ROTC marches on track in full gear

ROTC Activities

In addition to coursework, ROTC offers many programs for cadets to participate in on and off campus.

Summer Opportunities

Cadets have the opportunity to attend Army schools and training events during the summer months. Cadets at Davidson have attended the following events in recent years:

  • Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia
  • Air Assault School at Fort Campbell, Kentucky
  • Cadet Field Training (CFT) at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York
  • Internship in medicine at Fort Sam Houston, Texas
  • Internship in law at the Pentagon

Other available opportunities include:

  • Northern Warfare School
  • Mountain Warfare School
  • Cadet Troop Lead Training (CTLT) shadowing an Army platoon leader at posts worldwide

Field Training Exercises (FTX)

We conduct an FTX each semester as a partner of the UNC-Charlotte Army ROTC battalion. Training includes, but is not limited to:

  • Day and night land navigation
  • Obstacle and team building courses
  • Rifle marksmanship
  • Squad/platoon tactical training

Leadership Labs

Cadets are required to attend leadership labs. These are key training events that involve each cadet on campus. They serve as the practical application to the topics discussed during military science classes. Instruction includes tactical training scenarios, map reading, and land navigation.

Each cadet plays a role at each lab:

  • Seniors (MS4s) - Plan, resource, and supervise the training.
  • Juniors (MS3s) - Rehearse, execute and instruct training as squad leaders and platoon leadership.
  • Sophomores (MS2s) - Participate as team leaders.
  • Freshmen (MS1s) - participate and learn.

Military Ball

Each spring the Davidson ROTC program participates in a military ball along with all Army cadre and cadets in the UNC-Charlotte Army ROTC program. Cadets invite guests to attend this formal event which includes a dinner, skits, a guest speaker, and dancing.

Physical Training (PT)

Effective Army leaders must be physically fit and be able to lead by example. Cadets conduct PT as a group each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning from 0615 - 0730. Cadets that need further development attend a special PT session on Thursday afternoons. Cadet leaders create a PT plan for each semester that specifies the instructor, event, and meeting location for each session. Typical workouts include running, ruck marching, weight lifting, swimming, and, of course, push-ups and sit-ups. Each cadet takes the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) for record at the end of each semester. This test consists of push-ups, sit-ups, and a 2-mile run. All PT sessions are conducted at Davidson College.

Cadet Summer Training

Cadet Summer Training (CST), is ROTC's culminating training event. Held at Fort Knox in Kentucky, every cadet in the nation attends this course during the summer between the junior and senior year. During this 32-day course, each cadet will be evaluated on his/her ability to lead peers and proficiency in soldier tasks such as rifle marksmanship and land navigation.