EIU Department of Military Science

Summer Training            

Cadet Leaders Course (CLC)

Location: Fort Knox, Kentucky

The ROTC Cadet Leaders Course (CLC) or OPERATION WARRIOR FORGE is the most important training event for an Army ROTC cadet or National Guard Officer Candidate. The purpose of the 29-day course is to train U.S. Army ROTC Cadets to Army standards, to develop their leadership skills, and to evaluate their officer potential.

Most Army Cadets attend CLC between their junior and senior undergraduate years after having contracted to join the Army. Successful completion of CLC is a prerequisite to becoming an Army officer through ROTC.

Cadet Initial Entry Training (CIET)

Location: Fort Knox, Kentucky

The Cadet Initial Entry Training (CIET) is the premier leadership program of its kind in the United States. An intense four-week introduction to Army life and leadership training of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, the aim of the course is to motivate and qualify Cadets for entry into the Senior ROTC program.

CIET is designed for college students, typically between their freshman and sophomore, or sophomore and junior years. Upon successful completion of the course, graduates can take part in ROTC at their college as a third-year student in the four-year program.

While attending CIET, Cadets gain an experience that runs the gamut of Army life and the responsibilities of being an officer. The course instills confidence and decision-making abilities to become a leader, in the Army and in life. Rappelling and Ropes courses, Water Survival Training, Tactical Training, and First Aid are just a few of the events cadets participate in under the mentorship of Senior Officers, Senior NCOs, and newly commissioned 2^nd Lieutenants.

Cultural Understanding & Language Proficiency (CULP) Program

For Army ROTC Cadets, the world is their classroom. Every year hundreds of Cadets travel the globe, spending up to three weeks immersed in foreign cultures, learning more about how others around the world view the U.S. and, in the process, learning more about themselves.

Now more than ever, cultural awareness training is a vital component to the ROTC curriculum. Overseas immersions help educate future leaders in ways the classroom cannot. Cadets now have the opportunity to compete for immersion in more than 40 countries. Participants experience up to three different venues during immersion, including humanitarian service, host nation military-to-military contact and education on the social, cultural and historical aspects of the country.

In 2016 EIU Cadets travelled to Tanzania, Liberia, El Salvador, and the Philippines. The trips last approximately a month, and take place in small groups of around 20 cadets, led by experienced Senior Officers and NCOs. Competition for CULP trips is based on GPA, Physical Fitness, a written essay, and other criteria.

Basic Airborne School (BAS)

Location: Fort Benning, Georgia

The Basic Airborne Course is a three-week training program conducted by the Airborne Department, USAIC, Fort Benning, GA that trains students the use of the parachute as a means of combat deployment. Successful completion qualifies cadets to wear the Parachutist Badge.

You begin your first week on the ground, learning the basics of parachute landings, and start a vigorous training program. During the second week, called tower week, proper exiting of the plane will be mastered. As a cadet, you will be then given the opportunity to parachute from a 250 foot high tower. The third and final week is the jump week. Cadets make five jumps from either a C-130 or C-141, including one night jump and two combat jumps with full combat gear.

Air Assault School (AAS)

Location: Fort Campbell, Kentucky

The AAS is a 10 day course of instruction that trains cadets on Combat Assault Operations involving associated equipment and U.S. Army rotary-wing aircraft. Successful completion qualifies cadets to wear the Air Assault Badge.

This is available at a number of installations, but the largest is located at the air assault home of Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. This eleven day course is very demanding both physically and mentally, involving obstacle courses and several long ruck marches. You will learn the basics of aircraft familiarization and recognition, slingload operations, and rappelling. 

Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT)

CTLT provides select Advanced Camp graduates the opportunity to increase their leadership experience by assignments to platoon leader or like positions with Active Army units or with government agencies for three weeks (CONUS) to four weeks (OCONUS). Refer to Annex A, Figure 1 (CTLT Training Opportunities).

You may also find yourself anywhere in the country, or overseas, involved in the Cadet Troop Leadership Training Program. This internship program places you in actual Army units acting as a real Lieutenant. This two or three week challenge is a definite learning experience, allowing you to gain a perspective on what you will be facing as future officer. Generally, you are placed in a platoon leader position, leading 30+ soldiers and responsible for millions of dollars of equipment. You receive a rate of pay and allowance similar to that at LDAC, you stay at the Bachelor Officer Quarters on that specific base and  you train and lead soldiers. If you are assigned to a unit on jump status, and you are already airborne qualified, you may participate in unit jumps on a permissive basis if approved in advance. CTLT is the best way to familiarize yourself with a branch before having to choose your branch preferences during the accessions process at the beginning of the MS IV year.