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2023-2024 University Catalog
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Naval ROTC FAQs

  • What happens if I am a College Program Midshipman and don't get a scholarship?
    If you don't earn a scholarship by the end of your sophomore year, you may apply for Advance Standing. Advance Standing; if granted will provide the Midshipman with the $350/400, (Juniors/Seniors), stipend every month during the school year for the remaining two years. Upon graduation the Advanced Standing Midshipman receives the same commission as the Scholarship Midshipman. If the Midshipman has not been granted Advance Standing by the beginning of the junior year, he or she will be disenrolled from the ROTC program.
  • What exactly does a NROTC Scholarship pay for?
    The NROTC Scholarship pays the students' tuition, uniforms, and lab related fees. A textbook stipend is also provided to assist with books. It also provides the student a stipend every month during the school year, this increases as you complete years in the program, to help with the cost of living.
  • Does the NROTC Scholarship pay for room and board?
    No, the NROTC Scholarship does not pay for room and board. Certain colleges and universities may give NROTC students a Room and Board scholarship to help defray those costs. UNF does not offer a specific scholarship to NROTC students, but does have many other scholarships available. You should contact the UNF financial aid office for additional assistance.
  • What do Midshipmen have to do in the NROTC program?
    Midshipmen are required to take one Naval Science class and one Naval Science lab each semester for four years. These classes provide instruction ranging from the history of the Navy to shipboard operations and engineering. Students are also required to attend Drill in uniform. If students are on scholarship they are required to attend summer training for three consecutive summers.
  • If I have an NROTC Scholarship am I restricted on what my major can be? Do I have to take certain classes for NROTC?
    Navy Scholarship Students and College Program (Advanced) students must remain in the major listed when they applied for the scholarship. Academic major changes must be approved by the Professor of Naval Science. Marine Corps Scholarship students and all College Program (Basic) students are allowed to major in any academic field that will grant them a Bachelors degree. Navy scholarship midshipmen must, in addition to fulfilling their degree requirements, complete one year of calculus, one year of calculus-based physics, one year of English, one NROTC-approved military history or national security policy class, one NROTC-approved world culture and regional studies class, one Naval Science class and one Naval Science lab per semester. College Program Midshipman that will commission with Advance Standing are required to meet all the same requirements as scholarship students with the exception of calculus and calculus-based physics. Navy College Program Midshipmen must instead take College Algebra or higher math, and one year NROTC-approved Physical Science. 
  • Is the NROTC Program any different for Marine Option Midshipmen?
    Yes and no. Marine Option Midshipmen are required to take six Naval Science classes. Two of these Naval Science classes are separate from the Navy Option Midshipmen. The Marine Option classes focus on the history of warfare and amphibious operations. Marine Option Midshipmen are not required to take all of the classes that Navy Options Midshipmen are required to take. Only one semester of Military History or National Security Policy is required. Marine Option Midshipmen attend all Battalion drills and functions. There is a Marine Officer Instructor and an Assistant Marine Officer Instructor at the NROTC Unit that oversee all the Marine Options. Marine Option Midshipmen who are on scholarship are required to attend summer training as well. The first summer of training is identical to Navy Option Midshipmen where they are required to attend Career Orientation and Training for Midshipmen (CORTRAMID); the second summer of training normally consists of attending Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) training. Between the Marine Options' junior and senior year, he or she is required to attend Officer Candidate School (OCS). After commissioning, all Marines must attend The Basic School (TBS) regardless of their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS).
  • Is a Marine Option Scholarship different from a Navy Option Scholarship?
    Yes, the Marine and Navy Scholarship process is different. However, some Midshipmen are allowed to transfer between Navy and Marine options if they so desire while they are in NROTC. College Program Midshipmen are also allowed to be Marine Options and work for a Marine Scholarship. College Program Marine Option Midshipmen must achieve Advance Standing by the end of their sophomore years in order not to be disenrolled. If the Marine Option Midshipman gains Advance Standing then he or she is awarded the $350/400, (Juniors/Seniors), stipend and is required to serve 3 years of active duty.
  • What if I haven't been granted a scholarship? Can I still join NROTC?
    Absolutely. There are two avenues for this. One is the College Program (Basic) and the other is the Naval Science Program. If students join the NROTC College Program, they will be required to do almost everything a scholarship student does. College Program (Basic) students do not go on summer training, however they do attend the initial orientation prior to the Fall semester. College Program students are reviewed for scholarship selection once a year for Navy option and twice a year for Marine option. Scholarship selection is based upon a student's grades, military aptitude and physical fitness performance in NROTC. Students may participate in College Program without any service commitment for the Freshman and Sophomore years. The Naval Science program is simply enrolling in Naval Science classes. Naval Science students have no obligation to NROTC other than attending the class(es) in which they are enrolled. Both College Program and Naval Science students may apply for a scholarship after attending naval science classes for one semester.
  • What is my normal time commitment to NROTC each week?
    An average week includes about 10-15 hours of work including class, drill and some weekend commitments. Expect to do more as you gain seniority.
  • Are there any restrictions on choices for women?
    No, all communities are now open to women. Within NROTC, women have served as Battalion Commander (the highest ranking midshipman) and in every other leadership billet.
  • What NROTC classes should I register in?
    Freshmen should register for "Introduction to Naval Science" (NSC 1110). Scholarship and College Program midshipmen should also register for NSC 1101 which is Drill/Naval Science Lab.
  • I was told I am not physically qualified for the NROTC program, what can I do?
    You will not receive a NROTC scholarship unless you are found physically qualified for the NROTC program. It is imperative that you become physically qualified before commencement of classes. If you are attempting to gain a waiver for some disqualifying physical condition and you start classes at the university, you will be responsible for payment of tuition, fees and books for that semester. If you are later found physically qualified for a NROTC scholarship during that same semester (i.e. your waiver is granted), your tuition, fees and book expenses can be reimbursed (case by case basis). If you are found not physically qualified for the NROTC program, tuition, fees and book expenses will not be reimbursed. If you are not sure if you are physically qualified or if you need information on how to get a waiver, please contact NSTC or the recruiter who helped process your application.
  • What are the obligations of a NROTC Scholarship Midshipman upon commissioning?
    Scholarship students that graduate and receive their commissioning are obligated to serve 8 years of commissioned service, 3 - 5 years of active duty and the remainder in the inactive reserve. This is in an unrestricted line billet (surface, submarine, aviation, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) or special warfare (SEAL). If students go to flight school as Pilots or Naval Flight Officers, their obligations increase to 8 and 6 years of active duty respectively, from their winging date.
  • What obligation do I owe as a College Program Midshipman with Advance Standing that is commissioned?
    Those commissioned through the College Program are obligated to serve a minimum of 8 years commissioned service, 3 of these years must be active duty. The length of active duty is extended to 6 years for Naval Flight Officers and 8 years for Pilots upon receiving wings.
  • What does the summer training consist of for scholarship students?
    The initial orientation training is the summer prior to freshman year or joining the program, New Student Indoctrination (Scholarship Students Only) and New Student Orientation (Both Scholarship and College Program). This training provides the basics to get the student ready to join the Battalion. The first fleet summer training scholarship students attend is called CORTRAMID, which stands for Career Orientation and Training for Midshipmen. Scholarship students attend CORTRAMID over the summer between their Freshman and Sophomore years of college. CORTRAMID's goal is to orient Midshipmen with the Navy. One week is devoted to exposure to the surface Navy, another to aviation, another to submarines, and the last spent with the Marine Corps. Midshipmen have the choice of attending CORTRAMID on either the west coast in San Diego, California or in the east at Norfolk, Virginia. The Midshipman's second summer training is Sea Trials. Sea Trials is a four week professional military training and evaluation prior to Junior year. The Midshipman's first class cruise is between their junior and senior year of college. The first class cruise is designed to provide the Midshipman with a realistic exposure to what it is like to be an officer. The Midshipman is assigned a LT or LTJG running mate. The Midshipman will shadow the officer and assist the officer on performing shipboard duties while in port and underway. It should be noted that College Program (Advance Standing) Midshipmen are required to attend this first class cruise.
  • What academic standards are there for NROTC Scholarship and College Program Midshipman?
    Scholarship and College Program Midshipman must maintain a 2.5 semester and cumulative Grade Point Average on a 4.0 scale, have no failing grades in any subject required for their major or commissioning, progress on a prescribed timeline for graduation, and have a full academic load every semester (12 credit hours, not including your NROTC classes).
  • What if I received a 4-year NROTC scholarship to a university I was not accepted to?
    Scholarship selection and placement is conducted by Naval Service Training Command (NSTC). Contact NSTC and request that your scholarship be transferred to another university to which you have been accepted. Be sure to include all of the applicable information (universities you have been accepted to, etc.) and any extenuating circumstances. Only NSTC has the authority to approve or disapprove this request. There is no guarantee that your request will be approved. Another option is to request, via NSTC, a deferral of your 4 year scholarship to the next term or school year. This will not change the university where the scholarship is applicable, but the time the scholarship starts. In this way you can re-apply to the university and hopefully get accepted for the next school year. If you do not report to your assigned school as per the scholarship award letter prior to the commencement of classes in the fall, and you have not received an NSCT approved deferment or transfer of your scholarship, it will be assumed that you have rejected your 4 year NROTC scholarship.
  • When should I apply to NROTC?
    Typically NSTC will begin soliciting applications late in the Spring semester of your Junior year in H.S. for the National 4 Year Scholarships. Fill out an online application. You will be responsible to send other paperwork such as transcripts and your SAT scores. Part of the application also requires interviews. Please take care of those as soon as you can. The scholarships are awarded starting in September, so students that apply first have an advantage. Students who are not awarded scholarships immediately are retained for further review in later rounds.
  • Which school should I list first on my application?
    NROTC requires you list 5 universities and that one of your top 2 choices be a state school. However, we STRONGLY recommend that you list the schools in the order you want to attend. The scholarship board will normally assign you to a school in the order you list them, provided there is room. Remember, it is your responsibility to get accepted at the schools you list. There is no guarantee that the NROTC will have room for every student at every school. All NROTC programs are limited in the number of students they may admit.
  • What physical/athletic requirements are there for midshipmen?
    Each semester you will take a physical readiness test. For Navy option students, this entails push-ups, curl-ups, and a 1.5 mile run; Marine option students perform pull-ups, curl-ups, and a 3-mile run and/or a Combat Fitness Test. We expect you to do well on these tests. Also, each midshipman must pass a swimming test. We require that you work out regularly.
  • Can I be in a fraternity or sorority?
    Yes.