Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Program: Organization, Administration, and Training
Summary of Change
THE UNITED STATES ARMY
Headquarters
Department of the Army
Washington, DC
29 May 2025
*Army Regulation 145-1
Effective 29 June 2025
Reserve Officers' Training Corps
Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps Program: Organization, Administration, and Training
By Order of the Secretary of the Army:
RANDY A. GEORGE
General, United States Army
Chief of Staff
MARK F. AVERILL
Administrative Assistant to the
Secretary of the Army
History. This publication is an expedited revision. The portions affected by this expedited revision are listed in the summary of change.
Authorities. This regulation implements DoDI 1215.08.
Applicability. This regulation applies to the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve, unless otherwise stated.
Proponent and exception authority. The proponent of this regulation is the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1. The proponent has the authority to approve exceptions or waivers to this regulation that are consistent with controlling law and regulations. The proponent may delegate this approval authority, in writing, to a division chief within the proponent agency or its direct reporting unit or field operating agency, in the grade of colonel or the civilian equivalent. Activities may request a waiver to this regulation by providing justification that includes a full analysis of the expected benefits and must include formal review by the activity's senior legal officer. All waiver requests will be endorsed by the commander or senior leader of the requesting activity and forwarded through their higher headquarters to the policy proponent. Refer to AR 25-30 for specific requirements.
Army internal control process. This regulation contains internal control provisions in accordance with AR 11-2 and identifies key internal controls that must be evaluated (see app C).
Suggested improvements. Users are invited to send comments and suggested improvements on DA FormDA FormDepartment of the Army form 2028 (Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank Forms) directly to Commander, U.S. Army Cadet Command (ATCC-PA), 1st Calvary Regiment Road, Fort Knox, KY 40121-5123.
Distribution. This publication is available in electronic media only and is intended for the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve.
*This regulation supersedes AR 145-1, dated 28 April 2023. Army Directive 2024-10, dated 12 September 2024 is rescinded upon the publication of this regulation.
AR 145-1 • 25 May 2025
UNCLASSIFIED
TOCTable of Contents
Chapter 1Responsibilities
Chapter 2Military Personnel Assigned to Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Duty
Chapter 3Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Program Entry Options
Chapter 4Cross-Town Enrolled Cadets, Intercollegiate Transfers, and Inter-Service Commissioning Program
Program Transfers––All Cadets
Chapter 5Probation and Leaves of Absence
Chapter 6Leaves of Absence
Chapter 7Insurance and Casualty Entitlements
Chapter 8Uniform and Insignia
Chapter 9Eligibility for Air Transportation Support during Training
Chapter 10Disenrollment, Discharge, and Involuntary Order to Active Duty and Reenrollment
Chapter 11Branches That Have Specific Selection/Application Requirements or Assignment Limitations
Chapter 12Release of Army Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Graduates to Another Service for
and the Appointment and Commissioning of Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Graduates
Chapter 13Appointment and Post-Appointment Programs
Appendix AReferences
Appendix BStatement of Joint Policies, 21 June 1949
Appendix CInternal Control Evaluation
Glossary
Academic and military alignment Alignment of a cadet’s progression through the MS curriculum with their academic program, so that grad- uation and commissioning occur simultaneously.
Academic year The time period beginning the first day of the fall academic term and ending on the last day of the spring academic term (see DoDI 1215.08).
Advanced camp A mandatory 30 through 50–day period of field training during which Advanced Course cadets receive ad- ditional training and evaluation. Advanced camp is conducted at Fort Knox, KY, and is usually attended between MS III and MS IV and includes enhanced leadership opportunities such as embedded leader and trainers at basic camp, CTLT, Drill Cadet Leadership Training, and Cultural Understanding Program missions. Alternate entry cadets attend advanced camp following completion of their MS IV year.
Advanced Course The portion of the SROTC program that consists of the classes, training, and activities required of cadets beyond their second year of study (see DoDI 1215.08). The last 2 years of the SROTC program (MS III and MS IV), including advanced camp. Cadets ordinarily enroll in the Advanced Course during the junior and senior years in college. MJC cadets complete the Advanced Course during the freshman and sopho- more years.
Annual training The minimal period of training RC Soldiers must perform each year to satisfy the training requirements associated with their RC assignment (see 10 USCUSCUnited States Code 10147 and AR 135–200).
Auditing student One of two types of SROTC students. Auditing students attend an ROTCROTCReserve Officers’ Training Course class, subject to the approval of the instructor, but do not receive a grade in the class, do not receive credit for taking the class, and are not formally enrolled in the SROTC program and pursuant to the participating institution’s policy, may or may not be registered in the class (see DoDI 1215.08).
Basic camp A 30-day SROTC training course conducted at Fort Knox, KY, normally attended before the applicant’s sophomore academic year (progression cadets) or junior academic year (lateral entry cadets) and de- signed to impart basic military skills training.
Basic course The portion of the SROTC program that consists of the classes, training, and activities required of cadets and midshipmen in their first and second years of study (see DoDI 1215.08).
Basic Officer Leader Course Pre-commissioning/pre-appointment training to qualify individuals to serve as officers (BOLC A) and of- ficer initial entry and branch qualification training (BOLC B) (see AR 350–1).
Cadet A participating student who has formally enrolled with a Military Service as a member of the SROTC pro- gram. There are three types of cadets: contract, non-contract, and foreign student program (see DoDI 1215.08).
Concurrent service obligation Two or more ADSOs served at the same time.
Consecutive service obligation Two or more ADSOs served in succession.
Consortium An arrangement between multiple SROTC host units sharing resources to maximize efficiency. These re- sources can include, but are not limited to, facilities, staff, organizational structure, processes, and admin- istrative material. A consortium consists of two or more host units with their affiliated extension units and cross-town institutions. The term consortium describes the arrangement between host units and does not describe the units themselves (see DoDI 1215.08).
Contracted cadet The military status of a cadet as a member of the IRRIRRIndividual Ready Reserve or a member of the Selected Reserve in the SMP, unless activated for military training at which time a cadet is placed on orders (see DoDI 1215.08).
Cross–commissioning cadets Cadets who have completed either the aerospace or Naval SROTC programs, who have graduated, and who will accept U.S. Army commissions, under authority of the ASA (M&RA)ASA (M&RA)Assistant to the Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs).
Cross–town agreement The designation given an institution that has an agreement with both a host institution and with the SROTC HQ of a Military Department that would allow its students to enroll in the ROTCROTCReserve Officers’ Training Course program of the host unit. Cadets at this institution attend SROTC classes and activities on the campus of the host unit. There is no SROTC staff assigned to this institution (see DoDI 1215.08).
Department of Military Science The academic department of an educational institution that administers the Army SROTC activities at the institution.
Designated applicant SROTC students and non-contract cadets who have not received a scholarship or signed a contract, but are formally enrolled with a Military Service as members of the SROTC Program. Designated applicants are allowed to wear a Service uniform, attend physical training events, and participate in local exercises and other miscellaneous training events (see DoDI 1215.08).
Distinguished military graduate An SROTC graduate (or one who will graduate at the next regular commencement) who maintained their status as a DMS throughout the MS IV year, successfully completed basic camp and advanced camp, and placed in the top 10 percent of the National OML.
Distinguished military student An MS IV cadet who has successfully completed basic camp and advanced camp, who has attained a standing in the upper half of their academic class, and whose MS standing is in the upper third of their SROTC class and is ranked as such in the OML established by the PMS.
Effective date of contracting The date the PMS or APMS signs Part V of either DA FormDA FormDepartment of the Army form 597 or DA FormDA FormDepartment of the Army form 597–3. It will ordinarily be the same date as that used in Part IV; the date the cadet is determined to be fully qualified and accepted for enrollment.
Extension unit An SROTC unit located at an institution that has an agreement with both a host SROTC unit and with the SROTC HQ of a Military Department to maintain on its campus an ROTCROTCReserve Officers’ Training Course presence extended from the host unit. Cadets at this institution attend SROTC classes and activities on their own campus. An exten- sion unit is manned either full- or part-time with staff assigned from the host unit (see DoDI 1215.08).
Foreign student See DoDI 12.15.08.
Full–time student A student who is enrolled in sufficient academic courses to attain sophomore, junior, and senior academic status at the end of each appropriate 1 academic year increment. This includes any SROTC class that may be part of, or in addition to, those courses required for a baccalaureate degree.
Green-to-Gold Program See chapter 13.
Host unit A SROTC unit located at an institution that has an agreement with the SECARMYSECARMYSecretary of the Army to maintain an SROTC unit on its campus. Cadets at this institution attend SROTC classes and activities on their own campus. A host unit is manned full-time with staff assigned to that institution (see DoDI 1215.08).
Medical leave of absence The involuntary suspension of the scholarship and subsistence benefits paid to a cadet due to a health- related incapacity or condition that presents clear evidence that they, following medical treatment, will be unable to meet the physical standards for appointment or otherwise complete the requirements for com- missioning within a reasonable period of time (see DoDI 1215.08).
Military Science and Leadership I/II/III/IV/V/VI Designations for the different levels of the MS curriculum. For example, MS I is the 1st year of the SROTC program, while MS IV is the 4th year. The Basic Course comprises of the MS I and MS II curric- ula and the Advanced Course comprises of the MS III and MS IV curricula. An MS V (scholarship or non- scholarship) cadet is one who receives extended benefits for an additional year but does not include com- pletion cadets. MS VI includes cadets who have completed basic camp and advanced camp but have not yet completed all professional military education requirements necessary for commissioning.
Military service obligation The total required service that each person who becomes a Servicemember will serve, unless sooner dis- charged (see DoDI 1215.08).
Mobilization The process by which the Armed Forces of the United States, or part of them, are brought to a height- ened state of readiness for war or another national emergency. This includes activating all or part of the RCs as well as assembling and organizing personnel, supplies, and materiel (see AR 601-25).
Montgomery GI Bill (chapter 1605) Eligible members of the Selected Reserve may participate in this program and receive up to 36 months of education benefits.
Montgomery GI Bill (chapter 30) A Federally funded, voluntary, program administered by the VA. Active duty Soldiers who participate con- tribute $100 per month for 12 months. Upon meeting eligibility requirements, they may receive up to $1,075 a month in education support for 36 months.
Order of merit list A listing that rank orders cadets; two separate OMLs are used in conjunction with the DMS/DMG and ac- cession processes. Each PMS prepares an OML of cadets who have successfully completed advanced camp and uses it as one of the selection tools in determining those cadets who will be designated as DMS. The National OML is a single OML, developed as part of the FY SROTC accessions process and rank orders all cadets to be commissioned between 1 October–30 September.
Practical military training Authorized under 10 USCUSCUnited States Code 2109, such training includes supervised and USACC-approved training ordinar- ily conducted outside the traditional classroom environment. Such training may be conducted on-campus, off-campus, on military installations, or at Army training centers. Examples include advanced camp, cadet practical field training, CTLT, cadet-organized physical fitness programs, ACFT, orientation visits and flights, Ranger Challenge training, field training exercises, road marches, marksmanship ranges, orient- eering, Leadership Reaction Courses, and so forth.
Rank The order of precedence among members of the Armed Forces (see 10 USCUSCUnited States Code 101(b)(7)).
Scholarship cadet A student enrolled in SROTC who has been awarded a scholarship under the Army SROTC financial as- sistance program (see 10 USCUSCUnited States Code 2107 or 10 USCUSCUnited States Code 2107a).
Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps An organization of programs established by the DoD, pursuant to 10 USCUSCUnited States Code 2102, at civilian educational institutions authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees and at MJCs that confer an associate degree, to conduct a program of military instruction to commission student cadets as officers in the Armed Forces.
Subsistence allowance Money paid by the Army, pursuant to 37 USCUSCUnited States Code 209, in lieu of rations for cadets contracted in the SROTC program.
2–year Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corp Program A lateral entry option to the SROTC program. Students attend the 30-day basic camp, followed by the on- campus Advanced Course and advanced camp.
4–year Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Program Ordinarily consists of the on-campus Basic Course, MS I and MS II (or authorized placement credit for the basic course) and the Advanced Course, MS III, advanced camp, and MS IV.
