Comparisons of Stress among ROTC and Civilian Students

This study will explore the different stressors that ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps, comprised of students who will commission into the military upon graduation) students experience as compared to the civilian student population. Currently, there is very little research regarding stress of ROTC students. Much of the research focuses on physical characteristics like muscle mass and endurance capacity. This study will be a qualitative interview study, with approximately 10 ROTC students and 10 civilian students from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee involved. A standard interview guide will be used in the interviews with both groups, where the transcripts will be analyzed for common themes. The anticipated conclusion is that ROTC and civilian students will experience many of the same stressors, but that ROTC students will have an added dimension of stress due to their military involvement. This study will seek to explain what this added stress looks like. Mental health in the military is becoming an increasing problem, and this study looking at future military leaders will explore what impact military involvement has on student leaders. This study is intended to serve as a baseline for future research on mental health and the military. It will give future researchers a better understanding of what ROTC students go through in college as compared to civilian students