Frequently Asked Questions

Basics

What is Naval ROTC?

The Naval ROTC program allows students to earn a college degree and pursue careers as commissioned U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps officers. You may also qualify for a Naval ROTC scholarship that will pay for your college tuition — and more — for up to four years.

How do I enroll in Navy ROTC?

If you’re a high school junior or senior, you can download the complete application information checklist at https://www.nrotc.navy.mil.

Are there women’s choices restricted?

No. All communities and ranks are open to women. Women Naval ROTC cadets have served as battalion commander (the highest ranking midshipman) and in every other leadership role.

Why do students join Naval ROTC?

Some students join ROTC to seize scholarship benefits; some want to be Navy or Marine Corps officers and prefer NROTC to attending the Naval Academy. Some students know that they want careers in aviation or nuclear power, and join to receive unique-to-the program advanced training in those fields.

May I join Naval ROTC if I haven't received a scholarship?

Yes. There are two avenues: the College Program (Basic) and the Naval Science Program. If students join the Naval ROTC College Program, they will be required to do almost everything a scholarship student does. College Program (Basic) students don’t go on summer training, but do attend the initial orientation before 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 selections are based on students’ Naval ROTC grades, military aptitude and physical fitness performance. Students may participate in College Program with no service commitment for the freshman and sophomore years. Naval science students have no Naval ROTC obligations other than attending their classes. College Program and naval science students both may apply for a scholarship after attending naval science classes for one semester.

What are midshipmen’s physical/athletic requirements?

Cadet midshipmen will take a physical readiness test every semester during their Norwich University tenure. Navy-option students’ tests include pushups, curl-ups, and a 1.5 mile run. Midshipmen must also pass swimming tests. Regular workouts are required.

Life on Campus

If I join Naval ROTC, am in the military, or still a civilian?

Naval ROTC cadets have the same status as “inactive reservists” and would perform summer training performed in an active-duty “reserve” status.

Do Naval ROTC cadets wear uniforms to class every day

No. Naval ROTC cadet midshipmen are wear their uniforms only on military laboratory day, once a week throughout the school year. Lab may include military formation, classroom sessions general briefings or guest lecturers.

Must I shave my head if I’m male or cut my hair if I’m female?

No and no, but you will have to meet Navy grooming standards.

Are Naval ROTC cadets housed together on campus?

Midshipmen are assigned to dorms just as any other Corps of Cadets member would be. It will not necessarily be the case that Midshipmen room together.

What’s my normal weekly time commitment to Naval ROTC?

An average Naval ROTC week includes 10 to 15 hours of work including class, drill and some weekend commitments. Expect commitments to increase as you gain seniority.

How do cadet midshipmen fit in at Norwich University?

Naval ROTC cadets are college students, but held to a higher standards. Midshipmen are also held to the same high moral and ethical standards as all Naval and Marine Corps officers. You will blend in with and participate in whatever campus activities you choose, including varsity sports.

I have no military experience. How do I know I’ll fit in?

You don't; you must join the program and see for yourself. For this reason, first year obligation-free. The U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps want intelligent, physically fit people of high moral character who can trained to assume positions of leadership and responsibility. If you fit that description, if you prefer leading to following, we recommend you try it.

SCHOLARSHIPS

What is the Naval ROTC scholarship?

The Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program, aka NROTC, is the largest single source of Navy and Marine Corps officers. It educates and trains qualified people to commission as officers. High school students pursuing Naval ROTC scholarships should start applying in spring of their junior year.

Who gets Naval ROTC scholarships?

The Marine Corps awards the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Marine Scholarship to an allotted number of students each year. The scholarship pays full college tuition, including $750 per academic year for textbooks and a monthly subsistence allowance.

What costs do Naval ROTC scholarships cover?

Naval ROTC scholarships pay the students' tuition, uniforms and lab fees. A textbook stipend assists with books and monthly, which increases as you complete years in the program, helps with living expenses. The scholarship does not cover room and board, but students will receive the I.D. White Scholarship from Norwich will does cover room and board.

When should I apply to Naval ROTC?

High school students typically who apply for national ROTC scholarships in the spring semester of your junior years; you can do so through this online form. The application will also require interviews. Because the scholarships are awarded starting in September, students who apply earliest have an edge and can be picked months earlier than students who apply last-minute.

If I miss the Jan. 1 scholarship application deadline, can I still land an NROTC scholarship?

Yes. Students can earn scholarship eligibility by joining their Naval ROTC Unit nonscholarship students. After one academic term, by the chief of naval education and training can recommend students for scholarships based on their academic performance and aptitude. Generally, if students earn better than a 2.5 GPA in their first academic terms, earn a “B” or better in calculus, and demonstrate a high naval service aptitude, they’d have a good Naval ROTC scholarship chance.

Are there Naval ROTC scholarships specifically for Navy-option nursing students?

Yes. There’s a scholarship for students interested in pursuing Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.

What are the requirements for a Naval ROTC scholarship at Norwich University?

You must be:

• A U. S. Citizen who’s 17 years old by Sept. 1 of the first year of college and younger than 27 on Dec. 31 of the year in which they expect to graduate from college and commission;
• Be physically qualified and be within height-weight standards;
• Have no record of military or civil offenses;
• Score 74 or better on the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT), have a composite score of 22 on the American College Test or a combined score of 1,000 in math and reading on the Scholastic Aptitude Test
• Meet Norwich University’s admission requirements of an NROTC-affiliated college or university of choice;

When I apply for a Naval ROTC scholarship, how do I know whether I am being selected as a Navy-option or Marine-option candidate?

When you send in the initial scholarship application form, you’ll have checked the Navy or Marine Corps box. This check will determine your application’s route. A Navy or Marine Corps recruiter will contact you to finish your application processing, based on which box you checked. The Navy and Marine Corps conduct their own scholarship selection boards to consider their own candidates.

May Marine-option Naval ROTC students transfer to Navy-option?

Yes. Some Midshipmen are allowed to transfer between Navy and Marine options if they wish while they are in Naval ROTC.

May I join Naval ROTC without a scholarship?

Yes. There are two avenues: the College Program (Basic) and 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 don’t go on summer training, but do attend the initial orientation before 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 selections are based on students’ Naval ROTC grades, military aptitude and physical fitness performance. Students may participate in College Program with no service commitment for the freshman and sophomore years. Naval science students have no NROTC obligations other than attending their classes. College Program and Naval Science students both may apply for a scholarship after attending Naval science classes for one semester.

If I decide to leave Naval ROTC after my sophomore year starts, what happens?

If you exit the program after your sophomore year starts, you’d be liable for repaying tuition or for immediate active military service if you drop out of college, or upon graduation if you stay in college. If you develop a medical problem that would keep you from commissioning, the obligation would likely be erased. If you are dropped from the program for misconduct or inaptitude, you may be required to reimburse the Navy for tuition and book costs at the Navy secretary’s discretion.

If I enter Norwich with some college credits, or if I attend summer school, may I graduate and commission in less than four years?

Possibly, individuals in these situations should come in and discuss their personal situation with an advisor. In addition to the four years of Naval Science courses that must be completed, our scholarship students participate in summer training cruises for four to six weeks each summer. Although we may be able to tailor a course of study for you, it would likely involve doubling up on your Naval Science courses and taking your final cruise after graduation, but prior to commissioning. College Program students would have less of a problem since they take only one summer cruise between the junior and senior years.

Academics

What academic are the Navy ROTC-specific academic requirements?

Besides completing coursework for their majors, Navy ROTC midshipmen are must take several naval science courses. Navy-option midshipmen must also complete two semesters of calculus before the end of their sophomore years and two semesters of calculus-based physics before the end of their junior years.

Must I have a particular major if I’m in Naval ROTC?

No. Although we encourage students to technical majors (e.g., science, technology, engineering and mathematics), this isn’t required; you may major in what you’d like. Cadets who major in non-STEM subjects will need to take some technical courses, including calculus and physics, which will count toward their degrees and prepare them for the Navy’s technology.

May I switch majors if I’m a Marine-option Naval ROTC student?

Marine Corps scholarship students may major in any academic field that will grant them a bachelor’s degree.

Training

Are there benefits to nonscholarship students for joining Naval ROTC?

Yes. Students who enter the College Program as college juniors will begin receiving a $350 per month tax-free subsistence allowance ($400/month senior year). Also, during all four college years, they get use of Navy uniforms and naval science textbooks and pay during summer cruise between their junior and senior years.

How do Navy-option than Marine-option experiences differ?

Navy-option cadets take six naval classes. Navy scholarship midshipmen must, besides 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.

May Navy-option students transfer to Marine-option?

Yes. Some cadets may transfer between Navy and Marine options if they wish while they are in Naval ROTC. There is an application that must be completed and approved by Naval Service Training Command for this to be completed

What happens on a summer training cruise?

There are three cruises. The first summer cruise, after the freshman year, lets scholarship students learn the four basic “line officer” specialties — aviation, submarine, surface ships and Marine Corps amphibious operations. The second summer cruise, after the sophomore year, scholarship student chose time aboard a surface ship or submarine, and is geared toward delivering a Navy-enlisted viewpoint. The post-junior year summer cruise after the provides junior officer training aboard ships or submarines for the Navy students, and at the Marine Corps’ base Quantico, Virginia, for the Marine Corps students. College Program students take only one summer training cruise; their cruise is the same as their scholarship student counterparts’ after the junior year.

Where do cadets go during summer cruise? Who pays for transportation?

The Navy covers travel expenses to the cruise site and back to your home each summer. Our juniors have many cruise options; they can request Aircraft Carrier or Patrol Squadron cruises and special training with Navy SEALs.