Bison Battalion
Hosted at Howard University · Washington, DC
Army ROTC at Howard University commissions officers alongside University of the District of Columbia cross-town students.
Quick facts
About this program
Bison Battalion is Howard University's officer-accessions program for the U.S. Army.
Bison Battalion runs as a consortium for cadets from University of the District of Columbia, Catholic University of America, and Trinity Washington University as well as Howard University. Cross-town students typically retain their primary residency and academics at the home campus and route only military-side coursework through the host.
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. Howard University cadets pursue degrees across a wide spectrum, with biology and pre-health programs and engineering and physical sciences drawing strong cohorts.
Cross-town partners
| Institution | Relationship | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity Washington University Washington, DC | cross-town | 2.2 mi | — |
| Catholic University of America Washington, DC | cross-town | 2.8 mi | — |
| University of the District of Columbia Washington, DC | cross-town | 3.0 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 Howard University
Cadets at Bison Battalion pursue degrees across Howard University's undergraduate catalog. Branch-preferred fields (engineering, foreign language, nursing, computer science) often carry scholarship benefits. See Howard 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
Email: AFROTC@howard.edu
Phone: 202-806-6700
Site: https://rotc.howard.edu
Address: Washington, DC 20059
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Photos
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Bison Battalion located?
- Bison Battalion is hosted at Howard University in Washington, DC 20059.
- Can students at other schools join Bison Battalion?
- Yes — Bison Battalion accepts cross-town and partner students from 3 other institutions, including Trinity Washington University, Catholic University of America, University of the District of Columbia. See the cross-town partners table for distance and enrollment paths.
- Can I commission through Bison Battalion as any major?
- Army programs accept students from most academic majors at Howard 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 Bison Battalion?
- Reach the unit at AFROTC@howard.edu. Phone: 202-806-6700. Official site: https://rotc.howard.edu.
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Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or any branch of the U.S. military.