Transition Hawaii: ROTC and Me

Military Programs

ROTC and Me

Education

Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs are offered at many universities, including the University of Hawai'i. UH hosts the state’s ROTC program, but students from other four-year universities, such as Hawaii Pacific University, Brigham Young University and Chaminade University, are permitted to enroll in the program as well.

The ROTC can offer you a scholarship and provide you with leadership training to become a commissioned officer after graduation. Commissioned officers find success in many competitive job markets and benefit from commissioned pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are ROTC’s qualifications?

A: Candidates for the ROTC program must be U.S. citizens, be between the ages of 17 and 26, have a cumulative high school GPA of 2.50 or better, score a minimum of 920 on the SAT or 19 on the ACT (excluding writing test scores), meet the physical fitness requirements and agree to accept a commission and serve in the Armed Forces.

Q. Is ROTC offered to all branches of the military?

A. With exception to the U.S. Coast Guard, ROTC produces officers in all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Q: What kind of scholarships does ROTC have to offer?

A: Scholarships are available in two-, three- and four-year options based on the time it takes for a student to complete their degree. ROTC programs around the country offer full-tuition scholarships as well as an additional allowance to pay for books and fees. Depending on a student’s level in the curriculum, he/she can earn money to help with living expenses.

1st year, $300 per month
2nd year, $350 per month
3rd year, $450 per month
4th year, $500 per month

Q: What are the options once the ROTC program is complete?

A: Once the program is completed, graduates become commissioned officers, Second Lieutenants. Depending on qualifications, officers can be given advanced leadership positions or staff positions in upper management. In the civilian world, there are thousands of jobs and careers—doctors, lawyers, law enforcement, engineers, financial careers, food-service management—the list is endless. For almost every civilian in the work force, there is an Air Force officer counterpart performing a similar job.

Q: What are my weekly time commitments in college?

A: Freshmen and sophomore ROTC programs require four hours per week, while junior and senior courses demand six hours per week. The time is used for ROTC classes, leadership labs and physical fitness training.

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