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Golden Bear Battalion · Golden Bear
Golden Bear Battalion commissions cadets from University of California, Berkeley into the U.S. Army.
About this program
For cadets at University of California, Berkeley, the path to a commission runs through Golden Bear Battalion. The unit goes by the Golden Bear. The battalion reports up through U.S. Army Cadet Command, and graduates pin on as second lieutenants.
Beyond University of California, Berkeley, the unit serves cadets from Saint Mary's College of California, Mills College, California State University East Bay, and Holy Names University 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, University of California, Berkeley is known for mathematics and applied analytics alongside biology and pre-health programs, 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 Golden Bear Battalion by commuting to University of California, Berkeley.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of California, Berkeley.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of California, Berkeley.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of California, Berkeley.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of California, Berkeley.
Contact & location
Located at: University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720
Army ROTC FAQ
Where is Golden Bear Battalion located?
Golden Bear Battalion is hosted at University of California, Berkeley in Berkeley, California. The battalion's training events, classes, and PT all run on the University of California, Berkeley campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Golden Bear Battalion?
In addition to University of California, Berkeley, students enrolled at Saint Mary's College of California, Mills College, California State University East Bay, and Holy Names University can contract through Golden Bear 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 Golden Bear 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 Golden Bear 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 Golden Bear Battalion?
Yes — Golden Bear Battalion accepts cross-town and partner students from 4 other institutions, including Mills College, Holy Names University, Saint Mary's College of California, California State University East Bay. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Golden Bear Battalion as any major?
Army programs accept students from most academic majors at University of California, Berkeley. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
How do I contact Golden Bear Battalion?
See the contact section for current cadre information.
Interested in Golden Bear Battalion?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
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