Objectives

The purpose of the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps program is to commission the future officer leadership of the United States Army and to motivate young people to become better citizens. Students who become cadets simultaneously earn their baccalaureate degree and a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard.

The Rolling Thunder Battalion, located at Wheaton College, is a cooperative effort between the Army and Lewis University to provide junior officer leadership in the interest of national security. The Rolling Thunder Battalion cadre provides leadership training and practical experience designed to develop the traits essential to achieving a high degree of success in military and civilian pursuits. Coursework can be taken at both Lewis University and Wheaton College.

Program

The Military Science curriculum consists of two two-year courses. The Basic Course consists of eight semester hours taken during the first and second years of college. Once students have satisfactorily completed the Basic Course, they may apply for enrollment in the Advanced Course. If selected for the Advanced Course, students sign a contract with the United States Government whereby they agree to complete the course of instruction, attend the advanced summer camp, and accept a commission in the reserve or active components of the U.S. Army for a period as specified by the Secretary of the Army. The Advanced Course consists of 19 semester hours taken during the third and fourth years of college, as well as attendance at the Cadet Leader Course (CLC) training camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky, during the summer following the junior year. Students must also satisfactorily complete an approved military history course. Students must be U.S. citizens to contract into the Advanced Course.

While consisting of four distinct semesters, the Advanced Course is structured as a two-phased program leading to commissioning. The principle lessons of operations and tactics, coupled with leadership, are progressive.

Scholarship Opportunities

Army ROTC offers two-, three- and four-year scholarships that may pay part of or all college tuition and fees. Students can apply at any time from their senior year in high school to the second semester of their second college year. All scholarship students also earn a monthly stipend while in school, as well as an annual allowance for books and miscellaneous fees. In addition, qualified non-scholarship cadets are eligible for a tuition reduction if participating in ROTC. Courses taken for credit in Military Science are considered as a subject field concentration and count as electives applied to Lewis University graduation requirements. For this reason, the three summer training programs – MILI 22500 Lerader's Training Course (LTC), MILI 33500 Advanced Camp, and/or MILI 33600 Nurse Summer Training Program (NSTP) – may be taken for college credit with prior coordination.

Program Credit Hours: 27

Program Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Basic Courses
Phase I:
MILI 10000	Military Sci Leader Lab (LLAB) 1	0
MILI 11100	Introduction to the Army and Critical Thinking	2
MILI 11200	Introduction to the Profession of Arms	2
Phase II:
MILI 10000	Military Sci Leader Lab (LLAB) 1	0
MILI 22100	Leadership and Decision Making	2
MILI 22200	Army Doctrine and Team Development	2
Advanced Courses 3
HIST 33100	A History of the U.S. Military 2	3
Phase I:
MILI 10000	Military Sci Leader Lab (LLAB)	0
MILI 33100	Training Management and the Warfighting Functions	4
MILI 33200	Applied Leadership in Small Unit Operations	4
Phase II:
MILI 10000	Military Sci Leader Lab (LLAB)	0
MILI 44100	The Army Officer	4
MILI 44200	Company Grade Leadership	4
Total Hours		27

¹

MILI 10000 Military Sci Leader Lab (LLAB) must be taken concurrently with Advanced Courses.

²

Note: HIST 33100 A History of the U.S. Military is also a course requirement for commissioning taken with advanced courses in third or fourth year. Prerequisite: Contracted cadet with sophomore, junior, or senior standing. 

³

Note: MILI 22500 Leader's Training Course (LTC) may be taken between the sophomore and junior years in lieu of the on-campus program with permission of the Professor of Military Science.