The typical weekly schedule for an Army cadet includes physical training, academic instruction, and hands-on field instruction.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, cadets meet at 6:30AM (0630 in military time!) to conduct physical exercise in order to develop, enhance, and challenge each cadet's physical abilities. Exercises often consist of distance running, sprinting, endurance workouts for the chest and abdominal muscles, rope climbing, and the standard push-ups and sit-ups—a cadet's condition will be tested quarterly in the Army Physical Fitness Test. This development and testing of physical endurance is a crucial part of the cadet's future Army career.
Cadets attend classes just like their fellow students, but their schedule is augmented with an exclusive course on leadership offered by the Military Science Department. Cadets attend the following courses:
- First Year: Foundations in Leadership 1-3 — Overviews leadership fundamentals such as setting direction, problem solving, listening, presenting briefs, providing feedback and using effective writing skills. Students begin to explore leadership dimensions and values Two 60-minute classes per week. Weekly 3-hour leadership labs required.
- Sophomore Year: Leadership in a Changing Environment 1-3 — Examine the challenges of leading In complex contemporary operational environments. Dimensions of the cross-cultural challenges of leadership in a constantly changing world and their application to leadership tasks and situations. Case studies and Importance of teamwork and tactics In real world settings. Two 60-minute classes per week. Weekly 3-hour labs per quarter.
- Junior Year: Situational Leadership 1-3 — Study of intense situational leadership challenges to build student awareness and skills in leading small units. Skills in decision-making, persuading, and motivating team members when "under fire" are explored, evaluated, and developed. Two 90 minute classes per week. Weekly 3-hour labs per quarter.
- Senior Year: Leadership in a Complex World 1-3 — Explores the dynamics of leading In the complex situations of current military operations. Students examine differences In customs and courtesies, military law, principles of war and rules of engagement In the face of International terrorism. Aspects of Interacting with non-governmental organizations, civilians on the battlefield, and host nation support are examined and evaluated. One 180-minute seminar per week. Weekly 3-hour labs per quarter.
Cadets also take a course on American Military History to satisfy their ROTC course requirements. Twice a year, cadets will apply what they learn on campus in a Leader Development Exercise (LDX) at Ft. Hunter Ligget several hours south of campus. Here, cadets will undergo situational training exercises (STX), land navigation practice, and other valuable, exciting training events. Finally, cadets function within their own chain of command, serving in leadership positions to supervise, develop, and assist their peers. Each cadet is assigned a mentor from the preceding class, creating a network of trust and advice that other students do not experience.