GRADUATE PROGRAMS

If you are planning on enrolling in The University of Alabama School of Law or another graduate program at the university you can still enter Army ROTC. We understand the rigid structure of these programs and will work with you to fit Army ROTC into your schedule. If you are currently pursuing an undergraduate degree but have aspirations to attend graduate school later in your career, then you have the option of enrolling in the Graduate School ADSO Program described below:

Graduate School for Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) Program
The Army will guarantee you the opportunity to attend a fully-funded Graduate Program within the US.

You get to choose the program and the school from an extremely broad menu of approved programs.

The program entails a great deal of career flexibility. You work with your assignment officer to find the best time to attend graduate school in accordance with your career and developmental objectives.

Under this program, a minimum of three years of your graduate school ADSO payback (3 for 1) must take place upon completion of schooling. Thus, if you attend graduate school for two years and you start at your 11th year and finish by your 13th year, then your graduate school ADSO payback will require you to serve until your 16th year.

Company command is an extremely valuable experience for human capital and career development. However, it might be possible for you to attend Graduate School under the Graduate School for ADSO program either before command or without ever commanding.

Your GPA and GRE/GMAT score are not criteria used by the Army for selection into this program. (Of course, your GPA and GRE/GMAT score will be criteria used by graduate programs when considering your individual application for admission.)

Other Graduate School Opportunities
While there are no guarantees beyond the Graduate School for ADSO Program, you may still compete for the Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP), medical school, or Advanced Civil Schooling (ACS) based upon the strength of your military record.

Many of the basic branches have established master degree opportunities for officers in conjunction with the Captain's Career Course. For example, the Engineer School offers a joint masters degree in Engineering Management through the University of Missouri-Rolla. Participants attend branch schooling during the day and then graduate schooling in the evening. Participants must pay for the schooling out of their own pocket; however, most qualify for tuition assistance from the Army. Participation in one of these types of programs does not preclude you from also participating in ACS, FLEP, or the Graduate School for ADSO program, so long as the degree that you pursue under a fully funded program is not the same as the degree that you worked on during your own time and using your own funding.

Law School
After graduating from law school and passing the Bar Exam you can serve in the Army as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) attorney. You will receive a direct commission as a First Lieutenant and reach the rank of Captain in 6 to 9 months.

By enrolling in Army ROTC while attending law school you will gain a leadership head start on your peers and become eligible for many scholarship opportunities.

JAG attorneys serve as prosecutors and defense counsel in international, operational, labor, contract, environmental, tort and administrative law. You will get immediate experience as a JAG attorney, something that is uncommon in civilian law firms. Right away, you'll be handling real cases dealing with significant legal issues.