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Highland Cavalier Battalion · Highland Cavalier
Highland Cavalier Battalion commissions cadets from Radford University into the U.S. Army.
About this program
For cadets at Radford University, the path to a commission runs through Highland Cavalier Battalion. The unit goes by the Highland Cavalier. The battalion reports up through U.S. Army Cadet Command, and graduates pin on as second lieutenants.
Beyond Radford University, the unit serves cadets from Virginia Tech (extension), Virginia Western Community College, and Roanoke College under cross-enrollment agreements. Field training, drill, and Military Science classes run at the host; partner-school cadets manage the commute.
Scholarship-wise, expect the full Army ROTC menu: AROTC 4-Year National, AROTC 3-Year Advanced, Minuteman (Reserve/Guard), Green-to-Gold (prior-enlisted). Academically, Radford University is known for mathematics and applied analytics alongside international affairs and language study, which gives cadets a meaningful range of degree paths under the same commissioning umbrella.
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 Highland Cavalier Battalion by commuting to Radford University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Radford University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Radford University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Radford University.
Contact & location
Located at: Radford University, Radford, VA 24142
Army ROTC FAQ
Where is Highland Cavalier Battalion located?
Highland Cavalier Battalion is hosted at Radford University in Radford, Virginia. The battalion's training events, classes, and PT all run on the Radford University campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Highland Cavalier Battalion?
In addition to Radford University, students enrolled at Virginia Tech (extension), Virginia Western Community College, and Roanoke College can contract through Highland Cavalier 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 Highland Cavalier 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 Highland Cavalier 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 Highland Cavalier 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 Highland Cavalier 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 Highland Cavalier Battalion?
Yes — Highland Cavalier Battalion accepts cross-town and partner students from 3 other institutions, including Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Roanoke College, Virginia Western Community College. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Highland Cavalier Battalion as any major?
Army programs accept students from most academic majors at Radford University. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
Interested in Highland Cavalier Battalion?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
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