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Military Science and Leadership - ROTC

The Mission of the Fighting Mules Battalion is select, train, retain, develop, and commission high quality future leaders for the United States Army and the nation. ROTC offers you the opportunity to earn a high-quality college degree while becoming a commissioned officer - for individuals with no prior army experience, active duty, or reserve. Our program has been consistently recognized locally and nationally as a top ROTC battalion.

 

Military Science and Leadership - ROTC Battalion

The Military Friendly School Gold Seal

Named a Military Friendly Gold School

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Many Scholarship and Funding Opportunities

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Team-Building Competitions and Group Activities Available

Find your Military Science future at UCM

Your UCM courses will build a firm foundation of military knowledge and skills. As you take upper-level courses you will learn to be an articulate leader through theory and practical application. You’ll gain experience propelling off a building and leading small units in simulated tactical missions.

The Military Science & Leadership Minor pairs well with any career field and provides a seamless transition into the U.S. Army.  Recent graduates received bachelor's degrees in aviation, criminal justice, nursing, and marketing that paved the way for their duty assignment.

UCM is a Military Friendly School

The Military and Veterans Success Center connects you with fellow military and veteran students, study groups, a computer lab, and support from dedicated staff members.

 

Unique learning and team-building opportunities for the degree in ROTC

Zero Week

An exclusive opportunity to arrive on campus early, meet the cadre and  staff, as well as your fellow cadets, and settle in to life at UCM.  This week-long orientation includes social events as well as practical information and training such as learning your new routine, preparing a MRE (Meals-Ready-to-Eat), and  hearing from distinguished speakers.

Ranger Challenge

Cadets compete in land navigation, team ruck march, team obstacle course, day and night orienteering, grenade assault course and other events against cadets from across the country.

The Brigade Ranger Challenge is the Army ROTC Varsity Sport. Teams form early in the semester and train rigorously nearly every morning of the week. Ranger Challenge team members accomplish more before 0800 then most college students accomplish in an entire day. Teams train all the way up until the Brigade Ranger Challenge Competition.

This competition is conducted over two days on a non-tactical course. The mission is to challenge Cadets' mental and physical toughness and to develop leadership while fostering teamwork and esprit-de-corps. Teams participate in nine graded events.

Ranger Buddy

Cadets train for months to be prepared for the physical and mental challenges of participating in the KU Ranger Buddy Competition. The annual competition is held each spring in Lawrence, Kansas at the Rim Rock Farm facility on the University of Kansas (KU) campus.

Two-person teams from multiple Army ROTC units across the country gather to compete in this day-long event. Teams can be either all-male, all-female or co-ed. The teams are put to the test through a series of challenging obstacles, team movements and tasks. These challenges require strong physical skills and a mental mindset to work through each objective.

UCM’s all-female team ranked 3rd place nationally in 2023, and UCM's all-male team was named National Champions in 2021 and 2017.

Northern Warfare

The Northern Warfare Challenge is one of the most challenging events offered in ROTC. Covering over 22 miles and almost a mile change in elevation in the middle of winter, Northern Warfare requires mental and physical strength in order to complete. Generally, at least half of all competing teams fail to make it to the finish, proving to be one of the most competitive events our program offers.

German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge

The German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge is a multi-event competition, the same fitness test the German Military uses to assess their troops. Cadets compete in events that include pistol shooting, a ruck march, a 1000M run, a shuttle sprint, a flex arm hang, a 400M swim and a first aid exam. Each of these events is scored and each cadet is given an overall score, which may qualify them to wear a distinctive badge on their dress uniform. Though it is demanding, this event is filled with many opportunities to advance your physical fitness beyond what is offered in the normal physical fitness training program.

Army Ten-Miler

The Army Ten-Miler is the second-largest ten-mile race in the United States. It is held every October in Arlington, Virginia and Washington, D.C., sponsored by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington. The annual race weekend events also include a youth run, a youth activity fair, and a pre-race pasta dinner. 

Bataan Memorial Death March Team

The Bataan Memorial Death March is a challenging 26.2 mile marathon through the high desert terrain of the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. This memorial march is conducted in honor of the heroic service members who defended the Philippine Islands during WWII, sacrificing their freedom, health, and in many cases, their lives. Sponsored by the White Sands Missile Range, the New Mexico National Guard, and the New Mexico State University Army ROTC Department.

Color Guard

Serve as a member of the color guard and learn the proper procedures for presenting the colors.  Once trained, you will get the opportunity to represent the ROTC program in public at sporting events, Central Missouri Police Academy graduation, and other events.

Cannon Crew & Push Up Crew

Join the Fighting Mules Battalion and get involved at UCM by leading the cannon crew and push up crew during Mules football games.

 

  • Army ROTC Bataan Memorial Marathon 2023 - Second Place, Civilian Individual Male, Light, 19 and Under Group - Jonas Ross
  • Army ROTC Cadet Advanced Camp - 2021 Recondo - Justin Cobb and Hunter Yates
  • Army ROTC Bataan Memorial Marathon 2023 - Fifth Place, Civilian Individual Female, Light, 20 to 29 year-old Group - Clairissa Nivens
  • Army ROTC Bataan Memorial Marathon 2023 - Fifth Place, Civilian Individual Female, Heavy, 20 to 29 year-old Group - Adrian Chinn
  • Army ROTC Cadet Advanced Camp - 2022 Recondo - Skyler Bachman, Braden Cerra and Andrew Williamson
  • Army ROTC Ranger Buddy Competition 2023 - Third Place, Female - Sydni Holcomb and Gabriella Vaupel
  • Army ROTC Sapper School 2022 - Honor Grad - Skyler Bachman

 

 

The UCM Campus Quad

 

Undergraduate Majors and Minors

 

 

Show Your Fighting Mules Battalion Pride! Check out our selection of merchandise at the UCM Bookstore

 

Nursing

The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) provides an opportunity for college nursing students to receive practical, hands-on leadership experience directly applicable to nursing practice. As a Registered Nurse, you are looked at as a leader in providing nursing care. But how can a person become a leader if they have never been given the skills to walk in that role? The Army ROTC Nurse Program is one avenue to acquire these skills. The Army ROTC Nurse Program provides nursing students the opportunity to develop management, communication and decision-making skills in a non-threatening environment. There are many advantages to becoming an Army Nurse. 

 

Financial Benefits

The same scholarships and SMP are available to nursing students.

Current Students - Cadet Profiles

Battalion Staff and/or Seniors

Resources

 

Check out these links to get more information about:

ROTC Scholarship FAQ

GoArmy

UCM Office of Military and Veterans Services

Alumni

 

UCM Distinguished Alumni

Major General Troy D. Kok

Major General Troy D. Kok assumed command of the 99th Regional Support Command headquartered at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB MDL) on 10 September, 2016. He previously served as the Deputy Commanding General (Support) at the United States Army Recruiting Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

As the Commanding General of the 99th RSC, Major General Kok is responsible for administrative, logistics, and facilities support to more than 44,000 Army Reserve Soldiers across a region spanning thirteen Northeastern states. He also serves as the Senior Commander of JB MDL and US Army Base Fort Devens Training Facilities and Training Support.

He began his military career when he enlisted in the Army Reserve in 1982. He received his commission through the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) at Central Missouri State University as a Quartermaster Officer in 1984, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology in 1986. He received his Master of Science degree in Aviation Safety two years later, and as a First Lieutenant, he transferred to the Aviation branch while serving with the 219th Transportation Company at Scott Air Force Base (AFB), Illinois. Over his 34 year career, and over 26 years on Active Guard Reserve duty, Major General Kok had the opportunity to serve at over 10 duty locations including three separate Battalion commands.

Major General Kok was deployed in January 2003 with the 377th Theater Sustainment Command in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), serving as the Theater Transportation Officer in the Distribution Management Center. Major General Kok returned to Kuwait in January 2004 and served as Planning Officer for the Deployment / Redeployment Operations Center OIF I and II rotations. After completing his second tour, Major General Kok was selected to command the Bison Battalion, ROTC unit at Bucknell University, Pennsylvania, from 2005 to 2006, where he served as the Professor of Military Science. From 2006 to 2008, he commanded the 229th Aviation Regiment at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and a year later was assigned to serve as the Command Recruiting Officer of the 11th Aviation Command.

Major General Kok returned to Scott AFB from 2009 to 2011, where he served as the Deputy Director-Reserve Affairs and Deputy Commander-Joint Transportation Reserve at the United States Transportation Command. He was subsequently assigned to United States Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as Assistant Chief of Staff, G4, and Special Assistant to the CG. In 2012, Major General Kok was selected to command the 11th Theater Aviation Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and served as the Commander for Army Reserve Aviation leading to his previous assignment with USAREC as the DCG-S.

His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Bronze Star Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Senior Army Aviation Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Pathfinder Badge. He has attended numerous Army schools, including the Aviation Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Army War College, and the Joint and Combined Warfighting School.

Major General Kok resides in Kentucky with his wife and children.

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Arnold N. Gordon-Bray

Arnold N Gordon-Bray

President/Owner ANGB

Consulting LLC, 360 C2C

Brigadier General

US Army Retired

Arnold N. Gordon-Bray completed 30+ years of service in the United States Army where he demonstrated professional leadership skills in strategic communications, combat operations, foreign affairs and effective modernization in support of the Department of Defense and National Interests. He currently consults on Strategy, Operations, and humanitarian issues.

Gordon-Bray has extensive experience in commanding various levels of military forces from a platoon of 40 military service members to spearheading military operations in Iraq with a Brigade Combat Team consisting of over 4,500 men and women with the 2nd Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division.  He has transitioned his global Strategic views on issues of leadership, diversity, veteran’s needs and education across America.

He has also held staff positions at virtually every level including: a Division Chief in the Joint Special Operations command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, The Directorate in The installation Management Command (IMCOM), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, for all Army bases World-wide and culminated his career in a 4-Star Headquarters (AFRICOM) as Deputy Director for Operations. Throughout his career he has demonstrated exceptional leadership in the toughest environments. General Gordon-Bray was a direct contributor to the War in Iraq where he fought and provided unique insights about transitioning. During the surge of 2007, as Principal Advisor to the Iraqi Ground Forces Commander, he aided in transforming 35,000 Iraqis into a force of 300,000 with 6 Divisions capable of functioning independently. Gordon-Bray had direct responsibility for training and mentoring Lieutenant General Ali, who later became the longest tenured military leader in the new Iraqi Army. In addition to conventional concepts of warfighting, General Gordon-Bray was vital in providing initial thoughts on AFRICOM operations and end-state for Odyssey Dawn—the first large-scale regional operation for AFRICOM. A broad thinker, his strategic input and leadership skills were routinely employed in establishing US relationships with African Leaders and US State Department personnel, often operating at the behest of other Directorates or the Combatant Commander.

General Gordon-Bray is also an effective leader with extensive skills in modernization and experimentation. As a Colonel, he developed and led the Army’s Experimentation Community of Practice, a diverse team of over 1000 operators, experimenters and innovative developers. He also led, managed, resourced and synchronized over 100 Joint and Army experiments involving thousands of participants that ultimately developed and refined the modular Army and its current successor.

Education: Master of Arts, National Security & Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Rhode Island Master of Science, International Strategic Studies, Air War College, Alabama Bachelor of Science, Art, University of Central Missouri.  Additionally, He holds an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from North Carolina Wesleyan College.

Awards & Qualifications: Airborne Ranger with numerous awards and badges including the Army Defense Meritorious Service Medal (The Army’s highest peacetime award) the Defense Superior Service Medal, (3) Legions of Merit, (7) Meritorious Service Medals and two bronze stars.  He is a certified Instructor and Holds a Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma.

 

Alumni Spotlight

 

 

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