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Keydet Battalion · Keydet
Keydet Battalion runs Army ROTC at Virginia Military Institute for cadets across Virginia.
About this program
Virginia Military Institute is a top-ranked public liberal arts college and a Senior Military College that operates one of the leading ROTC programs in the United States. Every member of VMI's Corps of Cadets is required to participate in one of the ROTC leadership programs to complete their degree, immersing them in a demanding environment built around discipline, honor, and respect.
VMI is among the very few colleges that offer ROTC in five U.S. military services: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. As a senior military college it can deliver training at a higher level than many civilian schools, giving cadets access to active-duty bases, field training exercises, and high-ranking officers. VMI's Army ROTC unit, the Blue Ridge Battalion, commissions more officers than any ROTC program in the nation.
Significant financial support is available. Scholarships are administered through each awarding military branch and can cover tuition plus allowances for books, fees, and living expenses; VMI also offers campus-based scholarships and the newer VMI Call to Duty Scholarships. Only cadets who accept an ROTC scholarship or contract as non-scholarship cadets incur a service obligation.
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 Keydet Battalion by commuting to Virginia Military Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Virginia Military Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Virginia Military Institute.
Contact & location
Email: admissions@vmi.edu
Phone: 540-464-7230
Site: https://www.vmi.edu/rotc
Located at: Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA 24450-0304
Army ROTC FAQ
Where is Keydet Battalion located?
Keydet Battalion is hosted at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. The battalion's training events, classes, and PT all run on the Virginia Military Institute campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Keydet Battalion?
In addition to Virginia Military Institute, students enrolled at Washington and Lee University and Southern Virginia University can contract through Keydet 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.
Is Virginia Military Institute a Senior Military College?
Yes — Virginia Military Institute is one of the six Senior Military Colleges recognized in 10 U.S. Code §2111a. The corps of cadets is the dominant ROTC delivery model on campus, and cadets live in the corps rather than commuting in for ROTC events.
What scholarships are available through Keydet 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 Keydet 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.
Which military branches can I train for through ROTC at VMI?
VMI is among the very few colleges offering ROTC in five services, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force, with cadets able to commission as officers in any of them.
How large is VMI's Army ROTC commissioning output?
VMI's Army ROTC program, the Blue Ridge Battalion, commissions more officers than any other ROTC program in the nation.
Do all VMI cadets participate in ROTC?
Yes. Every member of the Corps of Cadets is required to participate in one of the ROTC leadership programs in order to complete their degree.
Interested in Keydet 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.