The MS300 year, typically your junior year, is the cornerstone of the Army ROTC experience. While each year in the program builds critical knowledge and skills, MS300 is where it all comes together. This is the year when cadets take the lead, applying everything they’ve learned in real-time training environments that closely resemble what they’ll face as future Army officers.
To enter the MS300 year, cadets must have completed the MS100 and MS200 level courses or attended Basic Camp. While participation is still possible for those not yet committed to commissioning, this is the year cadets must contract in order to pursue a commission and fully experience what Army ROTC has to offer.
The primary focus of MS300 is preparation for Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox, an intensive, multi-week evaluation in which cadets are assessed on leadership, physical readiness, and tactical competence. CST is a major milestone in a cadet’s path to commissioning, and performance there plays a significant role in determining future opportunities within the Army.
Throughout the year, cadets face increasingly challenging training in land navigation, weapons handling, operations orders, and squad-to-platoon-level tactics. But more than tactical proficiency, the MS300 year is about leadership in action. Cadets are expected to plan, communicate, and execute complex missions often under pressure while leading their peers through realistic scenarios.
The ultimate goal isn’t perfection in infantry tactics; it’s the demonstration of leadership—of applying the Army Leadership Requirements Model (ALRM) to solve problems, build teams, and accomplish the mission. MS300 is the year when cadets discover who they are as leaders and begin to shape the officers they will become.
At the University of Michigan, this is the lived experience of our ROTC mission: developing confident, capable, and committed leaders ready to serve.
Key Tasks
- Prepare for Cadet Summer Training (CST)
- Demonstrate Ethical Decision-Making and Team Leadership
- Receive, Apply, and Reflect on Feedback
- Execute Tactical Operations
Leadership Lab
For MS300 cadets, the Leadership Lab represents a major shift from learning to leading. This is where cadets step into key leadership roles and are challenged to take ownership of planning, executing, and evaluating training events that prepare the entire battalion for success.
During the fall semester, MS300s lead small-unit training by guiding MS100 and MS200 cadets through foundational tasks. Their focus is on developing the next generation of cadet leaders by teaching them how to work effectively as members of a team, follow orders, and support the mission. MS300s are responsible not just for instruction, but for ensuring that training runs smoothly and meets its intended objectives. They are evaluated after each lab and receive detailed feedback from cadre to help them reflect, adapt, and grow.
In the winter semester, the stakes increase. MS300 cadets rotate through Platoon Leader, Platoon Sergeant, and Squad Leader positions, assuming responsibility for 9–30 cadets during complex platoon-level tactical exercises. These labs challenge cadets to plan, communicate, and execute missions in dynamic, high-pressure environments while adhering to Army doctrine.
The goal isn’t perfection—it’s leadership development. Cadets are expected to learn how to make decisions under pressure, adapt to changing situations, and build confidence in their leadership style. Cadre closely supervise and mentor cadets throughout this process, offering feedback and coaching designed to prepare them for success at Cadet Summer Training (CST).
By the end of the MS300 year, cadets will have tested their leadership in the field, grown from their mistakes, and begun to understand what it truly means to lead in today’s Army.