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Duck Battalion · Duck
Duck Battalion runs Army ROTC at University of Oregon for cadets across Oregon.
About this program
The Duck Battalion is the University of Oregon's Army ROTC program, an elective leadership curriculum taken alongside a student's regular college classes. On the Oregon campus it is the only coursework focused specifically on leadership and ethical, moral decision-making, and it can help pay for college tuition while preparing cadets to commission as U.S. Army officers.
ROTC members also belong to the University of Oregon Corps of Cadets, Oregon's oldest student organization, which was founded at the time of the university's founding in 1916. Because the Basic Course is an elective, students can participate during their freshman and sophomore years without any obligation to join the Army unless they accept an ROTC scholarship. Those who commit go on to a wide range of Army career fields, called branches, after graduation.
The program emphasizes that success in Army ROTC comes to students who excel in the classroom, stay physically strong, and have a genuine desire to lead, building discipline and leadership skills that carry over into both military and civilian careers.
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 Duck Battalion by commuting to University of Oregon.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Oregon.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Oregon.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Oregon.
Contact & location
Army ROTC FAQ
Where is Duck Battalion located?
Duck Battalion is hosted at University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. The battalion's training events, classes, and PT all run on the University of Oregon campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Duck Battalion?
In addition to University of Oregon, students enrolled at Oregon State University (extension), Lane Community College, and Bushnell University can contract through Duck 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 Duck 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 Duck 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 Duck 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.
What's the commissioning path through Duck Battalion?
Cadets who complete the four-year Army ROTC curriculum and meet medical, fitness, and academic standards commission as officers in the U.S. Army. The battalion reports through U.S. Army Cadet Command.
Can I join Duck Battalion without committing to military service?
Yes. Because the Army ROTC Basic Course is an elective, you can participate during your freshman and sophomore years with no service obligation unless you have accepted an Army ROTC scholarship.
What is the University of Oregon Corps of Cadets?
ROTC members belong to the Corps of Cadets, Oregon's oldest student organization, which was founded at the time of the university's founding in 1916.
Interested in Duck 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.