After a decade-long absence, the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program has returned to Penn State Mont Alto. The freshman ROTC course, "Introduction to the Army and Leadership," was offered during the 2003-2004 academic year and the sophomore course began this year. Penn State Mont Alto offered the ROTC program throughout the '80s and early '90s, but has not had a program on campus for more than 10 years.
Army ROTC is the Army's management training program. Collectively, the 272 programs across the country commission about 4,500 second lieutenants annually or about 75 percent of the Army's needs. West Point and Officer Candidate School produce the rest. Since 1916 ROTC has produced more than 500,000 officers for America's Army.
At Penn State Mont Alto, students can now complete the first two years of Army ROTC, without obligation. They are then qualified for the advanced phase, junior and senior year, either at Shippensburg University or at University Park. The purpose of the first two years is to foster an appreciation for America's Army and help motivate young people to be better citizens as a soldier or civilian. The ROTC program at Mont Alto is run by the directors of the Shippensburg University ROTC.
The purpose of the first two years is to foster an appreciation for America's Army and help motivate young people to be better citizens (as a Soldier or civilian). The ROTC program at Mont Alto is run by the directors of the Shippensburg University ROTC.