Bear Battalion (Mercer)
Hosted at Mercer University · Macon, GA
Bear Battalion (Mercer) trains cadets at Mercer University for service in the U.S. Army.
Quick facts
About this program
Run by cadre at Mercer University, Bear Battalion (Mercer) is the Army ROTC battalion for Macon and surrounding Georgia. Cadets and alumni use the unit's nickname, the Bear, on guidons and class shirts.
Cross-town agreements bring Wesleyan College, Middle Georgia State University, Fort Valley State University, and Central Georgia Technical College into the battalion's footprint. Most cross-town cadets keep their primary academics at the partner school and travel to Mercer University for ROTC class and lab.
The battalion runs all standard Army ROTC scholarship channels: AROTC 4-Year National, AROTC 3-Year Advanced, Minuteman (Reserve/Guard). Major-wise, cadets here cluster around engineering and physical sciences and nursing and health professions, with cadre encouraging technical degrees where the cadet's career interests fit.
Cross-town partners
| Institution | Relationship | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wesleyan College Macon, GA | cross-town | 5.0 mi | — |
| Middle Georgia State University Macon, GA | cross-town | 5.0 mi | — |
| Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins, GA | cross-town | 19.6 mi | — |
| Fort Valley State University Fort Valley, GA | cross-town | 24.7 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 Mercer University
Cadets at Bear Battalion (Mercer) pursue degrees across Mercer University's undergraduate catalog. Branch-preferred fields (engineering, foreign language, nursing, computer science) often carry scholarship benefits. See Mercer 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
Address: Macon, GA 31207
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Bear Battalion (Mercer) located?
- Bear Battalion (Mercer) is hosted at Mercer University in Macon, GA 31207.
- Can students at other schools join Bear Battalion (Mercer)?
- Yes — Bear Battalion (Mercer) accepts cross-town and partner students from 4 other institutions, including Wesleyan College, Middle Georgia State University, Central Georgia Technical College, Fort Valley State University. See the cross-town partners table for distance and enrollment paths.
- Can I commission through Bear Battalion (Mercer) as any major?
- Army programs accept students from most academic majors at Mercer 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 (Mercer)?
- See the contact section for current cadre information.
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