VMI ROTC Flagship Summer Language Program
ROTC cadets and midshipmen from across the US are invited to apply to VMI’s ROTC Flagship Summer Language Program (FSLP) in Morocco. In this program, participants will expand their Arabic skills, develop regional expertise, and hone leadership skills required in the 21st century operational environment.
VMI ROTC FSLP: Passage to Morocco is an eight-week Arabic language immersion program in Fez, Morocco. Based at the Arabic Language Institute in Fez (ALIF), the program provides approximately 160 hours of intensive Arabic language instruction supplemented by experiential learning opportunities designed to develop students’ practical language proficiency and core country knowledge.
Participants live with Moroccan host families, providing opportunities to use Arabic in authentic daily interactions and develop meaningful connections with members of the local community. The program also includes coursework and experiential learning focused on Moroccan history, culture, religion, government, and contemporary society.
Extensive excursions throughout Morocco—including visits to historic cities and sites, the Middle Atlas region, and the Sahara—allow students to connect classroom learning with firsthand experience. Furthermore, each participant will be assigned a native speaker conversation partner and complete a service-learning project during the program. This will allow students to integrate more fully with the community in which they are studying while maximizing exposure to language.
Designed for future military officers, the program develops Arabic proficiency, regional expertise, adaptability, and communication skills essential for effective leadership and engagement in an increasingly interconnected world.
Program Details
The ROTC Flagship Summer Language Program is an initiative of the Defense Language and National Security Education Office and administered by the Institute of International Education.
At VMI, it is facilitated and supported by the Office of Global Education.
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What is the program structure and schedule?
Fully taking place overseas, the program is suited for those with Arabic language skills from beginner to advanced, with the ability to span four years of participation, with over 200 contact hours per year.
Depending on language level, this program uses Alif Baa and Al Kitaab textbooks.
Activity Hour Breakdown
| Category | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credits offered | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Number of Classroom Hours per week | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Number of Self-Study/Homework Hours per week | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Number of Hours with a Language Partner per week | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Number of Hours of Other Activities per week | 5-10 | 5-10 | 5-10 | 5-10 |
What is included in the scholarship?
- Tuition/fees
- Room and Board
- Travel to/from study location
- In-country travel on program excursions
- Books
- Insurance
- Visa (if applicable)
The following costs will not be included in ROTC FSLP funding: personal spending money, personal travel, costs for obtaining a passport, medication, and expenses for dependents.
Please Note: ROTC FSLP participants planning to travel abroad MUST have a valid U.S. passport in their possession no later than 90 days before anticipated travel date. Destinations may require student visas, which take additional processing time.
Morocco and Arabic in Focus at VMI
Questions? We’re Here To Help
If you would like to learn more about this program, study abroad at the Institute, or any of the programs offered by the Office of Global Education, connect with us today:
Jeff Kendrick, Director of Global Education, vmifslp@vmi.edu, (540) 460-7067