Military Science (MILS)
Military Science/Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a multiyear program designed to prepare college students as leaders and make possible the commission of military officers into the United States Army, Army Reserve and the Army National Guard. The courses are centered on the development of 16 leadership dimensions.
All Bucknell students may enroll and attend the first-year and sophomore-level classes with class attendance being the only requirement (two hours weekly for first-year students and sophomores). Bucknell students attending military science classes as students are not part of the formal ROTC program.
ROTC scholarship first-year students and ROTC non-scholarship first and second-year students may enroll on a trial basis with no commitment to the military. Students may leave the program or continue with advanced courses to earn a commission as an officer upon graduation.
The program is intended to start with new first-year students each fall; it is possible to enter the program as late as spring of the sophomore year. Students with prior military service or those who complete a 31-day summer training program may bypass the first-year and sophomore-level training.
Various types and lengths of scholarships are available, some of which can guarantee duty in the Army Reserve or Army National Guard.
Scholarship cadets receive FULL tuition, a subsistence allowance of up to $420 a month, and a book allowance of $1,200 a year. Bucknell University pays room and board for their scholarship cadets who live on campus.
Contracted non-scholarship cadets receive a subsistence allowance of $420 a month.
ROTC program requirements include a 35-day summer training course between the junior and senior years. Opportunities exist for other specialized summer training, such as Airborne School, Air Assault School, and internships with Active Duty Army units and federal government agencies.
The time commitment for first and second-year cadets during the school year is approximately seven hours a week. For third and fourth-year cadets, the time commitment is approximately 15 hours a week. Time is spent on weekly classes, physical training, monthly leadership labs and a once-a-semester field training exercise.
For more information, contact the ROTC department at 570-577-1013 or 570-577-1246.
Courses
MILS 101. Foundation of Officership. .25 Credits.
Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:2,Other:1
Focuses on developing comprehension of Army leadership dimensions, attributes and core leader competencies within the U.S. Army, and the Army's role in American society and government.
MILS 102. Basic Leadership. .25 Credits.
Offered Spring Semester Only; Lecture hours:2,Other:1
Further studies focusing on developing comprehension of Army leadership dimensions, attributes and core leader competencies within the U.S. Army, and the Army's role in American society and government.
MILS 201. Individual Leadership Studies. .25 Credits.
Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:2,Other:1
Builds upon student development of the leadership attributes and core leader competencies through the understanding of Army organizational structures and its duty in American society.
MILS 202. Leadership and Teamwork. .25 Credits.
Offered Spring Semester Only; Lecture hours:2,Other:1
Further studies the theoretical basis of Army leadership requirements model by exploring the dynamics of adaptive leadership in the context of military operations.
MILS 301. Adaptive Team Leadership. .5 Credits.
Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:3,Other:1
Develops critical thinking skills through practical application of the fundamentals of Army leadership at the lowest organizational levels in the United States Army. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
MILS 302. Leadership Under Fire. .5 Credits.
Offered Spring Semester Only; Lecture hours:3,Other:1
Further studies in developing critical thinking skills through practical application of the fundamentals of Army leadership at the lowest organizational levels in the United States Army. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
MILS 303. Military History: American Military Experience. .5 Credits.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
A survey course examining the military heritage of the United States from the colonial period to the late twentieth century, developing students’ awareness of the relationship of the U.S. military establishment to American society. Further, the course will focus on leadership, technology, doctrinal changes and the formation of today’s Army.
MILS 401. Developing Adaptive Leaders. .5 Credits.
Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:3,Other:1
Transitions the student learning from being trained to becoming a leader. Students study the U.S. Constitution and how it relates to their role as an Army officer. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
MILS 402. Leadership in a Complex World. .5 Credits.
Offered Spring Semester Only; Lecture hours:3,Other:1
Explores the dynamics of leading soldiers in full spectrum operations in the contemporary operating environment. Course prepares them for their future role as an Army officer. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
Faculty
Director: Maj Jason Rock
Instructors: MAJ Daniel Frantz, CPT Eric Hsu, MSG Jeremy Rutherford