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How do I apply for a Naval ROTC (NROTC) Scholarship? You can apply for a NROTC scholarship online at https://www.nrotc.navy.mil. These scholarships are for High School students and the deadline for applications is 31 January of your senior year in high school. Non-Scholarship students who participate in the NROTC program are automatically considered for three- and two-year scholarships. You can also ask your High School's guidance counselor for more information prior to attending Virginia Tech. How do I apply for a Marine Corps ROTC Scholarship? You can apply for a Marine-Option NROTC scholarship online at https://www.marines.usmc.mil/G3/Officer/nrotc.htm. If you want to be in the Marine Corps, you need to see the Marine Corps Recruiting Station HQ in your home state. You need to be talking to a Marine Captain or 1stLt for Marine-Option NROTC. There are separate boards for Navy and Marine Corps Scholarships. You can not sign up for both. What does the NROTC Scholarship cover? The NROTC Scholarship covers the cost of tuition (not room and board) and books (up to $300 per semester). In addition, scholarship Midshipmen will receive a stipend for living expenses. Freshmen receive a $250 tax-free stipend each month, while sophomores get $300, juniors $350 and seniors get $400. Specific information on all scholarship benefits can be found on the Tuition Information Page. What is the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and do I have to join? The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets (VTCC) is a University Military Leadership organization that qualifies Virginia Tech as a Senior Military College. If you wish to join any of the ROTC programs at Virginia Tech, you MUST be a member of the Corps of Cadets and remain in Good Standing with the VTCC to remain in any ROTC program (Officer Candidates, STA 21 and MECEP/ECP students do not have to join the Corps). The Corps of Cadets also offers a Leadership Minor. For more information on the Corps of Cadets and the Leadership Minor, you may visit the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets website that has information about the "Spend a night with the Corps" program, intended to provide prospective students with a look into what it's like to be a Cadet. This program is HIGHLY recommended! I have a Corps of Cadets scholarship, does this mean I'm on scholarship in the Navy/Marine Corps? No, the Corps of Cadets offers a scholarship called the Emerging Leader Scholarship (ELS). Participation in ROTC is not required to receive an ELS; therefore, the NROTC and NROTC MO (Marine-Option) scholarships are completely separate scholarships. What can I expect as a normal day in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets during my freshman year? The Corps of Cadets holds morning formation at 7:30 A.M. five days a week, after which you attend your academic classes until they are completed for the day. While a member of the Corps of Cadets, you will wear a uniform to every class and special events. Occasionally, the Corps will attend evening activities such as varsity basketball games, football games, Cadet Leader School speakers, and battalion or company meals. Cadets are required to attend every home football game, for which attendance is free. Every Tuesday, the NROTC program conducts a Professional Leadership Lab (ProLab) from 3:30 P.M. to 4:45 P.M. The Corps holds Corps Lab at the same time on Thursdays. Study hours are from 7:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. Sunday through Thursday. If I don't have a Navy or Marine Scholarship as an incoming freshman, can I still participate in the Naval ROTC program? Is there any chance of getting a scholarship? Any student can participate in the NROTC program at Virginia Tech provided they are a member of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets (VTCC). The NROTC program offers three- and two-year scholarships. Navy applicants are awarded scholarships through a highly competitive selection process, which focuses on academic grades, physical readiness, military aptitude, and class rank. Marine applicants are awarded scholarships based on grades, participation in the on-campus Marine-Option program and their physical fitness test (PFT) scores. How do I enhance my chance of receiving a NROTC scholarship to Virginia Tech? Make Virginia Tech your first choice school on your NROTC Scholarship application and apply early! The deadline for applications is 31 January of your senior year in high school. Don't put a long shot school as your first choice on your application if there is little chance you will get accepted there. NROTC Scholarships are approved for a specific university and are NOT TRANSFERABLE to other schools. Are there certain classes I must sign up for to be a Navy-Option Midshipman? Yes, all Navy-Option students involved in the NROTC program (scholarship and non-scholarship) are required to take one three-credit Naval Science class per semester. In addition, all NROTC Midshipmen must attend a weekly Professional Laboratory (ProLab) to gain professional training for future careers as Naval Officers. It is also required that all Scholarship Midshipmen take calculus and calculus-based physics. It is recommended for College Program Midshipmen who wish to become competitive for a three- or two-year scholarship to also take calculus and calculus-based physics. The NROTC program also requires you to take six credit hours of English, three credit hours of Computer Science and three credit hours of a Military History or National Security Policy course. A list of applicable courses can be found in the NROTC Student Handbook. ***If you are entering Virginia Tech next Fall semester, ensure you register for MN 1004. Are there certain classes I must sign up for to be a Marine-Option Midshipman? Yes, all Marine-Option Midshipmen are required to take six three-credit Naval Science courses to complete the program. In addition, all Marine-Option Midshipmen must attend a weekly Professional Laboratory (ProLab) to gain professional training for future careers as Marine Corps Officers. Marine-Option Midshipmen are also required to take six credit hours of English and three credits hours of an American Military History or National Security Policy course. For more information, see Marine-Option Required Classes and Scheduling. ***If you are entering Virginia Tech next Fall semester, ensure you register for MN 1004. What is my obligation to the NROTC program in the summer? Navy-Option and Marine-Option Midshipmen on scholarship attend Career Orientation and Training of Midshipmen (CORTRAMID) the summer following their freshman year. This is a chance to experience each community within the Navy. Midshipmen will spend one week with each branch of the Naval Service (Aviation, Submarines, Surface, and Marine Corps). As a Marine-Option, what is my obligation to the NROTC program in the summer? Scholarship Marine-Option Midshipmen attend a summer cruise following their freshman and sophomore years. The summer following their junior year is spent at Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia. Who pays for Midshipmen and Corps of Cadets uniforms? The NROTC Unit will issue summer cruise uniforms to all Scholarship Midshipmen. The Corps of Cadets also charges a rental fee for uniforms. This rental fee will be paid by the NROTC Unit for all NROTC students provided you remain in the program for at least 60 days each academic year. Are all Naval Science courses accredited and do they apply to my degree? Naval Science courses are accredited but each college and major have specific criteria accepting courses to fulfill graduation requirements. Only two Naval Science courses fulfill the University Core Curriculum requirements: Sea Power and Maritime Affairs (MN 2104) in Area 7 and Leadership and Management I (MN 4005) in Area 3. I plan to major in Engineering at Virginia Tech, can I complete my degree in four years (eight semesters) with all the Naval ROTC classes I must take? It is possible to finish an Engineering degree while in the Naval ROTC program in four years; however, it would require an average course load of over 20 credits per semester. By taking courses in the summer, you can reduce that course load considerably for the normal academic year. A request may be submitted to receive summer school benefits. Midshipmen who are unable to complete the degree in four years can also request additional semesters of scholarship benefits to complete their degree. If the request is granted, the individual will be required to serve additional time on active duty. I'm not sure what to major in at Virginia Tech, are there certain majors that will better suit me for a career as a Naval Officer? Completing your studies for any degree here at Virginia Tech will satisfy the requirements to earn a commission in the Navy or Marine Corps. However, doing well in engineering and technical/hard sciences will make you more competitive for the rigorous Service Selection process. When will I decide which warfare community I will serve upon graduation? Service assignments can not be guaranteed to any student upon entering the Naval ROTC program. Service Selection is a rigorous and competitive process that considers the "whole person" participation in the Naval ROTC program, leadership potential, academic performance, military aptitude, and physical fitness. Service Selection takes places fifteen months prior to graduation. In the Marine Corps, Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) are determined after commissioning at the Basic School. What if I start my sophomore year and then decide to leave the NROTC program? If you are on scholarship and leave the NROTC program after the start of your sophomore year, the Secretary of the Navy will determine whether you have to pay back your scholarship benefits received or serve on active duty. College Program (non-scholarship) students incur no obligation until the beginning of the junior year when they must obtain a scholarship or advanced standing to remain in the program. How much physical training will I do? Physical Training (PT) is primarily conducted on a personal basis. Midshipmen who do not meet standards on monthly physical fitness assessments will be required to attend remedial PT in addition to their personal PT. The Marine Corps students conduct Physical Training two days per week during the fall semester and four days per week during the spring semester. Are there NROTC clubs and organizations? Yes, there is an organization associated with each of the Navy's warfare communities. Visit the NROTC Societies pages for information on each of these societies. I want to serve as a Naval Officer as either a lawyer (Judge Advocate General's Corps), business manager (Supply Corps), or public affairs. Can I do that upon graduation from Virginia Tech in the Naval ROTC program? Not right away. In the Navy, you must first serve as an Unrestricted Line Officer in a warfare community before requesting a transfer between fields within the Navy. In the Marine Corps, Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) are determined at the Basic School. Virginia Tech sounds like a great school, who do I contact to ensure I'm signed up for the NROTC program? Mark on the Virginia Tech application that you wish to be a student in the NROTC program AND a member of the Corps of Cadets. The Navy Point of Contact is LT Jeremy Browning The Marine Point of Contact is Major Christopher Westhoff |
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