Military Science, Department of

LTC Thomas Tolman, Department Head
Phone: (540) 568-6264/6048
Email: tolmante@jmu.edu
Location: Memorial Hall, Suite 1123J
Website: http://www.jmu.edu/rotc

Professor
T. Tolman

Associate Professors
A. Burrell, C. Gibson, W. Jones, P. Waller

Instructor
D. Kirk

Mission

The James Madison University Army ROTC Duke Battalion mission is to recruit, develop, educate and provide quality leadership training, practical hands-on experience and Army values character development in order to commission agile and adaptive leaders to serve as the future officer leadership in the Army, Army Reserve or Army National Guard. Additionally, it is our mission to motivate young people through caring leadership to be better citizens committed to lifelong service of the community and nation.

Goals

The program offers two, three and four year options, allowing students to complete the requirements to earn a commission as an Army officer. The three and four year programs consist of a basic course and an advanced course. A two year option allows students with at least two academic years remaining in either undergraduate or graduate studies to complete all requirements for commissioning as a second lieutenant in the active Army, Army National Guard or Army Reserves. Additionally, students not intending to pursue a career in the military will gain valuable leadership, teambuilding and communication skills, which transfer into marketable civilian job skills.

Career Opportunities and Marketable Skills

Army ROTC provides students with highly marketable leadership skills. The curriculum imparts leadership principles, concepts of human development, and aspects of health and fitness. Practical application of classroom instruction in lab develops one’s leadership style, communication and organizational skills, and strengthens personal character. Development of these skills implicitly builds one’s self-confidence, discipline and professional attributes.

Army Reservists or Army National Guardsmen who are continuing their education full time may be eligible for the Simultaneous Membership Program, which combines Reserve Forces duty with Army ROTC on campus and enables the student to earn approximately $5,000 in two years. Graduates of the program earn an Army commission and may serve four years in career areas as diverse as medical service, signal, infantry, law enforcement, aviation or nursing.

There are also opportunities for students seeking graduate degrees to delay going on active duty in order to pursue a graduate study program in law, medicine or other subjects. Further, Army ROTC scholarships are competitive for graduate students with no prior Army ROTC experience.

Co-curricular Activities and Organizations

Color Guard
JMU Cannon Crew
JMU Ranger Group
Scabbard and Blade Military Honor Society
Army Ten Miler Team
Ranger Challenge

Special Admission and Retention Requirements

Advanced military science courses are normally taken during the junior and senior years, or during graduate school. Qualified students pursuing a commission as a second lieutenant are contracted and paid a subsistence allowance of $300-$500 per month for up to 10 months during the school year. Prior to commissioning, each cadet must successfully complete the four-week ROTC Leader Development Assessment Course (LDAC) at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. Cadets must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA, meet DoD medical fitness standards and meet Army physical fitness and weight control standards.