Training

Basic Camp is four weeks of intense classroom and field training held in the summer at Fort Knox, KY. This course is an accelerated version of the two years of leadership development training Cadets receive in the Basic Course. By transforming yourself through this rigorous training, you will qualify for enrollment in Advanced Army ROTC on campus-provided you have two years of college remaining (undergraduate or graduate).

At Basic Camp students experience the Army first hand. You will receive leadership development training that is unmatched by any other program. How? By developing your potential in the most important of ways-mentally, physically and emotionally. Students are grouped into squads where they gain experience in a variety of leadership roles and receive verbal and written feedback from instructors highlighting strengths as well as areas for improvement. Students also receive a daily pay as well as transportation to and from Fort Knox, housing and meals at no expense. The four weeks and four phases of Basic Camp can lead you to the ultimate goal: becoming an Army Officer. The benefits of this leadership training will extend well beyond your college years into any career you choose. You may even qualify for a two-year scholarship that may take care of your college tuition and many other expenses. For more information about Basic Camp, visit the United States Army Cadet Command Basic Camp Website.

ROTC Advanced Camp is the most important training event for an Army ROTC cadet. The 28-day course incorporates a wide range of subjects designed to develop and evaluate leadership ability. The challenges are rigorous and demanding, both mentally and physically. The Advanced Camp tests intelligence, common sense, ingenuity and stamina. These challenges provide a new perspective on an individual's ability to perform challenging  The course places each cadet in a variety of leadership positions, many of which simulate stressful combat situations. In each position, cadets are evaluated by platoon tactical and counseling (TAC) officers and noncommissioned officers. In addition to proving their leadership ability, cadets and officer candidates must meet established standards in physical fitness, weapons training, communication, combat patrols and demonstrate their proficiency in many other military skills. Cadets must complete camp with a satisfactory or excellence rating to be able to commission as an Army officer.tasks and to make difficult decisions in demanding situations.  For more information, please visit the United States Army Cadet Command Advanced Camp website.

The UW-Whitewater ROTC program offers a course in Basic Military Rappelling that counts towards an elective in the leadership minor or towards a PEGENRL requirement. The course is offered during the first eight weeks of the fall semester and the second eight weeks of the spring semester.  For more specific information, please check out the video below!

The UW-Whitewater Leadership Department conducts two - eight week courses each semester of PEGNRL 187 and LDRSHP 224. Both of these courses aare activity based courses which are an introductory study for students of military calisthenics designed to develop individual fitness skills essential to the management of an effective organizational physical fitness program. This course is a unique opportunity for students to take and try the military without any commitment and will also satisfy a student's requirement for UW-Whitewater's PEGNRL course. 

Annually, more than 300 universities nationwide field teams to compete in a series of challenging events. Locally, cadets compete against teams within the 3rd Brigade Army ROTC comprising of teams throughout the upper midwest. The name and spirit for the competition are derived from the U.S. Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Training for this event includes rigorous physical fitness workouts, information classes on various elements of light infantry tactics. Ranger Challenge is a Field Training Exercise where rifle marksmanship, rope bridge, land navigation, physical fitness and many more skills are tested.

Each year cadets are given an opportunity to compete in the German Armed Forces Badge of Military Proficiency (GAFBMP). The GAFBMP is a personal competition in which cadets will complete in events like a pistol shoot, swimming and a foot march. This is a physically demanding event, in which cadets can be rewarded with either the Gold, Silver or Bronze GAFBMP. The German Armed Forces Badge of Military Proficiency is one of the few approved foreign awards, and is one of the most sought after awards to achieve.

Project Global Officer (Project GO) is a Department of Defense initiative aimed at improving the language skills, regional expertise, and intercultural communication skills of future military officers. Sponsored by the Defense Language and National Security Education Office and administered by the Institute of International Education, Project GO provides institutional grants to U.S institutions of higher education with large ROTC student enrollments, to include the Senior Military Colleges. In turn, these institutions provide language and culture training to ROTC students from across the nation, funding domestic and overseas ROTC language programs and scholarships.  Working in support of Army, Air Force, and Navy ROTC Headquarters, Project GO facilitates collaborative efforts both among universities and ROTC leadership. 

Cadet Advanced Individual Training (CAIT) includes several training opportunities in which cadets can attend military schools that are offered based on an Order of Merit List (OML). The schools that are offered are not the same every year, however most commonly include; Airborne School, Air Assault School, Jungle Warfare School, Master Fitness Training School, Mountain Warfare School, and Combat Divers Course. To attend one of these courses, a student must be contracted in the military, and be competitive on the OML. OML requirements include having a high Grade Point Average (GPA) and high Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) score. 

The Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT) track provides Cadets the opportunity to experience leadership in Army Table of Organization and Equipment (TO&E) units over a three to four week period. Cadets serve in lieutenant-level leadership positions in active-duty units. Platoon Leader positions have a 3-4 week duration depending on the hosting unit and location. Cadets are assigned a unit mentor, and are provided on-post lodging and meals via a Dining Facility. This program is exclusively designed for MS III Cadets before and after completion of Advanced Camp. 

One weekend in the fall semester, the cadets and Leadership students will go to Ft McCoy, WI to do field training. The field training event varies on Military Science Level, however, generally the weekend will consist of Basic Rifle Marksmanship (BRM), Land Navigation, Rappelling, Obstacle/Confidence Course and other individual oriented tasks. Students not only learn lifelong skills throughout the weekend, but they also form bonds and friendships throughout the entire Badger Battalion Program!

Combined Field Training Exercise (CFTX) is a field training event that focuses specifically on tactics and training to prepare cadets to be successful at Advanced Camp. The CFTX focus is on combined level tactics and teaches students to run and operate a light infantry platoon in a tactical environment. The CFTX is a four day event held annually in the spring semester at Fort McCoy, WI. The CFTX culminates with students completing a 12 mile foot march with a time standard of four hours or less. 

The Warhawk Battalion Color Guard presents the National Colors (US Flag) as well as the Wisconsin state flag and Organizational Colors (Army flag) for recognition at numerous events on campus as well as the surrounding community. The events supported include UW-Whitewater intercollegiate sports, Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies as well as requests from community organizations. The presentation of the colors represents the dedication to the defense of the Nation that all Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines acknowledge during the Oath of Office sworn to when they enter the Armed Forces.