Virginia Tech Naval ROTC General Information Page

General Information

Welcome to the Incoming Students' page. We will post information here that will help to make your entry into the Naval ROTC at Virginia Tech as easy as possible. Please check back for updates.

To help get you prepared for your first year of college, we strongly encourage you to read the helpful "Tips for College Freshmen" found here.

All incoming NROTC Students, scholarship or college program, are required to meet the Navy's height/weight and body composition standards in order to be eligible for enrollment in the NROTC. Height/Weight tables are available for reference here. If you are outside of height/weight standards, the Navy measures percentage bodyfat using procedures defined here. Students should also be prepared to run the Navy Physical Fitness Assessment (Navy Option) or Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test (Marine Corps Option) in the first two weeks of October. Performance standards are listed here: PFA PFT.

Incoming students will also be required to qualify as a third class swimmer at a minimum shortly after arriving. Qualification standards are below:

All midshipmen must become swim qualified in order to be commissioned in the US Navy. A minimum of 3rd class qualification must be achieved each year with a qualification of 2nd class exempting you from annual re-qualification. Each event will be explained and demonstrated before you are required to perform it. The standards for each class are as follows:
- 3rd Class -
  - Enter water from a minimum height of 5 feet and remain afloat in the prone position for 5 minutes.
  - Swim 50 yards utilizing one or any combination of the four survival strokes (breaststroke, sidestroke, crawl, elementary backstroke)
  - Enter water wearing trousers and remove them to use as a floatation device.
- 2nd Class -
  - Successfully complete 3rd Class swim qualification
  - Demonstrate ability to float on back.
  - Swim 100 yards, 25 yards of the following strokes in order of crawl, breaststroke, sidestroke, elementary backstroke.

The NROTC Unit conducts drug and alcohol screening for Midshipmen. There will be a "zero tolerance" policy in effect regarding the use of illegal drugs.