- Training the Leaders of Tomorrow -

     The ROTC program is comprised of four years of military science courses.  Training will range from

Land Navigation Physical Training Rope Bridge Construction & Rappelling Weapons Qualification

...and of course, the art of Leadership.  You will be challenged mentally and physically.  Training comes in many forms.  Click on a link below to learn more about the type of training you will receive as a cadet in the Army ROTC program at Ball State University.

 

Classroom Instruction  |  Training Exercises  |  Competition  |  Army Schools

To Contact the a member of the Cardinal Battalion, click on the cadre link at left or call us at 1 (800) 552-7721.

If you are already in the Army National Guard or Army Reserve, you can sign up for the Simultaneous Membership Program.  The Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) begins to train prior service enlisted reserve component soldiers as officers.  You will begin to shadow officers and take on leadership roles within a reserve component unit during drill weekends and Annual Training Periods. 

 

 

The Department of Military Science offers four levels of classes.  The 100-200 level classes are open to students enrolled at Ball State University without military service obligation.  The 300-400 level classes are reserved for contracted cadets only.  Course numbers ending in -01 are available during the fall semester and course numbers ending in -02 are available during the spring semester; there are no prerequisites for any 100-200 level course or the Battle Analysis course (MS 499x).  Click on the course titles below to learn the scope of each course.

Contracted Cadets who complete all of the above courses with an additional Battle Analysis class (MS 499x) can opt for a minor in military science.  SMP Cadets can get credit for the 100-Level and 200-Level courses based on their Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) experience.

The 100-level and 200-level classes meet once a week for one hour.  The 300-level and 400-level classes meet twice a week for two hours each session.  One day is dedicated to classroom lecture and the second day of the week is a combined lab that encompasses all of the contracted cadets and applies what they have learned in their lectures into training scenarios.  Cadets may find themselves learning how to brief troops to leading squad or platoon-sized elements.

 

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Each semester, cadets take the knowledge they've gained in the classroom lectures and labs and apply them in larger scaled real life training scenarios during training exercises such as the SITUATIONAL TRAINING EXERCISE (STX) or the FIELD TRAINING EXERCISE (FTX).  The STX is a one day exercise during which cadets hone their land navigation skills using only a compass, map, protractor, and pencil to find their way from point to point on a course the size of several square miles over various terrain features.  They may also rehearse emergency first aid procedures, and radio communications.

The FTX is typically a two or three day exercise in which the Cardinal Battalion departs Ball State University for one weekend and heads to Camp Atterbury, Indiana or Fort Knox, Kentucky.  During the FTX, cadets learn how to operate as a military unit in the field.  Again, cadets will continue to refine their land navigation skills during the day before attempting to conduct land navigation skills at night.  You will sleep in the field unless severe weather arises, in which case we will receive billets in real military barracks.  Throughout the night, cadets take turns conducting "Fire Guard" duties.  Fire Guards are responsible for guarding over the troops throughout the night and ensuring their safety.

Throughout the FTX, cadets are again put through situational training exercises in which they may find themselves leading a squad or platoon in a variety of missions ranging from reconnaissance patrols to hostage rescue, or even through a series of obstacles that require team work in order to succeed.  During the FTX, the situational training exercises begins to stray from the previous exercises in that they begin to challenge cadets to think on their feet as  real life scenarios and variables not defined in field manuals are introduced.  Additionally, cadets may receive the chance to become qualified to use an M-16A2 rifle on a live-fire range.

Staff Rides are conducted once a year.  Staff Rides are a historical analysis of battles that are briefed by the senior class in a series of presentations.  These presentations may be conducted in the classroom utilizing Power Point or on location.

 

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The Ranger Challenge Competition, held annually at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, is a comprehensive competition that includes a roadmarch, the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), Basic Rifle Marksmanship, land navigation, rope bridge construction, and knowledge of small unit tactics based on standard Army Doctrine.  Check out the pictures of this year's Ranger Challenge team in action in the Photos page (Click on the Photos link at the left side of the page.).

The Ranger Challenge team competes against other ROTC programs from schools within our region which include Eastern Michigan University, Western Michigan University, Central Michigan University, University of Michigan, Indiana University, Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis, Notre Dame University, and the University of Dayton.

 

 

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    The Leadership Development and Assessment Course (LDAC), also known as Warrior Forge, is the pinnacle of the ROTC program.  Cadets spend approximately one month during the summer between their junior and senior years at Fort Lewis, Washington testing the skills they've developed in the Reserve Officer Training Corps to see if they have what it takes to lead tomorrow's Army as Second Lieutenants.

There are additional opportunities for cadets to gain some exciting training and experience.  Ball State University's Army ROTC program can send cadets to train in active duty units around the United States, Germany, Italy, or even South Korea in a program called Cadet Troop Leadership Training (CTLT).  CTLT provides cadets the opportunity to shadow commissioned officers within their prospective branch and gain some experience as a platoon leader in an active duty unit for up to thirty days.

In addition to CTLT, Ball State sends cadets to train with active duty troops at special skill-oriented schools such as Airborne School, Air Assault School, Army Scuba School, and Mountain Warfare School.  Schools such as these and CTLT are optional, and open to cadets that are interested in receiving such training and meet the prerequisites for the course.  Click on the links below to learn more about training available for cadets.

	The Basic Airborne Course, located at Fort Benning, GA, is a three week course that teaches soldiers the skills needed to deploy safely from an aircraft in flight using a static-line parachute deployment at low altitudes (approximately 1,250 feet).  During the final week, students make five airborne jumps from a C-130.  Click on the coveted airborne wings at left to learn about prerequisites and more details about Airborne training.  (Click here to see a video of airborne training.)
	Air Assault School is primarily located at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.  Air Assault School is a ten day course that covers aeromedical operations, pathfinder operations, sling-load operations, and rappelling from a helicopter such as a UH-60 Blackhawk.
	Mountain Warfare School is a two-week course taught by the Vermont National Guard at Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho, Vermont. Both a summer and a winter phase are offered in addition to an assault climbers course. The training is designed to make you an expert in mountain operations. Mountain Warfare School is both physically and mentally demanding. Training is non-stop, 15 hours per day, for 14 days (each course). If you can carry a 65-pound rucksack up to five miles per day in mountainous terrain and are competent with both day and night land navigation you may have what it takes to complete this intense training.

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For more information, contact 1LT Dean Yoder or SSG Ryan Crist at 1(800) 552-7721

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