George Mason University's Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program, the Patriot Battalion, is located in the heart of Northern Virginia with close proximity to Washington D.C. GMU ROTC Cadets are afforded the full benefit of being a student at Virginia's largest university with the many educational and occupational opportunities in the area while also gaining an insight to military culture an
d life. If a cadet has the interest to serve in the United States Army and meet the requirements for military duty, he or she can continue training to become an Officer in the United States Army. The Patriot Battalion stands as one of the most viable Senior ROTC Battalions in the Eastern Region, with distinguished achievements in Advance Camp performance, recruiting, retention, and successful commissioning of 2nd Lieutenants. First and second year Cadets receive introductory lessons on leadership development and organization, critical in any workplace environment. Third year Cadets then put their lessons into practice by leading and facilitating ROTC training events. Fourth year Cadets utilize their knowledge to plan and coordinate the training, physical fitness, and well-being of the Battalion. The daily life of a Cadet consists of PT (physical training) three days a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Cadets then have ROTC classes throughout the week with a Lab on Thursday for field and additional training. Each fall and spring semester, the Battalion conducts a weekend Field Training Exercise to put Cadets in a field environment and test their training. Interested Cadets may join some of Battalion clubs, such as Ranger Challenge, Drill Team, and Color Guard, all of which are helpful for increasing camaraderie. Cadets who apply themselves have the opportunity to attend summer training programs and schools such as Air Assault, Airborne, and CULP (Cultural Understanding and Language Program), a program that sends Cadets to foreign countries for an immersive cultural learning experience.
