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Madison Dukes Battalion · Duke
Madison Dukes Battalion commissions cadets from James Madison University into the U.S. Army.
About this program
Operating out of James Madison University, Madison Dukes Battalion commissions cadets into the U.S. Army under U.S. Army Cadet Command. Cadre and cadets commonly identify by the unit's nickname — the Duke.
Cadets from Eastern Mennonite University, Bridgewater College, Mary Baldwin University, and Blue Ridge Community College cross-enroll into Madison Dukes Battalion on a typical once-per-week schedule, with leadership labs, PT, and Military Science classes held on the James Madison University campus.
Funding paths into this battalion include AROTC 4-Year National and AROTC 3-Year Advanced, with Minuteman (Reserve/Guard) also available. James Madison University's academic strengths in nursing and health professions and engineering and physical sciences give contracted cadets flexible major options on either side of the technical/non-technical line.
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 Madison Dukes Battalion by commuting to James Madison University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at James Madison University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at James Madison University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at James Madison University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at James Madison University.
Contact & location
Located at: James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Army ROTC FAQ
Where is Madison Dukes Battalion located?
Madison Dukes Battalion is hosted at James Madison University in Virginia. The battalion's training events, classes, and PT all run on the James Madison University campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Madison Dukes Battalion?
In addition to James Madison University, students enrolled at Eastern Mennonite University, Bridgewater College, Mary Baldwin University, and Blue Ridge Community College can contract through Madison Dukes 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 Madison Dukes 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 Madison Dukes 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.
Can students at other schools join Madison Dukes Battalion?
Yes — Madison Dukes Battalion accepts cross-town and partner students from 4 other institutions, including Eastern Mennonite University, Bridgewater College, Blue Ridge Community College, Mary Baldwin University. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Madison Dukes Battalion as any major?
Army programs accept students from most academic majors at James Madison 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 Madison Dukes Battalion?
See the contact section for current cadre information.
Interested in Madison Dukes Battalion?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
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