Chairperson: Lieutenant Colonel Eduardo Rodriguez, Professor of Military Science
Assistant Professors: Captain Kyle Esquibel
The Military Science program at Gonzaga University is an element of the United States Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). This highly decorated and nationally recognized program is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Army, Gonzaga University, and Whitworth University. It provides training and qualification for leadership positions in the Regular Army, the U.S. Army Reserve, or the Army National Guard. Qualified students earn a commission as an Army Second Lieutenant while achieving a college degree in the academic discipline(s) of their choosing. Cadets incur no obligation during their first two years of ROTC and are not members of the U.S. Army (unless they are ROTC scholarship winners). Lower-division courses are open to all Gonzaga students.
The objectives of the program are to prepare academically and physically qualified scholar/athlete/leaders for the challenge of serving as commissioned officers in the world’s best Army. To that end, the program strives to build leaders of character and competence to serve their country and community.
Description of the Program
The program meets the country’s requirement for officer-leaders in the Army (active duty, National Guard, and Reserves). It is, therefore, multifaceted, with distinctive sub-elements to meet individual needs and requirements. For example, ROTC is traditionally a four-year program, but individuals with prior service, members of Reserve or National Guard units, participants of JROTC in high school and summer Cadet Initial Entry Training (CIET) participants may receive advanced-placement credit and may complete the program in two years. Students enroll in one military science class, leadership laboratory and the military physical fitness course per semester. The program consists of two phases: the basic course (lower division), normally taken during the freshman and sophomore years or completed through advanced-placement credit, and the advanced course (upper division).
Basic Course
First-year and second-year courses, MILS 101, MILS 102, MILS 201, and MILS 202 are designed for beginning students who want to qualify for entry into the advanced course and for those students who may want to try military science without obligations. In addition to their academic requirements, basic-course cadets may participate in a variety of extracurricular activities. Placement credit for the basic course may be granted to students who have completed initial entry training for the armed forces, three years of Junior ROTC in high school or the ROTC Leaders’ Training Course. MILS 101 and MILS 102 concentrate on fundamental skills, concepts, values, and problem solving and provide an overview of how the military fits into society. MILS 201 and MILS 202 more thoroughly address problem solving, critical thinking, communications, conflict-resolution skills and leadership.
Advanced Course
The advanced course consists of MILS 301, MILS 302, MILS 401, and MILS 402. It is open only to students who have completed the basic course or earned placement credit (see above). Students must also enroll in leadership labs (MILS 301L, MILS 302L, MILS 401L, or MILS 402L) and Military Physical Fitness (MILS 303, MILS 304, MILS 403, or MILS 404). Students also attend the four-week ROTC Cadet Leader Course (CLC) during the summer between their junior and senior years. In addition to their academic requirements, advanced-course cadets provide student leadership for the Gonzaga Bulldog Battalion.
Completion of the basic course, advanced course, and CLC, coupled with a bachelor’s degree from the college, qualify the cadet for a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army.
Financial Assistance
Freshman thru Senior cadets who are on scholarship and contracted will receive $420 a month, respectively, for ten months each year. Advanced-course students receive a subsistence allowance.
Scholarships: High school seniors interested in applying for a four-year scholarship normally submit applications by February 1st of their senior year via www.goarmy.com/rotc. Freshman-level and sophomore-level students may compete for Army ROTC campus-based scholarships. These scholarships are applied to tuition and fees plus an allowance for books, on campus room and board. A student need not be enrolled in ROTC to be eligible to compete for two-year or three-year scholarships. No commitment is made until a scholarship is accepted, the student meets all administrative and physical criteria, and the oath for contracting is administered.
Fees, Uniforms, and ROTC Texts:
There are no fees for any classes. Uniforms, texts, and other equipment are furnished without charge. Students are responsible for and must return all government property issued to them.
Extracurricular Activities
Color Guard: The Gonzaga University Color Guard participates in a variety of school and civic functions where precision drill or presentation of the U.S. flag is appropriate.
Intramural Sports: The ROTC program sponsors teams that participate in flag football, volleyball, basketball, softball and other sports of the Gonzaga University intramural leagues. The program sponsors special event teams at both Gonzaga and Whitworth and sponsors cadet intramural teams as coordinated by the Gonzaga cadets with the professor of Military Science.
Special Qualification Training: Advanced-course and select basic-course cadets may participate in confidence-building courses such as Air Assault School, Airborne School, Northern Warfare Training Center, and Cadet Troop Leadership Training at locations around the world.