Are you ready to join the ranks of true leaders and become part of an enduring legacy? The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) Army ROTC—the Rocky Top Battalion—invites you to step up and take on the challenge. With a powerful blend of tradition, teamwork, and Volunteer spirit, we train cadets who are not just prepared for the future but ready to lead it.
At the Rocky Top Battalion, you’ll experience rigorous training that pushes you to achieve your best, both mentally and physically. From mastering military tactics and strategic thinking to building physical fitness and leadership skills, our program ensures you gain the confidence and capability to lead in any situation. Field training exercises, leadership labs, and summer training opportunities give you the real-world experience you need to excel.
But being part of the Rocky Top Battalion is about more than military training—it’s about becoming part of a community that values academic excellence, strong ethics, and making a positive impact. As a cadet, you’ll embody the Volunteer spirit, balancing your studies, service, and personal growth to become a leader who inspires.
Are you ready to challenge yourself, grow, and lead with purpose? Join the Rocky Top Battalion and discover what it means to be a Tennessee Volunteer—leading with courage, serving with integrity, and representing the best of UTK.
What is Army ROTC?
General Neyland, former PMS of the Rocky Top B
Army ROTC is one of the most demanding and successful leadership programs in the country. For years, Army ROTC has been creating leaders who go on to rewarding careers in the military and civilian worlds. Here are just a few benefits a student can gain by enrolling in Army ROTC at the University of Tennessee:
- High-level leadership, management, and communications training
- Problem-solving and strategic skills development
- Scholarships
- Monthly living allowances
- Entry into the US Army as an officer, either on active duty or in the Army Reserve or Army National Guard
The military program at the University of Tennessee predates that of any other state university in the country. In 1844, Professor Albert Miller Lea, a West Point graduate, organized an Infantry Company, and a uniform for the cadets was adopted. This Dragoon uniform soon became quite famous. While Tennessee had been the Volunteer State since the War of 1812, when Andrew Jackson brought 1,500 volunteers intending to fight in the Battle of New Orleans (who never actually got to participate in the battle), it wasn’t until the Mexican-American War that the name really took hold. When Tennessee Governor Aaron Brown issued a call for 2,800 troops to fight in the war, 30,000 Tennesseans volunteered, including UT’s Dragoons. Their uniform, only slightly modified, is still worn today by the color guard at home football games.
General Neyland’s Maxim #2: “Play for and make the breaks and when one comes your way — SCORE.”
Start making your breaks today by enrolling in the UT Army ROTC.
– VOLS
