Corp of Cadets & ROTC

This is an archived copy of the 2016-17 Catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.norwich.edu/.

Corps of Cadets

For almost 200 years, Norwich University has prepared young men, and since 1974 young women, for roles as “citizen soldiers.”

When Captain Alden Partridge founded the university at Norwich, Vermont in 1819, he established the first private college in the United States to include in its basic organization military training for its students. Today, the U.S. Army officially credits Captain Partridge’s “citizen soldier” concept as the forerunner of today’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).

The Norwich University Corps of Cadets is organized as a self-governing group in which each cadet learns the value of discipline and the essential nature of leadership. Participation in ROTC, including military labs and physical training to the extent allowed by the ROTC unit, is an integral part of the Corps leadership experience. For their first two years in the Corps, cadets must enroll in either Army, Naval or Air Force ROTC to maintain membership in the Corps. To be eligible to receive a Military College of Vermont (MCV) diploma at graduation, a cadet must have:

  • completed all Rook training required for recognition as a first year Cadet
  • successfully complete, or receive credit for 4 progressive semesters (2 years) of ROTC courses and participated in the ROTC PT and leadership laboratory to the maximum allowed by the ROTC Unit.
  • lived on campus for 8 semesters (4 years), the last 6 semesters must be as a Cadet
  • passed NU PFT within one calendar year of graduation
  • completed all disciplinary sanctions prior to Reading Day preceding the graduation term and be in good standing (not on disciplinary hold).

Cadets seeking commissions are required to complete a third and fourth year of ROTC and meet all other requirements established by the commissioning service.

The ROTC programs exist to commission well-educated officers into the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps in sufficient numbers to meet the requirements of these services. The general objectives of the programs are to provide understanding of the principles of military, aerospace, and naval science; to develop comprehension of associated professional knowledge; to build attitudes of integrity, honor, and individual responsibility; and to encourage appreciation of national security requirements. These objectives support the mission of Norwich University and the Corps of Cadets and augment the training plan necessary to prepare Cadets for service to the Nation as soldiers and citizens.

ROTC Requirement

Norwich University’s ROTC courses are intended for students who are members of the Corps of Cadets, with the exception of nursing students and civilian students who wish to enroll on a space-available basis.

Student veterans who have honorably and faithfully served our nation as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, as evidenced by either the award of an honorable discharge certificate (DD214), or the completion of three years of honorable service in the active component, the reserve component (drilling member), or a combination of both as evidenced by a letter from the individual's commanding officer, and has achieved the age of at least 22 years as of 1 September of the year of matriculation, may apply for enrollment in the Norwich University ROTC program of their choice. The applicable ROTC Department Professor (Colonel), the Dean of National Services, and the Commandant will review the applicants file for eligibility to enroll in ROTC and pursue a commission in the service of their choice.

Cadets contracted for Commission
The Norwich University Board of Trustees has directed that all members of the Corps, who are contracted for commission, be required to take four years of ROTC courses; one course per semester. The ROTC courses must include each of the two courses offered at each of the four levels (100, 200, 300, 400). Branch of service transfers will be allowed (prerequisites permitting) during the first two years of the requirement.

Non-contracted Cadets
Non-contracted Cadets are required to complete four semesters of ROTC courses and participate in physical training and military lab to the extent allowed by the ROTC unit.  The ROTC courses must be progressive. Students remain responsible for all established degree requirements.

Students transferring into the Corps are required to meet the ROTC requirement for membership in the Corps.