Bear Battalion
Hosted at Baylor University · Waco, TX
Bear Battalion runs Army ROTC from Baylor University in Waco, TX.
Quick facts
About this program
Bear Battalion sits inside Baylor University as the campus's Army ROTC battalion. The mission is straightforward — produce U.S. Army officers — and the cadre run a four-year curriculum to do exactly that.
McLennan Community College, Texas State Technical College, and University of Mary Hardin-Baylor are the cross-town partner schools feeding Bear Battalion. All ROTC-side curriculum runs at the host; partner-school students typically attend twice a week and full PT three to five mornings.
Cadets compete for the AROTC 4-Year National Scholarship as high-school seniors and the 3-Year Advanced board on contract. Minuteman seats route Reserve and National Guard contracts, and Green-to-Gold opens the door for prior-enlisted soldiers transitioning to officer. On the academic side, Baylor University draws cadets into history and the humanities as well as international affairs and language study, and the cadre work directly with academic advising on time-conflict resolution between ROTC and major requirements.
Cross-town partners
| Institution | Relationship | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| McLennan Community College Waco, TX | cross-town | 4.2 mi | — |
| Texas State Technical College Waco, TX | cross-town | 6.7 mi | — |
| University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Belton, TX | cross-town | 38.8 mi | — |
Scholarships available
Scholarship route obligating service in the Army Reserve or National Guard rather than active duty.
Service obligation: 8 years
Active-duty enlisted soldiers transition to officer via ROTC with several scholarship options (2-year, 3-year, 4-year).
Service obligation: 8 years
On-campus scholarship awarded to enrolled cadets at the start of their MS-II year.
Service obligation: 6 years
High-school senior scholarship covering full tuition + books at most public schools or up to a fixed amount at private schools. Requires a competitive board score, fitness test, and SAT/ACT minimums.
Service obligation: 8 years
Academic programs at Baylor University
Cadets at Bear Battalion pursue degrees across Baylor University's undergraduate catalog. Branch-preferred fields (engineering, foreign language, nursing, computer science) often carry scholarship benefits. See Baylor University's profile →
Training & summer
Army cadets attend Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox between their MS-III and MS-IV years for Advanced Camp, plus optional CULP overseas, Airborne, and Air Assault schools.
Contact & location
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Photos
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Bear Battalion located?
- Bear Battalion is hosted at Baylor University in Waco, TX 76798.
- Can students at other schools join Bear Battalion?
- Yes — Bear Battalion accepts cross-town and partner students from 3 other institutions, including McLennan Community College, Texas State Technical College, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. See the cross-town partners table for distance and enrollment paths.
- Can I commission through Bear Battalion as any major?
- Army programs accept students from most academic majors at Baylor University. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
- How do I contact Bear Battalion?
- Reach the unit at AFROTC@baylor.edu. Phone: 254-710-3513. Official site: https://www.baylor.edu/rotc.
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Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or any branch of the U.S. military.