Army ROTC

The Golden Griffin Battalion Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) develops leadership skills that last a lifetime. Whether your goal is to serve as a commissioned officer in the United States Army, or simply gain valuable, hands-on leadership training that will set you apart from the rest in the civilian job market.

Army ROTC is a leadership program where you will be able to take 17 elective credits that will coincide with your four year college degree program resulting in your commission as an Army Officer (Second Lieutenant) upon graduation. Officers can serve in one of 18 career fields. ROTC gives you the tools, training and experiences that you will need to succeed in any competitive environment. Your studies would include: Leadership Development, Military Skills, and Adventure Training. Along with great leadership training, Army ROTC can pay for your college tuition. Because Army ROTC is an elective, you can participate in your freshman and sophomore years without any obligation to join the Army. You will have a college student experience like everyone else on campus, but when you graduate, you will be commissioned as an Officer in the Army. At that point, you will have a wide range of interest areas you can specialize in called branches. Many prominent Americans got their start through Army ROTC. The program has produced two U.S. Secretaries of State, innumerable business and civic leaders and a female astronaut. Among the more famous graduates of the program are Colin Powell, Sam Walton, Earl Graves, Lenny Wilkins and James Earl Jones.

Course Information 

The Military Science & Leadership (MLS) Program augments the college learning experience. The cornerstone of the MLS program is the development of leaders. Individual courses support the identification, assessment, and leadership development of young men and women. The goal of the MLS Program is to train confident and competent leaders of character for commissioning as officers in the United States Army, Army Reserve or Army National Guard. Every student taking MLS will learn superior organizational, leadership and managerial skills that will prepare them to lead in public service, business, military, and community organizations. This program is open to students of all majors and there is no requirement for previous military service or experience.

The traditional MLS program is four years: a two-year Basic Course (six credit hours/year), for which no military obligation is incurred, and a two-year Advanced Course (six credit hours/year), plus a US Military History Course (3 credits); for which there is a military obligation.

The Basic Course refers to the first and second year of the MSL curriculum. It is designed as a classroom and lab course that stresses the fundamentals of leadership. A freshman student would enroll in MLS 101 and MLS 111 in the fall and MLS 102 and MLS 112 in the spring. A sophomore would enroll in MLS 201 and 211 in the fall and MLS 202, 212 in the spring. These courses are designed for students who want to improve their leadership. Instructors develop their students' physical, mental and critical thinking skills through team building and collective hands-on problem solving case studies. A number of popular and challenging extra-curricular activities are available for students who take these courses. Students may take up to twelve Basic Course credits without obligation. The basic course sequence is required for all students that want to qualify for entry into the Advanced Course. MLS 210- Basic Camp is held at Fort Knox, KY between either the summer of the student's sophomore and junior year. Basic Camp is a mandatory component for students who have not completed all MLS 100 and 200 level courses/labs. Students, with prior military service may also receive placement credit directly into the Advanced Course with approval from the Department Chair.

The following sequence of Military Science 100 and 200 level courses can each be counted as a 3.0 credit, free elective:

MLS 101 (3 credit) and MLS 111 (0 credit) (Fall Semester)
MLS 102 (3 credit) and MLS 112 (0 credit) (Spring Semester)
MLS 201 (3 credit) and MLS 211 (0 credit) (Fall Semester)
MLS 202 (3 credit) and MLS 212 (0 credit) (Spring Semester)

Note: Students must present Medical Documentation signed by their doctor in order to participate in the lab portion.

The Advanced Course is comprised of MLS 301/311, MLS 302/312, MLS 401/411 and MLS 402/412 and MLS 480. Upon completion of this sequence and successful completion of Advanced Camp students are commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the Army, Army National Guard or Army Reserve. Based on the students’ area of study Military Science 300 and 400 level courses continue to bear free elective credit.

The following sequence of Military Science 300 and 400 level courses may be counted as a 3.0 credit elective:

MLS 301 (3 credits) and MLS 311 (0 credits) MLS 302 (3 credits) and MLS 312 (0 credits)
MLS 401 (3 credits) and MLS 411 (0 credits)
MLS 402 (3 credits) and MLS 412 (0 credits)

MLS 480-(3 credits)-US Military History Note: Students are required to sign up and participate in lab during the Advance Course even though they do not receive credit for the lab.

Cadre & Staff

Active Duty Personnel

Lieutenant Colonel Chad M. Gosney Professor of Military Science, Chair, MS IV Advisor, Aviation
Contact: Call (716) 888-3235 or email gosneyc@canisius.edu

Captain Ian Merritt, APMS-National Guard, MS Advisor & Instructor, Infantry
Contact: 716-888-2769 or email ian.merritt@canisius.edu 

Captain Mike Feliciano, APMS, MS III Advisor, Infantry
Contact: Call (716) 888-3234 or email felicia2@canisius.edu

Sergeant First Class, Adam H. Smallwood, MS III Instructor, Infantry
Contact: Call (240) 533-2653 or smallwoa@canisius.edu

Government Service Personnel

Rebecca Sparacino, Recruiting Operations & Enrollment Officer 
Contact: Call (716) 888-3239 or email sparacir@canisius.edu

Sylvia Thomas, Human Resource Assistant
Contact: Call (716) 888-3237 or email thomass@canisius.edu

Andrew G. Ciepiela, Logistics Technician
Contact: Call (716) 888-3241or email ciepiela@canisius.edu

Attached Personnel