Special Programs

Table of Contents

• Required Summer Training
  • Basic Camp (Only Required for Special Circumstances)
  • Cadet Summer Training (CST), also known as Advanced Camp
    • Garrison Phase
    • Wolverine Phase
    • Panther Phase
    • Grizzly Phase
• Volunteer and Merit-Based Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Project Global Officer (GO)
  • Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT)
  • Cadet Advanced Individual Training (CAIT)
  • Other Summer Training Opportunities

Required Summer Training

Basic Camp (Only Required for Special Circumstances)

Basic Camp is a 30-day training event designed to introduce Cadets to the Army. The objective is to develop Cadet leadership skills, train them on individual and junior leader tasks, and develop and reinforce the Warrior Ethos and Army Values. Basic Camp provides the critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in ROTC and the Army. Cadets graduate Basic Camp prepared to lead at the Team (3-4 Cadets) and Squad (9-13 Cadets) level.

Basic Camp’s primary target audience are Lateral Entry Cadets. Lateral Entry Cadets typically decide to join ROTC in their sophomore year of college. They attend Basic Camp to learn what normal-progression Cadets learned in their first two years of military science classes. Basic Camp allows sophomore Cadets to gain Squad Leader experience, and provides opportunities for some rising-senior Cadets to fulfill roles as Platoon-level leaders. Basic Camp consists of two Regiments composed of approximately 1,200 Cadets each summer.

At Basic Camp, Cadets are taught to conduct Troop Leading Procedures (TLPs) to plan and execute tactical missions at the Squad level. As Cadets gain experience and confidence through the training, they apply lessons learned from the After Action Review (AAR) process.

Learn more about Basic Camp

 

Cadet Summer Training (CST), also known as Advanced Camp

Cadet Summer Training (CST), also known as Advanced Camp, is a 36-day training event designed to develop a Cadet’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and to forge them into tough, adaptable leaders who can thrive in ambiguous and complex environments. Cadet Summer Training (CST) is the capstone leadership development opportunity for all Cadets between their Military Science 3 (junior) and MS 4 (senior) years of ROTC.

CST focuses on problem-solving in an operational setting to develop real-world leadership—those intangible leadership attributes and competencies that allow leaders to thrive in challenging conditions. CST consists of 9 Regiments composed of more than 6,000 Cadets each summer.

Cadets reinforce basic skills through Squad (9-13 Cadets) level leadership development exercises, and transition to Platoon (40-50 Cadets) level operations in a Company construct. CST consists of four phases, mirroring a deployment to an allied country which requires U.S. assistance: Garrison Phase, Wolverine Phase, Panther Phase, and Grizzly Phase.

Garrison Phase

During Garrison Phase, Cadets will be tested on and compete for individual score on events, to include:

• Army Fitness Test
• Height & Weight, and One-Site Tape Test
• Urinalysis
• Confidence Course
• Field Leader's Reaction Course
• Rappel Tower
• Day and Night Land Navigation, and a Written Land Navigation Test
• Rifle Marksmanship
  • Preliminary Marksmanship Instruction
  • Preliminary Live-Fire Simulation
  • Drills
  • Group/Zero
  • Confirmation at Distance
  • Application of Hold Offs
  • Practice Qualification
  • Qualification
  • 6-mile Battle, March, and Shoot
• Military Skills Competence tasks, including:
  • Tactical Combat Casualty Care (Care Under Fire, Tactical Field Care, and Tactical Evacuation Care)
  • Weapons Proficiency (M4, M249, M240, M192 Tripod, Claymore)
  • Radio Proficiency (ASIP)
  • Communications and Reports
  • Range Cards
  • Call for Fire
  • Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) tasks
  • Grenade Identification and the Grenade Assault Course

Wolverine Phase

During Wolverine Phase, which starts approximately on day 15, Cadets will deploy into a field environment, spending 4 continuous days conducting Platoon-level tactical operations. The purpose of this phase is for Cadre and Observer Coach/Trainers (OC/Ts) and Cadets to "level the bubble", to create a shared understanding of doctrinally based principles within their Platoons through common professional language, and to establish a fair assessment environment where Cadets can display leadership attributes and competencies during Panther and Grizzly Phases.

This phase begins with Tactical Teach classes delivered to Cadet Platoons by their Cadre and Observer Coach/Trainers (OC/Ts). Cadets will then develop their own unit procedures (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures, and Standard Operating Procedures) with guidance from their OC/Ts, starting with doctrine and battle drills, and gradually moving into formations and order of movement, individual movement techniques, light and noise discipline, and more complex topics such as patrol base operations, direct fire planning, machine gun employment, shift/cease fire procedures, actions on contact, aid & litter team procedures, enemy prisoner of war team clear and search procedures, react to unmanned aircraft systems, and more.

Cadets will then experience Cadre-led Platoon missions, followed by Cadre-assisted Platoon missions, and ending with a practice Cadet-led assessed lane to establish expectations for Cadet assessed lanes during Panther and Grizzly Phases. Each night, Cadets will sleep in their patrol bases while conducting continuous patrol base operations.

Wolverine Phase culminates with a Regimental 8-mile ruck march into the staging area for the next phase of training.

Panther Phase

During Panther Phase, Cadets will spend 3 continuous days in the field, executing tactical assessed lanes (missions) from sunrise until sunset each day. Cadets will endure the elements, conducting missions in harsh weather. Each lane lasts three hours from the initial receipt of the mission until actions are complete on the objective.

This is followed by one hour of administrative time, where Cadets will conduct arm immersion procedures, conduct personnel, weapons, and equipment accountability, discuss their unit performance through OC/T-led Facilitated After Action Reviews (FAARs), eat, drink, resupply, conduct leadership role changes, receive their Situation, Observation, Associate & Assess, Reinforce & Recommend Card (SOAR Card) counselings and assessment results from their OC/Ts, and mentally reset for the next mission.

Three to four of these four-hour time blocks will occur each training day, challenging Cadets to leverage their leadership attributes and competencies to accomplish the mission and ensure the welfare of their peers. Throughout this phase, enemy forces (OPFOR) will gradually increase their intensity, presenting new challenges to Cadets each mission. Each night, Cadets will continue to sleep in their patrol bases while conducting continuous patrol base operations.

At the end of Panther Phase, Cadets will immediately deploy into Grizzly Phase, sustaining four more days of continuous tactical operations.

Grizzly Phase

During Grizzly Phase, Cadets will spend another 4 continuous days in the field, continuing to execute tactical assessed lanes (missions) from sunrise until sunset each day. Cadets will endure the elements, conducting missions in harsh weather.

Mission timelines remain the same as Panther Phase, with the exception of enemy forces (OPFOR) increasing their intensity to the highest levels, challenging Cadets to levels of leadership that will prepare them to be Commissioned Officers of character. Each night, Cadets will continue to sleep in their patrol bases while conducting continuous patrol base operations.

Grizzly Phase culminates with a Regimental 12-mile ruck march back to the barracks. This event marks an emotional end to CST that will remain with Cadets for the remainder of their lives. The friendships and bonds you will experience at CST will be enduring and formative.

The last week of CST is comprised of administrative tasks such as weapons maintenance, surveys, branch briefs, equipment turn-in,  immunizations, Platoon photos, a blood drive, Family Day (second to last day), and Graduation Day (last day).

Learn more about Cadet Summer Training (CST)

 

 

Volunteer and Merit-Based Opportunities

Internships

Each summer, exciting internship opportunities are available to contracted Cadets (whether you are a contracted first-year, sophomore, or junior). Interships range across specialized areas, technicial fields, and research opportunities. Various military, government, and civilian agencies offer internships to hundreds of ROTC Cadets annually. Cadets will have opportunities to travel across the world, working on leading edge projects with national and international impact.

• Air Force Institute of Technology's Immersive Cyber Education Program (AFIT)
• Army Science Board Internship Program (ASB)
• Chaplaincy Intership Program (CHIP)
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Internship Program
• First Army Cadet Summer Internship
• Intelligence & Security Command Internship Program (INSCOMIP)
• Joint Training Counter-IED OIC/SIMS Internship Program (JTCOICSIMSIP)
• Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG) Internship Program
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln Lab Internship Program
• National Forensic Science Technology Center Forensic Internship Program (FIP)
• National Ground Intelligence Center Internship (NGIC) Program
• National Nuclear Security Administration Internship Program (NNSAIP)
• National Security Agency (NSA) Experiential Tour Program
• Nuclear Science & Engineering Research Center (NSERC) Program
• Nurse Summer Training Program (NSTP) *All nurses will attend after CST in the summer between their junior and senior years.
• Public Affairs Officer Internship Program (PAOIP)
• Rapid Equipping Force Internship Program (REFIP)
• Research Internship Program (RIP)
• U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Lab (DEVCOM ARL) Cadet Apprenticeship Program (CAP)
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineering Internship Program (EIP)
• U.S. Army Cyber Command Internship
• U.S. Army Futures Command (C5ISR) Internship Program
• U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Internship Program
• U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) Innovation Ignite Internship Program
• West Point Department of Physics & Nuclear Engineering Space &
• Weather Internship Program
• West Point Internship Program

Learn more about Cadet Internships

 

Project Global Officer (GO)

Project Global Officer (Project GO) is an initiative aimed at improving the language skills, regional expertise, and intercultural communication skills of future military Officers.

Sponsored by the Defense Language and National Security Education Office and administered by the Institute of International Education, Project GO provides institutional grants to U.S. institutions of higher education with large ROTC student enrollments. In turn, these institutions provide language and cultural training to ROTC students from across the nation, funding overseas ROTC language programs and scholarships. Working in support of Army, Air Force, and Navy ROTC Headquarters, Project GO facilitates collaborative efforts both among universities and ROTC leadership.

Since 2007, Project GO institutions have provided approximately 8,500 domestic and overseas summer scholarships to ROTC students for critical language study. Project GO has strengthened university infrastructure in the critical languages and created venues for communication amongst ROTC leadership and university personnel.

In order to be eligible, at the time of application, an applicant must be:

• A U.S. citizen.
• An undergraduate or graduate student on track to commission through the Army, Naval, or Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC)
• A contracted or non-contracted Cadet
• At a regionally accredited college or university in the United States.

Note: Project GO is not available every summer. For annual updates, visit their official page below.

Learn more about Project Global Officer (GO)

 

Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT)

Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT) provides more than 1,300 Cadets each summer an opportunity to develop leadership skills in a training environment as they embed into Army units across the world, shadowing and learning from Army leaders within the unit.

The CTLT program identifies Platoon Leader positions on Active Duty, in the National Guard, and in the Army Reserve for units that are both within the Continental United States (CONUS) and Outside the Continential United States (OCONUS). Each Platoon Leader assignment is designated for a specific Army branch. MS3 Cadets (juniors) are assigned to the CTLT program and must successfully complete Cadet Summer Training (CST) before proceeding to their assigned position. Cadets are assigned for a period of three-weeks with CONUS units and four-weeks with OCONUS units. Cadets receive an Officer Evaluation Report upon completing their Platoon Leader assignment.

Learn more about Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT)

 

Cadet Advanced Individual Training (CAIT)

There are countless exciting Cadet Advanced Individual Training (CAIT) military schools, courses, and opportunities that you can attend every summer as a contracted Cadet (whether you are a contracted first-year, sophomore, or junior). Over 1,500 Cadets complete CAIT each year.

Training slot availability varies each year, and slots are determined based on your Order of Merit within your cohort.

Below are common CAIT opportunities available during the summer. Each opportunity is linked to a video or informational page.

• Army Space Cadre Basic Course (ASCBC)
• Basic Military Mountaineering Course (BMMC)
• Cadet Field Training (West Point)
• Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) Integrator Course (Formerly known as the Master Fitness Course)
• Jungle Operations Training Course
• Northern Warfare School
• Operation Sluss-Tiller (Civil Affairs Qualification Course Culminating Exercise)
• Robin Sage (Special Forces Qualification Course Culminating Exercise)
• Sage Eagle (Special Forces Validation Exercise)
• Sapper Leader Course
• Special Forces Pre-Combat Diver Qualification Course (Pre-CQDC) and Combat Diver Qualification Course (CQDC)
• U.S. Army Air Assault School (USAAS)
  
• U.S. Army Airborne School (Basic Airborne Course)
  
• Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation Course (WHINSEC)

Learn More About CAIT Opportunities

 

Other Summer Training Opportunities

• Cadet Opposing Forces (OPFOR): Perhaps the most valuable training opportunity for an ROTC sophomore, Cadet OPFOR allows you to experience Cadet Summer Training (CST) a year early, but from a support role. You will work with Cadre who will provide personalized mentorship to you, and you will be able to see exactly what you will be tested on at Cadet Summer Training (CST) after your junior year. This is our highest recommended summer opportunity for contracted first-years and sophomores. If you wish to invest in your future career, attend Cadet OPFOR and gain an understanding of the "answer key" to Cadet Summer Training (CST).
• Sandhurst Military Skills Competition: Winners of annual Brigade-level Ranger Challenge competitions will advance to the next round of competition: The Annual Sandhurst Military Skills Competition. It takes place at the U.S. Military Academy in the spring of each year. The event is a two-day competition featuring teams from West Point, Army ROTC units from across the U.S., military service academies, and international teams from across the globe. The competition has undergone multiple changes since its origination in 1967, but the focus remains on testing Cadets' military and leadership skills, and fostering camaraderie through competition.