.
Once you've applied, you can also compete for the Army ROTC National High School Scholarship beginning in June of your rising senior year. This is the largest scholarship Army ROTC offers, and high school seniors are eligible to apply for it nationally.
If you're already a Florida Southern student, joining ROTC is straightforward. The path depends on where you are in your degree.
Freshman and sophomore students currently attending FSC can enroll in the Army ROTC Basic Course by registering for MSL courses and the corresponding labs when registering for classes. No application is required to join the Basic Course, and there's no service commitment for the first two years.
Students with two years remaining in their undergraduate degree but not enough time to complete the Basic Course can still join. The path is to attend Basic Camp at Fort Knox during the summer before junior year, then enter the Advanced Course. Contact Adrian Testani for details about Basic Camp and how to plan your timeline.
Graduate students interested in joining Army ROTC can only register for the Advanced Course. To do so, you'll need to complete Basic Camp at Fort Knox during the summer before your graduate program begins in the fall. Contact our recruiting team to plan your timeline and discuss whether the program is right for you.
If you're already serving, two distinct programs let you pursue your degree and a commission while continuing to serve. Which one fits depends on your current service status.
The Army ROTC Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) lets college students serve in the Army National Guard or Army Reserve while enrolled in ROTC. Through SMP, you gain hands-on leadership training, receive monthly drill pay, and may qualify for tuition assistance — all while working toward your degree and a future commission as an Army officer.
Soldiers currently serving in the Army National Guard or Army Reserve can enroll in ROTC as full-time students and begin their journey toward commissioning.
Currently enrolled ROTC cadets can enlist in the Army National Guard or Army Reserve, gaining experience and earning extra income while in college.
Both options allow commissioning officers to compete for Active Duty.
The Green to Gold program is for active-duty enlisted soldiers ready to transition into officership through a college degree. Three options are available, each designed for a different situation.
Soldiers selected for this option leave active duty to attend college full time, with two-, three-, or four-year scholarship formats. The Army provides full tuition and fees (or room and board, capped at $10,000), a $600 per semester book allowance, and a $420 monthly stipend.
Soldiers selected for this option remain on active duty and are reassigned to a university location. You must complete your degree requirements within two years. During this time, you retain your current pay and allowances. Tuition, fees, and books are your responsibility, but many soldiers use GI benefits such as the Montgomery G.I. Bill / Army College Fund (MGIB/ACF) to cover these expenses.
Qualified soldiers leave active duty to attend college and complete their degree requirements within two years. The Army provides a $420 monthly stipend. Tuition, fees, and books are the soldier's responsibility.
Army ROTC offers two scholarship paths, depending on where you are in your educational journey. Both lead to the same destination: a funded path through college and a commission as an Army officer. Florida Southern adds room and board grants on top of the Army's award for scholarship contract cadets, making ROTC one of the strongest financial paths through college available anywhere.
The Army ROTC National High School Scholarship is the largest scholarship Army ROTC offers, and high school seniors are eligible to apply for it nationally. Applications open in June of your rising senior year.
Campus-Based Scholarships are offered to students who are already enrolled at Florida Southern, Southeastern, or Polk State, and already participating in Army ROTC at the Moccasin Battalion. Unlike the National Scholarship, which is competed for nationally before college, Campus-Based Scholarships are awarded by the Moccasin Battalion's own scholarship board, based on your performance in the program and your academic standing.
These scholarships are awarded to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are committed to the program. The number of awards available varies year to year. Eligibility requirements are similar to the National Scholarship, with some flexibility based on your college performance. For specifics on eligibility and how to be considered, contact our recruiting team.
Nursing students can pursue either scholarship path, with one added benefit specific to nursing cadets: the Army ROTC Nursing Scholarship also covers payment for NCLEX study materials and exam fees. Other benefits mirror the National Scholarship; 100% of college tuition and mandatory fees, room and board at Florida Southern, the $1,200 annual book allowance, and the $420 monthly stipend.
Want to know more before you commit to a path? Tell us a little about yourself and a member of our recruiting team will reach out to answer your questions, whether you're ready to enroll or just exploring whether ROTC is right for you.
Whether you have a question about enrollment, scholarships, or daily life in the battalion, our team is here to help.
