ROTC: ARMY

Army ROTC is an elective curriculum you can take in addition to your required college courses and concludes with becoming commissioned as an Officer in the Army. The program provides tools, training and leadership opportunities to not only help prepare you for success in the military but in any competitive environment.
 

ROTC at Rose-Hulman - One of the best in the nation

Recognized in 2023 as the top performing collegiate program among all military branches, Rose-Hulman's ROTC program has a rich and accomplished history. The ROTC program has won the prestigious Department of Defense ROTC and Partner Institution Excellence Award and MacArthur Award for its performances in readiness training and commissioning lieutenants for military service.

Rose-Hulman ROTC program receives the partner institution excellence award.

Rose-Hulman Army ROTC includes many schools within the Wabash Valley from Greencastle to Terre Haute to Evansville. In fact, the University of Evansville has a proud history of ROTC dating back to the 1960’s. In addition to UofE, Indiana State University added ROTC for cross-enrollment in 1967 and DePauw University followed in 1974.  Cross-enrollment contracts with St. Mary-of-the-Woods College and Vincennes University began in 1976 and the University of Southern Indiana program began in 2004. With Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology as its operational base, these aforementioned schools make up the Wabash Battalion Army ROTC!

A Proud History

On September 10, 1874 Chauncey Rose formed a corporation called the Terre Haute School of Industrial Science. On September 11, 1875 the Board of Managers changed the name of the school to Rose Polytechnic Institute.

After hosting a unit of the Student Army Training Corps and playing an active role in training engineers and mechanics for the Army during World War I, Rose Polytechnic Institute was authorized to have an ROTC Engineer unit in 1919. The unit was organized by Captain William D. Weidlein, Corps of Engineers, in March 1919. Initial enrollment was 111 cadets, of which all but eight had been in the Student Army Training Corps.

On 8 June 1922, Charles D. Baker and Leroy A. Wilson became the first graduates of the ROTC unit at Rose Polytechnic Institute to receive commissions into the Engineer Reserve Corps as Second Lieutenants.

Graduation was advanced to 9 May in 1942 so that ROTC graduates could take their oath of office and enter military service earlier than usual. During World War II ROTC at Rose Polytechnic Institute was supplemented by an Army Specialized Training Unit.

During the post war period of 1946-1950 the college graduated seniors and took in freshman every quarter. This increased the college enrollment, but ROTC enrollment was the lowest in the detachment's history during this period because most students were veterans.

Army ROTC News

Learn more about Army ROTC events and news.
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Rose-Hulman ROTC students raise a flag.

Army ROTC Unit Named Nation’s Best Within All Military Branches

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Rose-Hulman students holding their academic awards.

Dedication, Support Systems & Hard Work Help Students Achieve Academic Success

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Army ROTC Unit Earns MacArthur Award as Nation’s Best

Army Careers

After completion of the Army ROTC program, graduates will be commissioned into the Army as Second Lieutenants. In the Army, officer career fields are known as branches, and after choosing an Army branch, Second Lieutenants will have the opportunity to pursue specialized training.

One man in uniform is walking, while a few other men in the background are leaning around a table

Nursing

Enrolling in Army ROTC can enhance your leadership skills and critical thinking abilities while providing financial aid to help you become a nurse. As an Army Nurse and Officer, you will have the opportunity to train and serve in a variety of specialties.

2 men dressed in uniform outside. One man is sitting and the other man is standing above him.

Field Artillery Officer

Field artillery officers lead the field in artillery branch, working to neutralize the enemy. Knowledge of tactics, techniques and procedures for the employment of fire support systems is critical in this role.

Group of three men in uniform huddle outside with their weapons.

Engineer Officer

Engineer officers are responsible for supporting a range of duties. Responsibilities might include building structures, developing civil works programs and providing combat support.

Quote

Thanks to the Rose-Hulman community and alumni for the continued support. We fight everyday to help make this a more peaceful region and world in which to live.

- Thomas Rude (1992)

Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division

Successful Alumni

Our Army ROTC graduates have gone on to do great things in our community and beyond. Alumni have used the skills and experiences gained in the Army ROTC program to build successful careers in the military and civilian world.

Close-up headshot of James K. Gilman in uniform with American flag in the background.

James K. Gilman (Biological Engineering, 1974)

After graduating from Rose-Hulman with a degree in Biological Engineering, Major General Gilman went on to study medicine at Indiana University Medical School. General Gilman served as the Commanding General, Brooke Army Medical Center, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas and is currently the first chief executive officer (CEO) for the NIH Clinical Center.  Dr. Gilman oversees day-to-day operations and management of the research hospital on NIH's Bethesda campus.

Close-up of Gene LeBoeuf in uniform as he waves his hand

Gene LeBoeuf (Civil Engineering, 1985)

Gene LeBoeuf’s commitments to military service and educating tomorrow’s leading engineers have led to leadership roles in distinguished careers. LeBoeuf currently serves as Commander, 79th Theater Sustainment Command, Los Alamitos California; the U.S. Army Reserve's 79th Theater Sustainment Command is regionally aligned to support US Army Africa, is the second largest reserve command and provides trained, ready, cohesive, well-led sustainment units for world-wide deployment. He previously served as Acting Commanding General of United States Army Africa, and also served as a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Vanderbilt University. The major general is also a member of the Rose-Hulman Department of Civil Engineering’s professional advisory board.

close-up headshot of Richard Franko

Richard Franko (Civil Engineering, 2007)

Richard Franko is a United States Army Captain serving in the Special Forces Regiment of the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). His main duty is to serve as a Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha Detachment Commander specializing in direct action and water infiltration. Franko is a 2007 Distinguished Military Honor Graduate of Rose-Hulman, and a recipient of the institute’s Distinguished Young Alumni Award in 2014.

close-up headshot of Scott Wright

Scott Wright (Chemical Engineering, 1986)

Wright was an ROTC scholarship student at Rose-Hulman, and graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He now works in the Medical Service Corps as a preventive medicine science officer. Most of his work utilizes engineering skills to help ensure drinking water is safe.

Rose-Hulman campus map

Contact Us

ROTC Army
Baur-Sames-Bogart Hall, lower level
5500 Wabash Avenue
Terre Haute, IN 47803
ArmyROTC@rose-hulman.edu
812-877-8978

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