Blue Hen Battalion
Hosted at University of Delaware · Newark, DE
Army ROTC at University of Delaware commissions officers alongside Delaware State University cross-town students.
Quick facts
About this program
Blue Hen Battalion is University of Delaware's officer-accessions program for the U.S. Army.
Blue Hen Battalion runs as a consortium for cadets from Delaware State University, Goldey-Beacom College, Wilmington University, and Delaware Technical Community College as well as University of Delaware. 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. University of Delaware cadets pursue degrees across a wide spectrum, with biology and pre-health programs and history and the humanities drawing strong cohorts.
Cross-town partners
| Institution | Relationship | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goldey-Beacom College Wilmington, DE | cross-town | 5.4 mi | — |
| Wilmington University New Castle, DE | cross-town | 8.8 mi | — |
| Delaware Technical Community College Dover, DE | cross-town | 34.8 mi | — |
| Delaware State University Dover, DE | cross-town | 35.9 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 University of Delaware
Cadets at Blue Hen Battalion pursue degrees across University of Delaware's undergraduate catalog. Branch-preferred fields (engineering, foreign language, nursing, computer science) often carry scholarship benefits. See University of Delaware'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: Newark, DE 19716
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Photos
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Blue Hen Battalion located?
- Blue Hen Battalion is hosted at University of Delaware in Newark, DE 19716.
- Can students at other schools join Blue Hen Battalion?
- Yes — Blue Hen Battalion accepts cross-town and partner students from 4 other institutions, including Goldey-Beacom College, Wilmington University, Delaware Technical Community College, Delaware State University. See the cross-town partners table for distance and enrollment paths.
- Can I commission through Blue Hen Battalion as any major?
- Army programs accept students from most academic majors at University of Delaware. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
- How do I contact Blue Hen Battalion?
- 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.