What exactly is military prep training at a college?

I'm considering several paths for after high school, and the concept of military prep training at a college has caught my eye. Can someone explain what this really is? Is it some sort of ROTC, or is it a more intense type of preparation for the military?

Military preparatory training in college often refers to Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs that are offered at many universities across the U.S. These programs are designed to prepare students to become officers in the U.S. Military while simultaneously pursuing their college degree.

There are three branches of ROTC: Army, Navy (which includes the Marine Corps), and Air Force. Your experience will vary depending on the branch you choose, but generally, ROTC includes both academic and physical training components.

Academically, ROTC students attend courses focusing on military science, national security, military strategy, leadership development, and various other discipline-specific classes. Physically, students participate in regular physical fitness training and field exercises to build their endurance, strength, and teamwork skills.

Yet, ROTC isn't the only form of military prep training. Another path is attending a service academy like West Point, the Air Force Academy, or the Naval Academy. These institutions largely function like regular colleges, but with an extremely heavy emphasis on military training, discipline, and leadership development. Unlike ROTC students, those at service academies live in a distinctly military environment full-time. This path is generally more intense than ROTC.

Lastly, there are also Senior Military Colleges, which include schools like Virginia Tech and Texas A&M. These colleges offer a strong military program where students can choose to be part of the Corps of Cadets and live in a military lifestyle while in college while also participating in ROTC.

In essence, military prep training in college can be a part of your normal college experience (like in ROTC), or it can be your entire college experience (like in a service academy). The right path depends on your individual goals and preference for intensity of military training.