The major advantage of the two-year junior college military programs is they allow cadets to become commissioned officers in only two years. This program does require students to commit to attending and completing a four-year commissioning program. The students receive early commissioning and can act as officers in their university ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) program. Students with early commissioning begin receiving service time toward promotions and retirement while finishing their remaining two years of education.
Large universities, such as Texas A&M, offer cadet programs within the larger university. These programs offer military-specific education and training while giving students access to the full wealth of educational and extracurricular activities on the larger campus. Cadets live together and participate in military-specific leadership courses, as well as standard educational requirements of the university. Students in these programs wear military uniforms, which indicate their year in the program and leadership levels.
The Citadel and West Point military academies are widely known for their educational and leadership excellence. These programs are military-only schools, although not all students attending these academies go on to serve in active-duty military capacities. "U.S. News and World Report" found West Point Military Academy among the top national liberal arts colleges from 2008 to 2011. Among the core values of these military academies are leadership, ethics, respect and devotion to duty and honor.
At Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia, women have the opportunity to attend a comprehensive four-year college program, which teaches leadership and military service. Using physical training and the ROTC program, women prepare to take on leadership roles in the Army, Air Force, Navy or Marines. Women cadets can become commissioned military members by completing all educational and extracurricular requirements during their four-year education.