Roanoke College is excited to announce, on Veteran’s Day, that Roanoke College is launching an Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program for Roanoke College to begin in the 2025 academic year. The ROTC program will be part of the New River Valley Battalion of cadets.
The Army ROTC program is a conventional four-year program, but students may also enter the program as sophomores – or even as juniors. The launch of the ROTC program aligns with Roanoke’s strategic plan imperative to make the exploration of purpose, the pursuit of character, and the graduation of leaders a distinction of a Roanoke College education.
Academically, the ROTC program is considered a concentration to be combined with an academic major. Courses in military science will be taught on campus at Roanoke College, and cadets will participate in a joint military training exercise each week with the Radford University cadets.
Roanoke’s new military support and recruitment coordinator, Damon Daniels ’24, will serve as the point of contact for those interested in the program. Daniels served in the Army for almost 20 years with tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. He recently graduated as a health and physical education major. While at Roanoke, he served as the president of the Student Veterans Group, which he helped create and now advises.
“The College thanks Radford, and especially Major Drew Snow, assistant professor of military science and detachment officer in charge, for helping to bring ROTC to Roanoke College,” David Taylor, associate vice president for academic operations, said. “We’re excited to continue the collaboration.”
The Army provides instructors and professors for military science courses on the Roanoke campus and ROTC students from both schools have joint instruction once per week. ROTC courses include critical thinking, personal development, leadership development, analytical thinking, troop leading procedures and Army problem-solving. Cadets learn to recognize their unique leadership styles and have the opportunity to refine their skills and work up to leadership positions.
ROTC members will join a small detachment, allowing for a close-knit community that works together. Cadets maintain a high level of physical fitness and can graduate as a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army. ROTC members may also receive financial support and scholarships from the U.S. Army to assist with educational costs.
Cadets may graduate as second lieutenants through a curriculum that builds leadership and management skills. The program emphasizes personal integrity, goal setting, ethical decision-making and mission accomplishment. ROTC also offers field training, such as rappelling, land navigation and marksmanship, while increasing self-confidence, discipline and physical stamina. ROTC also offers the opportunity to serve the nation or the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Prospective students interested in Roanoke’s new ROTC program are invited to contact Damon Daniels, military support and recruitment coordinator, at 540-444-0774 or daniels@roanoke.edu.