ROTC offers two main summer training experiences: Basic Camp at Fort Knox, designed for students who join ROTC later and need to catch up on the Basic Course, and Advanced Camp, a required capstone for rising seniors that evaluates leadership, decision-making, and tactical skills in a rigorous field environment. Together, these programs ensure cadets are prepared to lead as commissioned Army officers.
Summer Training
Basic Camp
Army ROTC Basic Camp is a 32-day training event designed to introduce Cadets to the Army. Basic Camp is primarily designed for Lateral Entry Cadets and freshmen Cadets in the two-year Early Commissioning Program (ECP). Lateral Entry Cadets typically join ROTC in their sophomore year and attend Basic Camp to catch up on the military science (MS) lessons that normal-progression Cadets complete during their first two years. The camp also offers MS II Cadets the chance to gain squad leader experience, while some MS III Cadets (rising seniors) take on platoon-level leadership roles. Basic Camp is made up of nearly three regiments, with around 1,200 Cadets in total.
Advanced Camp
The Army ROTC Advanced Camp is a rigorous 35-day training event aimed at sharpening Cadets' critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, while molding them into resilient, adaptable leaders capable of thriving in uncertain and complex environments. Serving as the pinnacle of leader development, it occurs between a Cadet's Military Science (MS) III and MS IV years of ROTC.
The camp emphasizes operational problem-solving to cultivate key leadership competencies—those essential qualities that enable leaders to excel in demanding situations. Advanced Camp is made up of 10 regiments, involving over 6,000 Cadets