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Pony Express Battalion · Pony Express
Pony Express is the Army ROTC battalion at Missouri Western State University in Missouri.
About this program
Run by cadre at Missouri Western State University, Pony Express Battalion is the Army ROTC battalion for Saint Joseph and surrounding Missouri. Cadets and alumni use the unit's nickname, the Pony Express, on guidons and class shirts.
Cross-town agreements bring Northwest Missouri State University, Missouri Valley College, and Park University into the battalion's footprint. Most cross-town cadets keep their primary academics at the partner school and travel to Missouri Western State 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 Pony Express Battalion by commuting to Missouri Western State University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Missouri Western State University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Missouri Western State University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Missouri Western State University.
Contact & location
Located at: Missouri Western State University, Saint Joseph, MO 64507
Army ROTC FAQ
Where is Pony Express Battalion located?
Pony Express Battalion is hosted at Missouri Western State University in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The battalion's training events, classes, and PT all run on the Missouri Western State University campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Pony Express Battalion?
In addition to Missouri Western State University, students enrolled at Northwest Missouri State University, Missouri Valley College, and Park University can contract through Pony Express 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 Pony Express 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 Pony Express 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 Pony Express 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.
What's the commissioning path through Pony Express Battalion?
Cadets who complete the four-year Army ROTC curriculum and meet medical, fitness, and academic standards commission as officers in the U.S. Army. The battalion reports through U.S. Army Cadet Command.
Can students at other schools join Pony Express Battalion?
Yes — Pony Express Battalion accepts cross-town and partner students from 3 other institutions, including Park University, Northwest Missouri State University, Missouri Valley College. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Pony Express Battalion as any major?
Army programs accept students from most academic majors at Missouri Western State University. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
Interested in Pony Express Battalion?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
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