Cardinal Battalion (Catholic)
Hosted at Catholic University of America · Washington, DC
Cardinal Battalion (Catholic) trains cadets at Catholic University of America for service in the U.S. Army.
Quick facts
About this program
Run by cadre at Catholic University of America, Cardinal Battalion (Catholic) is the Army ROTC battalion for District of Columbia and surrounding District of Columbia. Cadets and alumni use the unit's nickname, the Cardinal, on guidons and class shirts.
Cross-town agreements bring Trinity Washington University, Marymount University, and Georgetown University into the battalion's footprint. Most cross-town cadets keep their primary academics at the partner school and travel to Catholic University of America 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 computer science and cybersecurity, with cadre encouraging technical degrees where the cadet's career interests fit.
Cross-town partners
| Institution | Relationship | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marymount University , DC | cross-town | 0.0 mi | — |
| Trinity Washington University Washington, DC | cross-town | 0.6 mi | — |
| Georgetown University Washington, DC | cross-town | 2.8 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
Covers full tuition and fees OR room and board (your choice), plus a $420/month stipend (10 months/yr) and $1,200/yr book allowance. Merit-based board score with PT assessment and SAT/ACT. Application opened June 14, 2026; final deadline to start an application is March 4, 2027. Three selection boards (Oct, Jan, Mar). 8-year total service obligation; you can exit after freshman year with no obligation.
Service obligation: 8 years
Academic programs at Catholic University of America
Cadets at Cardinal Battalion (Catholic) pursue degrees across Catholic University of America's undergraduate catalog. Branch-preferred fields (engineering, foreign language, nursing, computer science) often carry scholarship benefits. See Catholic University of America'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: Washington, DC 20064
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Photos
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Cardinal Battalion (Catholic) located?
- Cardinal Battalion (Catholic) is hosted at Catholic University of America in Washington, DC 20064.
- Can students at other schools join Cardinal Battalion (Catholic)?
- Yes — Cardinal Battalion (Catholic) accepts cross-town and partner students from 3 other institutions, including Marymount University, Trinity Washington University, Georgetown University. See the cross-town partners table for distance and enrollment paths.
- Can I commission through Cardinal Battalion (Catholic) as any major?
- Army programs accept students from most academic majors at Catholic University of America. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
- How do I contact Cardinal Battalion (Catholic)?
- See the contact section for current cadre information.
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Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or any branch of the U.S. military.