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Hardrocker Battalion · Hardrocker
Hardrocker is the Army ROTC battalion at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in South Dakota.
About this program
Run by cadre at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Hardrocker Battalion is the Army ROTC battalion for Rapid City and surrounding South Dakota. Cadets and alumni use the unit's nickname, the Hardrocker, on guidons and class shirts.
Cross-town agreements bring Black Hills State University, National American University, and Western Dakota Technical College into the battalion's footprint. Most cross-town cadets keep their primary academics at the partner school and travel to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 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 Hardrocker Battalion by commuting to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
Contact & location
Located at: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD 57701-3995
Army ROTC FAQ
Where is Hardrocker Battalion located?
Hardrocker Battalion is hosted at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, South Dakota. The battalion's training events, classes, and PT all run on the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Hardrocker Battalion?
In addition to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, students enrolled at Black Hills State University, National American University, and Western Dakota Technical College can contract through Hardrocker 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 Hardrocker 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 Hardrocker 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 Hardrocker Battalion?
Yes — Hardrocker Battalion accepts cross-town and partner students from 3 other institutions, including Western Dakota Technical College, National American University, Black Hills State University. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Hardrocker Battalion as any major?
Army programs accept students from most academic majors at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
How do I contact Hardrocker Battalion?
See the contact section for current cadre information.
Interested in Hardrocker Battalion?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
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