Military Science

Lieutenant Colonel Gary McGinnis, Professor of Military Science (On location at UNC-Charlotte)
Master Sergeant Christopher Titus, Senior Military Instructor (On location at UNC-Charlotte)
Mr. Rick Nash, Senior Military Science Instructor, COMTek, U.S. Army Major (Retired)

Note: The ROTC Program at Davidson College is under the auspices of the Department of the Army which is responsible for making program decisions.

The Department of Military Science—also known as Army ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) is available at Davidson College.  Participation in Army ROTC enhances the education of both men and women by providing world class leadership training opportunities applicable in corporate, executive, and government leadership positions, along with practical hands-on expertise in these areas.  A student participates in the Basic Course to develop leadership skills, then decides to continue in the Advanced Course in order to pursue a commission as an officer in the United States Army, Army Reserves or Army National Guard.  The Army ROTC program is designed to complement the student’s major area of study and is compatible with most.  Students not interested in Active Duty can be guaranteed a commission in the Army Reserve or National Guard through the Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) Program and eligible to participate in the Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) Program.  The PaYS Program guarantees an interview with partnering Fortune 500 companies.  The Basic Course and the Advanced Course comprise of the Military Science curriculum.

The Basic Course is usually taken during the freshman and sophomore years.  It is open to all students and incurs no military obligation.  The course follows five tracks of instruction:  leadership, personal development, values and ethics, officership, and tactics and techniques.  Uniforms and textbooks are provided at no cost to the student.  Students unable to complete MIL 101, 102, 201, and 202 may receive credit for the Basic Course by attending a paid 29-day Leader’s Training Course (LTC) during the summer at Fort Knox, KY.  After completing the Basic Course, students who have demonstrated the potential to become officers and who have met the physical and scholastic standards for commissioning are eligible to enroll in the Advanced Course.  Basic Course credit may also be available to prior service members and JROTC participants.

The Advanced Course provides instruction in military history, advanced tactics, techniques of effective leadership, and military ethics and professionalism.  It is normally taken during the junior and senior years.  Students receive a monthly tax-free stipend of $450 during the academic year as a junior and $500 per month during their senior year.  Students are required to attend a paid four-week summer Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) at Joint Base Lewis-McCord, WA, between their junior and senior years.  In addition to Military Science courses, students must also complete one Military History course through Davidson College.

Commissioning Requirements.  To obtain a commission in the United States Army, Army Reserve or Army National Guard, a student must successfully complete the Advanced Course, be recommended by the Professor of Military Science, and complete work leading to at least a baccalaureate degree.

Army ROTC cadets are required to attend weekly academic classes and leadership labs. MIL 301 is a credit course. All other military science courses listed are non-credit courses.