Program Training

As a cadet, in addition to regular college coursework and activities, you will have further training, including:

  • Physical training (PT) three times a week
  • One military science class a semester lead by cadre
  • Training with other colleges on military fieldcraft on select Fridays
  • Field Training Exercise (FTX) once each semester over a weekend at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California
  • Summer training also available for cadets
  • Color Guard

Military Science Coursework

Cadets receive weekly classroom instruction that encompasses Army doctrine focusing on leadership, fieldcraft, tactics, and operations. Depending on MS level, a cadet’s curriculum will differ along with progression expectations.

Military Science Lab

The Military Science Lab is a four-hour course conducted on selected Fridays. Each lab covers the Army’s tactical operations in a simulated field environment located off-campus. Each lab is led by senior cadets. They are responsible to plan, train, and execute various tactical missions to improve on leadership, character, presence, and intellect. Lab occurs at 1300-1700.

Physical Training (PT)

Physical Training takes place three times a week to strengthen and condition cadets to the Army standards of physical readiness. Physical Readiness Training (PRT) offered at APU is important, as it is recognized that the effectiveness of an officer depends largely on their physical condition. As we train our cadets to be future Army officers, Army operations place a premium on the officers’ strength, stamina, agility, resiliency, and coordination. PT occurs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays of the academic week at 0600-0700.

Additional Training Opportunities

Students also may participate in active Army training schools during the summer. The Cadet Professional Development Programs are designed to immerse cadets in various domains while allowing a unique training experience and opportunity that cannot be replicated in a university setting.

Cultural Understanding and Language Proficiency (CULP)

The CULP program and Cultural Awareness Training deployments produce a cadet who is culturally astute, and familiar with the methodology to analyze operational environment and cultures, then apply this information to plans and behavior. Culturally astute leaders recognize personal and organizational biases and are aware of the strategic impact of their actions. CULP cadets collaborate with diverse actors in a joint, inter organizational and multinational setting, including host nation military and civilians, U.S. government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations.

Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT)

The CTLT internship training program provides cadets the opportunity to experience leadership in Army Tables of Organization and Equipment (TO&E) units in a CONUS or OCONUS unit. Cadets serve in lieutenant-level platoon leadership positions in active-duty units. Cadets get opportunities to apply leadership skills, interact with company commanders, other junior offices, skilled senior non-commissioned officers (NCOs), and junior NCOs in an operational environment. CTLT is exclusively designed for MSIII cadets who have graduated from the Advance Camp. CTLT Cadets receive a formal evaluation/OER from their active-duty command at the completion of the course.

Drill Cadet Leader Training (DCLT)

The DCLT internship program provides cadets the opportunity to serve in platoon leader or executive officer positions in Initial Military Training (IMT) companies and work closely with drill sergeants and cadre. Cadets experience leadership training with IMT companies, and get opportunities to apply leadership skills and interact with company commanders and other junior officers, skilled senior noncommissioned officers, and drill sergeants to improve common task skill proficiency in an Army training environment. DCLT is designed exclusively for MSLIII cadets who have graduated from CST Advanced Course. DCLT cadets receive a formal evaluation/OER from their active-duty chain of command at the completion of the course.

Cadet Internship Track

The cadet internship track provides cadets myriad opportunities to seek additional training in specialized areas such as scientific application, engineering, nursing, medicine, intelligence, and cultural awareness. The internship types, locations, and allocations change from year to year. There are typically 15 internships excluding CTLT and DCLT that range in length from two to four weeks. Priority is typically given to MSLIII cadets. Each internship has uniquely different requirements. Some are paid, some are not paid.

  • Airborne Training, a three-week course at Fort Benning, Georgia, teaches military parachuting techniques and awards airborne wings to participants upon completion of their fifth jump.
  • Air Assault Training, a two-week course at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, teaches insertion, evacuation, and Pathfinder missions that call for the use of multipurpose transportation and assault helicopters.
  • Mountain Warfare is a two-week course taught in Jericho, Vermont. Students learn fundamental light infantry tactics, techniques, and skills necessary for survival in mountainous terrain.
  • Northern Warfare is a three-week course held in Fort Greely, Alaska, and is designed to teach skills necessary to survive in arctic/winter environments.

Army ROTC challenges students to develop leadership traits critical to any career but designed for the military environment. Classroom instruction and leadership laboratories give students an active role in learning and reinforcing course concepts. Additional events each semester include training exercises in leadership development, orienteering, rappelling, rifle marksmanship, and small-unit tactics.

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