DENTON (UNT), Texas — The University of North Texas Army ROTC battalion received host program status this fall, bringing additional faculty members and resources to student cadets in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

A host program is a university that acts as the home site for a regional Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or ROTC, battalion. Cadets from neighboring schools — sometimes referred to as extension or cross-town schools — travel to host program sites for drills, training, classes and related ROTC activities.

Capt. Trae Wolfe, executive officer and assistant professor of military science, says UNT’s geographic location and strong growth over the past decade made the university a natural choice for a new host program.

“The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is one of the Army’s top ten recruiting areas. When you pair that with more and more students wanting to attend UNT, it makes sense that our university was chosen for this designation,” Wolfe said.

Detachments with host program status receive additional faculty appointments, including a professor of military science and senior military science instructor, as well as support staff to provide more assistance to student cadets. Host programs are also awarded financial resources to accommodate a greater number of participants. But according to Wolfe, one of the greatest benefits to student cadets will be the resources and programming UNT already offers.

“Some universities use city parks or football fields for training, but our cadre has access to land in and around Denton. Student cadets who use real terrain to learn maneuvers in open formations are going to be more adept service members,” Wolfe said. “Becoming a host program means more people get that opportunity.”

Wolfe said those advantages in tactical training, paired with UNT’s highly trained faculty and robust academic programs, will set UNT’s student cadets apart when they graduate and commission into the U.S. Army.

And while the detachment’s host program status will benefit individual student cadets, the additional resources and training those cadets receive will also benefit the Dallas-Fort Worth area as well as the state. Wolfe said the detachment hopes to create more community connections that will allow the cadre and cadets to assist in outreach like natural disaster relief and volunteer work.

As of Fall 2025, Lt. Col. Scott Pieluszczak serves as the battalion’s professor of military science and leader. Pieluszczak expressed his excitement over joining the detachment at a pivotal moment for its growth.

“Elevation to host program status signifies commitment and excellence for North Texas, the university and the student body,” he said. “We will be a trusted connection for military-civic engagement and community service, and a partner of choice for both academic and military professions throughout the region.”

Cadet Battalion Commander Dylan Hazlett, a business analytics senior graduating in Fall 2025, expressed excitement for the change and the resources that have come with it. Hazlett, who is the detachment’s most senior cadet, also credited Army ROTC with preparing him for his future.

“One of the program’s key focuses is developing cadets’ leadership abilities. Strong leadership skills will benefit us not only as Army officers, but also in our civilian careers,” he said.

Pieluszczak noted that among the countless benefits that come with participating in an Army ROTC program, one of the most significant is that it provides a clear pathway from a cadet’s education to their career.

“Army ROTC is a structured, proven path to a career after college. Here at UNT, my staff and I are dedicated to mentorship and developing leadership and academic rigor for our students.”