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Wildcat Battalion (Kentucky) · Wildcat
Wildcat is the Army ROTC battalion at University of Kentucky in Kentucky.
About this program
Run by cadre at University of Kentucky, Wildcat Battalion (Kentucky) is the Army ROTC battalion for Lexington and surrounding Kentucky. Cadets and alumni use the unit's nickname, the Wildcat, on guidons and class shirts.
Cross-town agreements bring Transylvania University, Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Asbury University, and Berea College into the battalion's footprint. Most cross-town cadets keep their primary academics at the partner school and travel to University of Kentucky 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 nursing and health professions, 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 Wildcat Battalion (Kentucky) by commuting to University of Kentucky.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Kentucky.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Kentucky.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Kentucky.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Kentucky.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Kentucky.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Kentucky.
Contact & location
Phone: 859-257-2696
Site: https://armyrotc.uky.edu
Located at: University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0032
Army ROTC FAQ
Where is Wildcat Battalion (Kentucky) located?
Wildcat Battalion (Kentucky) is hosted at University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. The battalion's training events, classes, and PT all run on the University of Kentucky campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Wildcat Battalion (Kentucky)?
In addition to University of Kentucky, students enrolled at Transylvania University, Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Asbury University, Berea College, Centre College, and Eastern Kentucky University can contract through Wildcat Battalion (Kentucky) 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 Wildcat Battalion (Kentucky)?
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 Wildcat Battalion (Kentucky)?
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 Wildcat Battalion (Kentucky)?
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 Wildcat Battalion (Kentucky)?
Yes — Wildcat Battalion (Kentucky) accepts cross-town and partner students from 6 other institutions, including Transylvania University, Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Asbury University, Eastern Kentucky University. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Wildcat Battalion (Kentucky) as any major?
Army programs accept students from most academic majors at University of Kentucky. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
How do I contact Wildcat Battalion (Kentucky)?
Phone: 859-257-2696. Official site: https://armyrotc.uky.edu.
Interested in Wildcat Battalion (Kentucky)?
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.