The University of Northern Iowa’s Army ROTC program has been identified for inactivation as part of a nationwide restructuring initiative announced by the U.S. Army Cadet Command. According to the announcement, the effort is intended to “rebalance and optimize” Senior ROTC programs across the country, with changes expected to begin in summer 2026.

Importantly, the Army emphasized that this decision is not related to UNI’s program quality or performance. The UNI ROTC program is strong academically, enjoys broad university support, plays a key role with the Iowa National Guard and has some of the best facilities in the region. The program has a long and proud history of preparing student-leaders for military and civilian careers, and has played a critical role in regional officer commissioning and military readiness.

UNI is actively engaged in discussions with Army leadership to clarify the implications of the restructuring and to explore whether alternatives may be available. In the meantime, university leaders are prioritizing support for students currently enrolled in the program.

Juniors and seniors have been assured the ability to complete their training and commission as planned. UNI is also working closely with the Army to ensure freshmen and sophomores have a clear path forward to finish their programs. 

As conversations continue around next steps, the Department of Military Science remains fully engaged in delivering all levels of coursework for each year of the ROTC program.