Army ROTCRanger ChallengeDrill TeamColor GuardArmy ROTC at Harvard University
Crimson Lion Battalion · Crimson
Crimson Lion Battalion trains cadets at Harvard University for service in the U.S. Army.
About this program
Run by cadre at Harvard University, Crimson Lion Battalion is the Army ROTC battalion for Massachusetts and surrounding Massachusetts. Cadets and alumni use the unit's nickname, the Crimson, on guidons and class shirts.
Cross-town agreements bring Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tufts University, and Boston University into the battalion's footprint. Most cross-town cadets keep their primary academics at the partner school and travel to Harvard 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 international affairs and language study, 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 Crimson Lion Battalion by commuting to Harvard University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Harvard University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Harvard University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Harvard University.
Contact & location
Located at: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
Army ROTC FAQ
Where is Crimson Lion Battalion located?
Crimson Lion Battalion is hosted at Harvard University in Massachusetts. The battalion's training events, classes, and PT all run on the Harvard University campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Crimson Lion Battalion?
In addition to Harvard University, students enrolled at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tufts University, and Boston University can contract through Crimson Lion Battalion 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 Crimson Lion Battalion?
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 Crimson Lion Battalion?
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.
How big is the corps at Crimson Lion Battalion?
Public corps-size figures aren't always published year-to-year; Army ROTC battalions in this size class generally carry between several dozen and a few hundred contracted cadets depending on host enrollment.
Can students at other schools join Crimson Lion Battalion?
Yes — Crimson Lion Battalion accepts cross-town and partner students from 3 other institutions, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tufts University, Boston University. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Crimson Lion Battalion as any major?
Army programs accept students from most academic majors at Harvard 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 Crimson Lion Battalion?
See the contact section for current cadre information.
Interested in Crimson Lion Battalion?
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.