A Proud History-A Bright Future

The Sun Devil® Battalion

The Department of Military Science at Arizona State University was founded in 1935 and is located on the main campus in Tempe. ASU is a world-class university in the heart of the Phoenix metropolitan area. With an enrollment of approximately 60,000 students, ASU is the largest university in the nation. It has Research I status, almost 200 academic programs and has won 30 national championships in a wide range of NCAA sports since 1990. 

ASU Army ROTC includes its cross enrolled institution, Grand Canyon University, in central Phoenix. The Samaritan School of Nursing at Grand Canyon has a tremendous academic reputation and has earned a Partnership in Nursing Excellence agreement with the U.S. Army. GCU nurses historically average some of the highest nurse licensing board scores within Cadet Command. The recent accomplishments of both the ASU ROTC program has been significant. ASU Army ROTC was the 1999 recipient of the General Douglas MacArthur Award for the best large school program in the Western Region. In addition, the ASU Ranger Challenge Team has placed in the top 10% of large schools in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah, and has been among the top three for the last four years.

The Sun Devil® Team took home the ROTC Team trophy at the 12th Annual Bataan Death March Commemoration at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. GCU Army ROTC produced the Golden Bear Nursing Excellence award recipient in 1998. ASU produced the AUSA Task Force Smith Saber recipient this past year.In addition to the traditional ROTC curriculum, Sun Devil® cadets have the opportunity to be in the Desert Rangers, the Scabbard & Blade Honor Fraternity, and the Color Guard. ASU Army ROTC is exciting, challenging and professional. Today’s corps of cadets consists of 105 ASU students and 35 GCU students. Last fiscal year the Sun Devil® Battalion trained and commissioned 19 motivated and skilled new lieutenants into the ranks of the United States Army. Feel the Heat!