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Leatherneck Battalion · Leatherneck
Leatherneck Battalion draws cadets from Western Illinois University and surrounding Illinois campuses.
About this program
Operating out of Western Illinois University, Leatherneck Battalion commissions cadets into the U.S. Army under U.S. Army Cadet Command. Cadre and cadets commonly identify by the unit's nickname — the Leatherneck.
Cadets from Spoon River College, Carl Sandburg College, Monmouth College, and Knox College cross-enroll into Leatherneck Battalion on a typical once-per-week schedule, with leadership labs, PT, and Military Science classes held on the Western Illinois University campus.
Funding paths into this battalion include AROTC 4-Year National and AROTC 3-Year Advanced, with Minuteman (Reserve/Guard) also available. Western Illinois University's academic strengths in nursing and health professions and mathematics and applied analytics give contracted cadets flexible major options on either side of the technical/non-technical line.
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 Leatherneck Battalion by commuting to Western Illinois University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Western Illinois University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Western Illinois University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Western Illinois University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Western Illinois University.
Contact & location
Located at: Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL 61455
Army ROTC FAQ
Where is Leatherneck Battalion located?
Leatherneck Battalion is hosted at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. The battalion's training events, classes, and PT all run on the Western Illinois University campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Leatherneck Battalion?
In addition to Western Illinois University, students enrolled at Spoon River College, Carl Sandburg College, Monmouth College, and Knox College can contract through Leatherneck 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 Leatherneck 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 Leatherneck 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 Leatherneck 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 Leatherneck Battalion?
Yes — Leatherneck Battalion accepts cross-town and partner students from 4 other institutions, including Monmouth College, Spoon River College, Knox College, Carl Sandburg College. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Leatherneck Battalion as any major?
Army programs accept students from most academic majors at Western Illinois University. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
How do I contact Leatherneck Battalion?
See the contact section for current cadre information.
Interested in Leatherneck 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.