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Bearkat Battalion · Bearkat
Bearkat Battalion trains cadets at Sam Houston State University for service in the U.S. Army.
About this program
Headquartered on the Sam Houston State University campus in Texas, Bearkat Battalion is the local accession point into the U.S. Army.
Sister-school participation is a real piece of this battalion. Cadets from Lone Star College, Prairie View A&M University, and Texas A&M University contract through Bearkat Battalion and travel to Sam Houston State University for the military-side requirements while keeping their core degree at the partner.
On the scholarship side: AROTC 4-Year National, AROTC 3-Year Advanced, Minuteman (Reserve/Guard) are all live channels at Bearkat Battalion. Academically, Sam Houston State University is well-regarded for international affairs and language study — a track that pairs well with ROTC's emphasis on technical and leadership majors.
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 Bearkat Battalion by commuting to Sam Houston State University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Sam Houston State University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Sam Houston State University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Sam Houston State University.
Contact & location
Site: https://www.shsu.edu/military-science
Located at: Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77340
Army ROTC FAQ
Where is Bearkat Battalion located?
Bearkat Battalion is hosted at Sam Houston State University in Texas. The battalion's training events, classes, and PT all run on the Sam Houston State University campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Bearkat Battalion?
In addition to Sam Houston State University, students enrolled at Lone Star College, Prairie View A&M University, and Texas A&M University can contract through Bearkat 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 Bearkat 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 Bearkat 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 Bearkat Battalion?
Yes — Bearkat Battalion accepts cross-town and partner students from 3 other institutions, including Lone Star College, Texas A&M University, Prairie View A&M University. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Bearkat Battalion as any major?
Army programs accept students from most academic majors at Sam Houston 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 Bearkat Battalion?
Official site: https://www.shsu.edu/military-science.
Interested in Bearkat 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.