Military Science Program
Program Overview
What is an Army ROTC program?
An Army ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) program is a course of study designed for students who are interested in pursuing careers in the Army Reserves, Army National Guard or active duty United States Army.
Why explore Army ROTC at Furman?
For more than 70 years, Furman Army ROTC has been committed to the mission of providing Paladin Battalion cadets the tools, training and experiences to commission leaders of character into the United States Army.
Combining a major course of study with the Army ROTC program at Furman not only pays for your education and related fees, it imparts benefits you’ll draw on throughout your life. Seventy-five percent of Furman’s cadets hold either three- or four-year full scholarships from the U.S. Army. Following completion of the program, 100% of cadets commission as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army, Army National Guard or Army Reserves.
Students who branch into the Army National Guard or Reserves can step into any civilian role their major of study takes them. Those who qualify for an educational delay with the Army are able to enroll in graduate programs such as law or medical school, and fulfill their respective Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) after receiving an advanced degree.
You will combine classroom instruction with tactical field training, and build self-discipline while building leadership, team-building, critical thinking, communication and problem-solving skills. Furman’s ROTC cadre and staff will encourage you, push you, and help you tap your inner leader. Need more information? Contact the Furman Army ROTC office.
How will you learn?
A rigorous physical training program intersects with classroom instruction to build a strong cadet foundation in years one and two. Year three focuses on tactical training and assessment; and year four develops competencies for becoming an officer in the Army.
Physical training three times per week at zero-six-hundred strengthens both body and mind. Twice monthly, an early morning ruck march conditions you for walking long distances with a 35-pound rucksack. A three-hour weekly tactical lab allows you to apply newfound military science principles in the field, and at Furman’s smokeless range, you’ll sharpen your marksmanship with laser munitions. One weekend per semester you’ll take on field training exercises.
In your junior year, you’ll embark on a 35-day Cadet Summer Training camp in Fort Knox, Kentucky. A prerequisite for commissioning as an Army officer, the training event further cultivates cadets’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and shapes adaptable leaders who can thrive in unpredictable, fluid and complex environments.
Army focused-internships open doors to exploring possible career options ahead of graduation. Our close-knit Furman Army ROTC alumni are available for added mentoring, on-campus support and guidance toward self-discovery.
On your way to becoming a well-rounded scholar, athlete and leader, you’ll do the things other Furman students do – spend time in the library, attend classes, hang out with friends, conduct research in your major, study away, take a three-week May Experience (MayX) course or two, and participate in clubs, intramurals and Greek life. Visit our campus or request information to learn more.
Army careers
You’ll graduate from the program as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Army National Guard or the Army Reserves. The skills you develop through the program will take you far no matter what direction you take professionally. Our alumni serve at least four years in the Army following graduation, depending on their individual scholarship commitments. Some will go on to serve beyond their required military obligation, while others pursue careers in the civilian sector, often holding positions of leadership and service.
Mental and physical resilience, the ability to work as a team, and communication, critical thinking, decision-making and problem-solving skills are coveted by employers in any arena, be it career military or civilian.
Army branching options comprise those in combat arms, combat support, combat service support and other special branches.
They include:
- Infantry
- Air Defense Artillery
- Aviation
- Corps of Engineers
- Field Artillery
- Chemical Corps
- Signal Corps
- Military Intelligence Corps
- Military Police Corps
- Adjutant General’s Corps
- Finance Corps
- Ordnance Corps
- Quartermaster Corps
- Transportation Corps
- Cyber
- Judge Advocate Generals Corps
- Chaplain Corps
- Medical Services Corps
Featured Army ROTC courses
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100%Furman cadets who are placed in jobs following completion of Army ROTC program
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80%Furman cadets who branch as active duty Army officers
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75%Furman cadets who hold either three- or four-year full scholarships
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#6Furman’s rank among National Liberal Arts Colleges in the Southeast – U.S. News and World Report
Our faculty
CPT Zach Johnson
To become a member of the Furman University Paladin Battalion, contact the Department of Military Science.
You will commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. Your branch assignment is based on academic performance, completion of field training programs, Army physical fitness tests, interviews and other requirements.
The majority of cadets receive commissions for active duty officer positions in the U.S. Army. Others go into the Army National Guard or the Army Reserves on a part-time basis while working in civilian occupations. Some cadets qualify for an educational delay to pursue advanced degrees in graduate school before serving their military obligations.
