The mission of the Tuskegee University Army ROTC Golden Tiger Battalion is to commission the future leadership of the US Army. Military Science has been a part of the Tuskegee University curriculum since February 1919, when a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) unit was established with Captain Russell Smith as the first Professor of Military Science. Since progressing to a senior division unit in September 1941, graduates of Tuskegee have gone on to become general officers. General officers are the most senior leaders in the Army, comparable to attaining senior executive positions in major corporations, the highest management levels of career government service, or the positions of mayor or city manager for a large metropolis. Few other institutions rival the military accomplishments and contributions of Tuskegee graduates. Tuskegee graduates who successfully complete the Army ROTC program begin their careers in the Army with a highly competitive starting salary and much broader responsibilities and authority than graduates embarking on a civilian career.

The Military Science curriculum is divided into a Basic Course covering the first two years, and an Advanced Course covering work of the last two years.

Basic Course - The Basic Course is designed for college students in their freshman and sophomore years. The first two years prepare and qualify the student for the Advanced Course. The instruction in the first year requires four hours per week (one hour classroom, one hour physical training and two hours leadership lab), and allows one credit hour per semester. The second year requires seven hours per semester (2 hours classroom, 3 hours physical training, and 2 hours leadership lab), and allows two credit hours per semester. In addition to the required classroom, leadership, and physical fitness curriculum, students have the opportunity to participate in many additional leadership training opportunities and social activities that will prepare them for the Advanced Course. The purpose of this instruction is to introduce the student to fundamental military knowledge: military customs and traditions; familiarization with basic weapons, equipment, and techniques; military organization and functions; and the techniques of leadership, management, and command. The best-qualified men and women who successfully complete the Basic Course are selected for the Advanced Course that leads to a commission as an officer in the Army.

Advanced Course - The Advanced Course is designed to produce qualified officers for the Active Army, the United States Army Reserve, and the Army National Guard. Students selected for the Advanced Course must sign a contract whereby they agree to serve as a commissioned officer upon completion of the Army ROTC program. The Advanced Course is a rigorous curriculum that is both extremely challenging and time intensive. Advanced Course Cadets receive a monthly subsistence allowance during the fall and spring semesters. Advanced Course Cadets receive a monthly subsistence allowance of $420 during the fall and spring semesters.  Admission to the Advanced Course is on a best qualified basis. Advanced Course Cadets must attend and successfully complete the four-week Advanced Camp, usually during the summer between their junior and senior years. Cadets receive pay while attending the camp plus travel expenses. Upon successful completion of the Advanced Course and PME requirements, the student may be commissioned as a second lieutenant in one of the following branches: Adjutant General’s Corps, Air Defense Artillery, Armor, Aviation, Corps of Engineers, Cyber Corps, Field Artillery, Finance Corps, Infantry, Military Intelligence, Chemical Corps, Military Police Corps, Ordnance, Quartermaster Corps, Signal Corps, and Transportation Corps.

Two-Year Program - A student who has at least two years of school remaining, including graduate students, may attend Basic Camp, a four-week summer training program in lieu of completing to the Basic Course to qualify for admission to the Advanced Course. The Advanced Course is the same for students in either the four-year program or the two-year program. Students attending Basic Camp receive pay and travel expenses during the period of attendance. Additionally, students who have at least two years of school remaining and have completed the Basic Training or Boot Camp of any of the armed forces may be eligible for waiver of the Basic Course requirements.

Financial Assistance Programs - The Army ROTC scholarship program offers financial assistance for highly qualified students. On campus scholarships may be awarded for either two, three or three and one half years. Scholarship selection is on a best-qualified basis, as determined by a ROTC selection board.The financial assistance includes tuition, fees, laboratory expenses, a $600 book allowance each semester, and a subsistence allowance $420 per month. Students interested in an Army ROTC scholarship should contact the Professor of Military Science as soon as possible.

Off-Campus Training / Internships - In addition to the Basic and Advanced Camps, each summer selected Cadets have numerous opportunities to volunteer for specialized training at locations throughout the world to further enhance their leadership skills and prepare them for a career in the Army. These opportunities include Cadet Troop Leadership Training - where Cadets work in Active Army units as officer trainees; Airborne School; Air Assault School; and numerous specialized internships that are academic discipline specific. This training is strictly voluntary and based on quotas allocated by the Department of the Army.