Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC)

University of North Florida students may participate in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program which is housed at Jacksonville University while earning their academic degrees at UNF.  The mission of the NROTC is to prepare future leaders of the United States Navy and Marine Corps mentally, morally, and physically for commissioning in the naval services. The goal is to provide a steady supply of well-educated junior officers, ready to serve their country. The NROTC program is designed to support the student’s academic major with specified university courses and naval professional courses. NROTC graduates will:

1. Understand the fundamental roles and missions of the United States Navy and the importance of seapower to our national interests;
2. Know the concepts and principles of leadership;
3.  Appreciate national security requirements;
4. Gain a strong sense of personal integrity, honor, and individual responsibility; and
5. Attain an educational background which will allow advanced/continuing education later in their careers in a field of application and interest to the naval service.

There are two phases (or “courses”) of NROTC, a “basic course” taken during the freshman and sophomore years, and an “advanced course” taken in the junior and senior years.

There are five programs — three NROTC Scholarship Programs and two NROTC College Programs.

NROTC Scholarship Program

These students enter into a contract with the Secretary of the Navy in which they agree to take certain Naval Science courses and drills, attend university-taught courses, and complete three summer training periods. The Navy provides tuition, fees, textbooks, uniforms, and a $200 per month subsistence allowance for a maximum of 40 months. Scholarship students are selected through national competition.

NROTC Two-Year Scholarship Program

The Two-Year Scholarship Program provides tuition, books, uniforms, and a $200 per month subsistence allowance for the junior and senior years of college. To be selected, students must be in advanced college standing and qualify for enrollment in the NROTC program’s advanced courses at colleges or universities where NROTC is offered. The Chief of Naval Education and Training requires successful completion of summer training immediately before beginning the two-year program. The summer course of instruction, referred to as the Naval Science Institute (NSI), provides the Naval Science courses and drill training equivalent of NROTC basic course. Two-Year Scholarship students are selected through national competition and through a system of direct appointments.

Upon graduation scholarship midshipmen are commissioned as Ensigns in the U.S. Naval Reserve or as Second Lieutenants in the U.S. Marine Corps, and serve on active duty for a minimum of four years.

NROTC Four-Year Scholarship Nurse Option Program

This program provides tuition, books, uniforms, and a $200 per month subsistence allowance for those pursuing a nursing degree. Graduates from the NROTC Nurse Option Program are commissioned in the restricted line, Nurse Corps, and serve on active duty for a minimum of four years.

The nursing program is highly structured and allows few opportunities for electives or tailoring schedules. The NROTC has a liberal policy for waiving courses that are designed for commissioned officers entering fields other than nursing. These courses include Calculus, Physics, American Military History, National Security Policy, Naval Ship Systems I and II, Navigation and Naval Operations I and II, and Computer Science. The senior summer training period is normally served at a Navy Hospital. All other NROTC requirements apply to nurse corps midshipmen.

NROTC Four-Year College Program

These students enter into an agreement with the Secretary of the Navy in which they agree to take certain Naval Science courses, university-taught courses, drill periods, and to complete one summer training period. They enlist in the Naval Reserve upon commencement of advanced standing. In return, the Navy provides uniforms and Naval Science textbooks, and pays students $200 a month subsistence allowance during the junior and senior years for a maximum of 20 months.

NROTC Two-Year College Program

Students selected must be in advanced college standing and qualify for enrollment in the NROTC College Program’s advanced courses at colleges or universities where NROTC is offered. The Chief of Naval Education and Training requires successful completion of summer training immediately before beginning the two-year program. The summer course of instruction, referred to as the Naval Science Institute (NSI), provides Naval Science courses and drill training equivalent to the NROTC basic course. Those enrolled in the Two-Year College Program will have the same privileges and obligations as advanced standing students in the Four-Year College Program.

Upon graduation college program students are commissioned as reserve officers in the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps and serve on active duty for three years.

College program students are eligible to compete for NROTC scholarships based on academic grades and military aptitude. Qualified individuals are nominated yearly by the Professor of Naval Science, and if selected, receive all the benefits of the scholarship program.

Students who do not qualify for enrollment in either the scholarship or college program may enroll in Naval Science courses for academic credit only. They will not be eligible for appointment as a commissioned officer.

Eligibility Requirements

1.  Must be a citizen of the United States and present official certified proof of citizenship.
2. Must have high moral standards and officer like character evidenced by appearance, scholarship, extracurricular activities, and involvement in the community. Criminal conviction is normally disqualifying.
3. Applicants for the Scholarship Program must be at least 17 years old on or before 1 September of the year of enrollment, and must be under 27 years old on 30 June of the calendar year in which commissioned. Age waivers are available, and other limitations may exist based on an applicant’s special circumstances.
4. Scholarship students must meet the physical qualification standards set by the U.S. Navy’s Bureau of Medicine. College Program students must meet the standards prior to entering advanced standing. A physical exam is not usually required for enrollment in the basic course, however, students must meet initial screening standards.

Must meet Department of the Navy requirements concerning prior use of narcotics and/or other related drugs.

Summer Training Requirements

Scholarship students go on summer training for about 30 days during each of their three college summers. The first summer training includes exposure to aviation, submarine, surface, and amphibious specialties both ashore and afloat. The second summer is at-sea training aboard operational U.S. Navy ships. During the third summer candidates train aboard operational ships, nurse midshipmen train at a Navy hospital, and Marine Corps candidates train at U.S. Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia. The Navy provides transportation to and from sites, subsistence and living quarters, and training pay during the summer training periods.

College program students perform one summer training session between the junior and senior years.

Drills, Ceremonies and Inspections  

All NROTC program students attend the Naval Science Laboratories for one and half hours each Thursday morning.

NROTC Jacksonville
2800 University Blvd North
Jacksonville, FL 32211-3394
904-256-7480 (phone)
904-256-7499 (fax)