Building a Better Student: Personal Development
in the ROTC

Confidence is an important part in succeeding in school as well as life. Unfortunately, confidence doesn't come easy for some high school students. The idea of leaving home for the first time and living on your own in a strange town can be enough to rattle anyone's nerves.

Across the country, there are hundreds of universities and colleges that offer ROTC programs. ROTC is like any other college elective in that anyone can enroll regardless of your designated major. ROTC is unlike other college electives in that classroom studies are supplemented with hands-on training in leadership qualities that build confidence and are needed in most careers.

The ROTC is a typically training ground for officers. That means ROTC strives to teach discipline, mental and physical toughness, and selflessness—all of these qualities that can help a person succeed in the armed forces, but also in life. ROTC gives students the confidence to handle any challenges they may face.

Just because you enroll in an ROTC class, doesn't mean you'll be shipped off to active duty right after finals. Students can take ROTC for a specified time, which varies by branch, without any commitiment to join the service. If you enjoy ROTC to the point that you feel there might be a career for you in the armed forces, you can continue in the program. Students may also be eligible scholarships based on their participation