Academics

ROTC

ROTC: It's All About Leadership!

Since 1916, the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) has produced more than 500,000 lieutenants for America's Army. As an ROTC cadet, you will become part of a team. You will acquire new friendships that will last a lifetime, as well as meet physical and mental challenges you may not have thought possible. The discipline, teamwork, and leadership you experience in Army ROTC will equip you to succeed anywhere, in whatever pursuit you choose.

Welcome to N Company, the Newberry College Detachment of the Scottish Highlander Army ROTC Cadet Battalion. The Highlander Battalion is based at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina, the host institution for the Army ROTC Program at both Newberry College and Lander University. All ROTC classes are taught at Newberry College, however all Leadership Labs are conducted at Presbyterian.

ROTC Curriculum

The ROTC curriculum is divided into two distinct courses: the Basic Course and the Advanced Course. Each course differs in regard to who can participate and also in regard to one's overall military obligation.

Basic Course

The Basic Course is comprised of freshman (MS1) and sophomore (MS2) classes and does not require any military obligation. At most universities, these classes are considered electives and only meet once a week for approximately 1 to 2 hours. The Basic Course covers topics such as Organization of the Army; Military Customs and Courtesies; Basic Leadership Skills; Decision Making Process; Map Reading Skills; Introduction to Small Unit Tactics; and Basic Soldier Skills. In order to enroll in the Basic Course, an individual must:

  • Be a full-time student at Newberry College
  • Not be a conscientious objector
  • Be of good moral character
  • Not have any tattoos specifically prohibited by Army policy
  • Be a U.S. citizen
  • Be in good physical condition
Advanced Course

The Advanced Course is comprised of junior (MS3) and senior (MS4) classes and requires students to commit to a military obligation prior to entering the course. Once enrolled in the Advanced Course, cadets participate in academic classes and leadership labs each semester and also attend the Leader Development Assessment Course (LDAC- Warrior Forge) at Fort Lewis, Washington, during the summer of their junior/senior year. In order to enroll in the Advanced Course, an individual must:

  • Meet all of the previous requirements to enter the Basic Course
  • Not have any civil convictions, adverse adjudications, or court marshal convictions other than minor traffic violations less than $250.00
  • Not have more than 3 dependents
  • Never have used drugs; or be a self-admitted limited/experimental user of drugs who has not used within 6 months of contracting
  • Sign a loyalty oath

If you are prior service, you must have an Honorable Discharge from the Armed Services with a qualifying RE code of 1 on your DD Form 214. Additionally you must meet one of the following criteria:

  • Have course credit for MS 1 and MS 2, complete Leadership Training Course or complete Basic Training in one of the Armed Forces
  • Have a college GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Score at least 180 points with 60 points in each event on the Army Physical Fitness Test
  • Successfully pass a Department of Defense Medical Evaluation Review Board physical
  • Be younger than the age of 31 at time of commissioning

Upon completion of the Advanced Course and successful graduation from Newberry College, cadets are commissioned as United States Army Officers and subsequently begin rewarding careers in the Active Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard.