Palacios 1

Karen Palacios

Trishia Briones

English 1301-162

October 31, 2023

Army ROTC Leadership Development

“Leadership development is beneficial to both the curriculum of the Reserve Officers'

Training Corps (ROTC) as well as the next generation of military officers” (Mele,2020). This

article covers a wide variety of topics pertaining to the formation of Army ROTC leaders. This

emphasizes the significance of having strong morals, adaptability, and character in successful

military leaders

First, understand how Army ROTC develops leaders in a variety of ways. Through

national academies, schools that focus on degree holders, and ROTC programs, the program

makes military leaders. This article is mostly about ROTC schools, which can be found at many

universities in the US. Their goal is to train and create leaders who can solve the tough military

problems of today. “The US Army Cadet Command (USACC), which forms military leadership,

oversees Army ROTC. Army ROTC has over 32,000 cadets and 3,600 squad members who

work on about 1,000 college and university campuses in all 50 states and several territories.

USACC helps colleges find, train, and support senior ROTC cadets, and it also helps high

schools start junior ROTC programs” (Army ROTC and Military Science: Developing Trusted

Army Proffesionals,2020). This two-pronged method focuses on developing leadership at the

college level and among the next generation of leaders in our country by getting them involved

early.
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The Army ROTC grant program is one of the main ways that people in the US pay for

college. “Every year, $370 million is given to over 16,000 students as grants. These awards

cover full tuition, stipends, and book and supply allowances to help train the next generation of

leaders for the country” (Mele,2020, Issue).

The main point of the piece is to help you understand the basics of the Army Profession

and how important it is to develop leaders. “The Army Profession is set apart by licensed

designers, generators, supporters, and uses of land power” (Mele, 2020). This civilian-led job

protects the Constitution, American values, and freedoms. This job is defined by the character,

skill, and dedication of its core members.

Unlike people in other jobs, Army leaders are responsible for a lot of things. They waste

a lot of national resources by using force to change the lives of their troops, their families, the

enemy, and even civilians. Because they have a lot of responsibility and an effect on many

people. “Army Professionals have created a strong program to help them become better leaders.

It is based on history, policy, and a strong desire to protect the Constitution and assist civilian

leaders”(Mele,2020).

Lifelong learning is important to the Army. Army soldiers have to take classes to

improve their skills throughout their careers. Leader development is a planned, ongoing, and

growing process based on Army values that helps soldiers and civilian employees of the Army

become skilled leaders with strong character and a lot of skills. “The website for the U.S. Army

Combined Arms Center talks about this growth as a mix of institutional

(professional military education), operational (training and experience), and self-development

(structured, guided, and personal) opportunities, with peer and developmental relationships to

support them. In Army Field Manual 6-22, the principles of developing Army leaders are laid out
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“(Army ROTC and Military Science: Developing Trusted Army Proffesionals,2020). These

include a strong dedication to leader development, a clear sense of purpose, helpful relationships,

three areas that support each other, and honest evaluation and feedback.

“The Army Leadership Requirements Model (ALRM) says what an Army leader should

be and do. The ALRM shows what leadership looks like” (Mele, Table 11.1,2020). The traits are

empathy, discipline, presence, health, confidence, knowledge, and skill. Leadership means taking

charge, earning trust, having a big impact, setting a good example, talking to people clearly,

helping them grow, making a good environment, getting ready, and taking care of the job.

Getting educated is linked to developing leadership skills in Army ROTC. Cadets go

through a tough program that gives them a well-rounded education and leadership training.

Leaders of the future will know how to use military tactics and have the academic and

intellectual skills to make smart choices in changing difficult situations. Cadets learn more than

just military history and tactics. They also learn how to think critically and understand other

cultures. They get fitter and have more energy when they work out. Hands-on training is the best

way to learn how to be a good boss and solve problems. Army ROTC turns students into leaders

by giving them classroom and field training. This is a good way for future military leaders to

practice getting past problems, making important choices, and leading with confidence. “The

ROTC program is carefully planned to help students learn how to be flexible, think critically,

and deal with stress, all of which are important for becoming military leaders. “(Army ROTC

and Military Science: Developing Trusted Army Professionals,2020). Ethics and morals are very

important for developing Army ROTC leaders. Morals and ethics must be upheld by military

leaders, whose choices have an impact on both troops and society as a whole. Cadets get training

in building their character so they can make tough decisions in the field.
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Ethical leadership is based on values like honesty, respect, kindness, and honor. These

ideas are taught in and out of the classroom by the Army ROTC. Leaders should know how

important ethics are and be brave enough to stick to them even when things get tough. When

things get tough, cadets have to make moral choices. Following the rules, being kind, and being

fair are all things they are taught. The goal is for graduate officers to set a good example and earn

the trust and respect of their peers and coworkers. Being able to adapt is important for military

leaders today.

“Army ROTC focuses on teaching cadets how to adapt to environments that change

quickly. Because threats, technology, and geopolitics are always changing, it is important to be

able to adjust” (Mele,2020). Cadets learn in a lot of different places that test their ability to

change and keep going. Field training imitates situations that are out of the ordinary and require

quick thinking and adaptability. Cadets change their plans, talk to their friends, and keep calm

when things get tough. To adjust, the military uses cutting-edge tools and methods. Army ROTC

keeps cadets up to date so that they are ready for how technology will change the fight. Future

officers will be ready to face new obstacles and stay ahead on the battlefield thanks to this

proactive leadership development.

Lastly, Army ROTC leadership development is a big, all-around process that makes

great military leaders. People who want to become officers are taught to be moral, flexible, and

to respect military ideals. This helps them make good tactical choices. Army ROTC gives cadets

the academics, physical training, and real-world experience they need to be leaders in a force that

is always changing. “The program is important for developing leadership skills in the US Army

because it stresses standards, lifelong learning, and morals and ethics” (Army ROTC and

Military Science: Developing Trusted Army Proffesionals,2020). As the future leaders of the
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country, these cadets will follow Army values, defend the Constitution, and work for civilian

officials. Army ROTC teaches students how to be good leaders by building their character, their

ability to change, and their sense of right and wrong.

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Mele, Paul A. Army ROTC and Military Science: Developing Trusted Army Professionals ...,
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/yd.20375. Accessed 14 Nov. 2023.