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Bear Battalion (MSU) · Bear
Army ROTC in Springfield, MO runs out of Missouri State University as the Bear Battalion (MSU).
About this program
Bear Battalion (MSU) is the Army ROTC battalion hosted at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. The unit commissions officers into the U.S. Army.
The battalion pulls cadets from Drury University, Evangel University, College of the Ozarks, and Ozarks Technical Community College alongside its host enrollment. Military Science I-IV is taught on-site, and sister-school cadets bus or drive over for class days, PT, and the weekly leadership lab.
Cadets can pursue AROTC 4-Year National or, once on contract, AROTC 3-Year Advanced. Missouri State University brings academic depth in computer science and cybersecurity, and the unit aligns major selection with branch-board competitiveness.
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 Bear Battalion (MSU) by commuting to Missouri State University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Missouri State University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Missouri State University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Missouri State University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Missouri State University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Missouri State University.
Contact & location
Email: Info@MissouriState.edu
Phone: 417-836-5000
Site: https://www.missouristate.edu/rotc
Located at: Missouri State University, Springfield, MO 65775-2715
Army ROTC FAQ
Where is Bear Battalion (MSU) located?
Bear Battalion (MSU) is hosted at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. The battalion's training events, classes, and PT all run on the Missouri State University campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Bear Battalion (MSU)?
In addition to Missouri State University, students enrolled at Drury University, Evangel University, College of the Ozarks, Ozarks Technical Community College, and Southwest Baptist University can contract through Bear Battalion (MSU) 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 Bear Battalion (MSU)?
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 Bear Battalion (MSU)?
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 Bear Battalion (MSU)?
Yes — Bear Battalion (MSU) accepts cross-town and partner students from 5 other institutions, including College of the Ozarks, Evangel University, Ozarks Technical Community College, Drury University. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Bear Battalion (MSU) as any major?
Army programs accept students from most academic majors at Missouri State 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 Bear Battalion (MSU)?
Reach the unit at Info@MissouriState.edu. Phone: 417-836-5000. Official site: https://www.missouristate.edu/rotc.
Interested in Bear Battalion (MSU)?
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.