The Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) was established to educate and train highly qualified young men and women for service as commissioned officers in the Marine Corps Reserve. The NROTC is a college program for those who seek the challenge of becoming a Navy officer. Because the Marine Corps is a part of the Department of the Navy, NROTC applicants who think they have what it takes to lead Marines can choose the Marine Corps option of the program and earn their commission as a Marine officer.
The purpose of the NROTC Program is to educate and train qualified young men and women for service as commissioned officers in the Navy’s unrestricted line, the Navy Nurse Corps and the Marine Corps. As the largest single source of Navy and Marine Corps officers, the NROTC Scholarship Program is a big aspect of turning young men and women into fearless leaders in the Navy or the U.S Marine Corps.
The two-year option covers costs of tuition, fees, textbooks, and uniforms for the final two years of college. This option is open to all college students having completed their sophomore year or third year of a five-year program. The students enrolled under the two-year option must complete eight years of military service, four of which must be in active duty. To apply for the NROTC Scholarship, fill out the required application and forms to submit to a recruiter.
The four-year option covers full tuition at certain selected colleges and universities. The scholarship also includes the cost of educational fees, a stipend for textbooks, uniforms and a subsistence allowance for each academic month for which a student is enrolled.
- Fill out a NROTC Scholarship Applicationto get started today.
In order to get into the NROTC program, you must be in accordance with the following requirements:
- U.S. Citizenship or national
- Not less than 17 years old by Sept. 1 of year starting college and no more than 23 on December 31 of that year
- Must not have reached 27th birthday by December 31 of year in which graduation and commissioning are anticipated
- Applicants with prior military service may be eligible for age adjustments for amount of time equal to their prior service, on month-by-month basis, for maximum of 36 months, if they will not reach 30th birthday by December 31 of year graduation and commissioning are anticipated
- High school graduation or equivalency certificate by August 1 of year of entrance into four-year NROTC Scholarship program
- No moral obligations or personal convictions that prevent conscientious bearing of arms and supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic or to taking an oath to perform such acts.
- Physically qualified by Navy or Marine Corps standards
- Students w/30 or more semester hours or 45 or more quarter hours of college credit upon application or students already enrolled in NROTC College Program are not eligible for four-year NROTC Scholarships; these students should see professors of naval science at host university’s NROTC unit to discuss other scholarship opportunities.
- Students may apply for only one of three program options-Navy, Marine Corps or Nurse
- Active duty Navy applicants are ineligible to apply for NROTC program through COMNAVCRUITCOM. Active members of other branches of the military may apply if granted a conditional release. Individuals who are scheduled for boot camp may apply provided they complete all required application evolutions (i.e. strong interest inventory, officer interview, etc.). NSTC will accept teacher evaluations, transcripts, and ACT/SAT scores dated after the applicants ship date.
- Navy and Nurse-option applicants should apply online or through Navy recruiting offices
- Marine Corps applicants should apply online or through Marine Corps recruiting offices
- You may start the process of applying during the second semester of your junior year of high school. Before the application can be finalized and forward for selection consideration, you must ensure that a copy of your complete transcript including your entire junior year is forwarded to your recruiter.
Academic Requirements
- Complete all requirements for bachelor’s degree under college/university rules and regulations
- Complete certain courses specified by Navy
- Requirements may vary by college, but Navy and Marine Corps highly emphasize academic success
- Normal course load required by college or university for degree completion
- In addition to normal course load, midshipmen must follow these general academic guidelines:
– Calculus (one year by end of sophomore year) (not required for Nurse- or Marine Corps- option students)
– Physics (one year of calculus-based physics by end of junior year) (not required for Nurse- or Marine Corps- option students)
– English grammar and composition (one year) (not required for Marine Corps option)
– National Security Policy/American Military Affairs (not required for Nurse-option)
– One semester of language or culture is required. - Naval Science course each semester
- Weekly drill instruction periods
- Four- to Six- week training period each summer
- Nurse midshipmen participate in summer training in accordance with their individual nursing curriculum requirements
- Scholarship midshipmen may enroll in courses requiring five years for bachelor’s degree provided they will not have reached their 27th birthday on June 30 of year in which they complete fifth year and are commissioned
- Midshipmen enrolled in five-year programs may qualify for compensations and benefits during fifth year
- Entitlements to additional year of benefits is determined through a separate process after the student has been in program for at least one year
- Students not entitled to fifth year of scholarship benefits will be granted a leave of absence without benefits to qualify for their degrees; leave of absence normally scheduled for third year, but may be taken during second or fourth year of the five-year curriculum.
Physical Requirements
- Military service is a physically demanding profession and requires a high degree of physical preparedness and a healthy constitution. Physical and scholarship qualification processes are independent of each other, but students must receive favorable endorsement in both to receive NROTC scholarship.
Partial list of disqualifying medical diagnoses:
- Vision not correctable to 20/20
- Substandard color vision (Does not apply for Marine Corps or Nurse Option)
- History of asthma
- Acute or chronic cardiac/pulmonary conditions
- Chronic skin disorders such as:
– Psoriasis
– Atopic dermatitis
– Eczema - Ununited fractures or major joint surgery
- Seizure disorders
- Severe motion sickness susceptibility
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DODMERB) schedules and reviews all physical examinations for service academies and NROTC candidates; candidates applying for more than one military academy or NROTC scholarship program require only one physical examination
- If DODMERB determines a disqualifying condition exists, some medical conditions may be waived after further review
- Applicants will be notified by DODMERB of any additional requirements for medical history consultations or diagnostic tests
- Surgical, laser, or mechanical procedures to correct defective visual acuity may be cause for disqualification; no waivers will be recommended
- Keratoconus or a history of treatment for this condition is absolutely disqualifying
For additional information on the NROTC Marine Corps program, go to www.nrotc.navy.mil.