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Cardinal Battalion (Catholic) · Cardinal
Cardinal Battalion (Catholic) trains cadets at Catholic University of America for service in the U.S. Army.
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.
Scholarships available here
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
Cross-town & partner schools served
Students at these schools can commission through Cardinal Battalion (Catholic) by commuting to Catholic University of America.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at The Catholic University of America.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at The Catholic University of America.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at The Catholic University of America.
Contact & location
Located at: Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064
Army ROTC FAQ
Where is Cardinal Battalion (Catholic) located?
Cardinal Battalion (Catholic) is hosted at Catholic University of America in District of Columbia. The battalion's training events, classes, and PT all run on the Catholic University of America campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Cardinal Battalion (Catholic)?
In addition to Catholic University of America, students enrolled at Trinity Washington University, Marymount University, and Georgetown University can contract through Cardinal Battalion (Catholic) via cross-town agreements. Cross-town cadets keep their primary academics at the partner school and travel to the host for ROTC-side coursework.
What scholarships are available through Cardinal Battalion (Catholic)?
Army ROTC cadets at this battalion compete for AROTC 4-Year National, AROTC 3-Year Advanced, Minuteman (Reserve/Guard), Green-to-Gold (prior-enlisted). National awards apply out of high school; on-campus side-loads kick in once a cadet is enrolled and contracted.
What's the Army ROTC summer training for cadets at Cardinal Battalion (Catholic)?
After the MS-III year, cadets ship to Cadet Summer Training (Advanced Camp) at Fort Knox for the 31-day capstone evaluation that drives branching and order-of-merit standing.
Can students at other schools join Cardinal Battalion (Catholic)?
Yes — Cardinal Battalion (Catholic) accepts cross-town and partner students from 3 other institutions, including Trinity Washington University, Georgetown University, Marymount University. See the cross-town options 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.
Interested in Cardinal Battalion (Catholic)?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or any branch of the U.S. military.