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Maroon Battalion · Maroon
Maroon Battalion commissions cadets from University of Chicago into the U.S. Army.
About this program
For cadets at University of Chicago, the path to a commission runs through Maroon Battalion. The unit goes by the Maroon. The battalion reports up through U.S. Army Cadet Command, and graduates pin on as second lieutenants.
Beyond University of Chicago, the unit serves cadets from Illinois Institute of Technology, DePaul University, University of Illinois Chicago, and Eastern Illinois 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 Chicago 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 Maroon Battalion by commuting to University of Chicago.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Chicago.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Chicago.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Chicago.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Chicago.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Chicago.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Chicago.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Chicago.
Contact & location
Site: https://armyrotc.uchicago.edu
Located at: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
Army ROTC FAQ
Where is Maroon Battalion located?
Maroon Battalion is hosted at University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. The battalion's training events, classes, and PT all run on the University of Chicago campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Maroon Battalion?
In addition to University of Chicago, students enrolled at Illinois Institute of Technology, DePaul University, University of Illinois Chicago, Eastern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Roosevelt University, and Saint Xavier University can contract through Maroon 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 Maroon 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 Maroon 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 Maroon 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.
Can students at other schools join Maroon Battalion?
Yes — Maroon Battalion accepts cross-town and partner students from 7 other institutions, including DePaul University, Roosevelt University, University of Illinois Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Maroon Battalion as any major?
Army programs accept students from most academic majors at University of Chicago. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
How do I contact Maroon Battalion?
Official site: https://armyrotc.uchicago.edu.
Interested in Maroon Battalion?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
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