nrotc scholarships

juniormom
Tue, 08 Nov 2005 06:56:04 +0000

This site was so helpful to our family last year that I wanted to provide some feedback for others in the class of 2006! My son is a midshipman at an Ivy League University on a NROTC Scholarship. It has been a great experience for him but not exactly what was expected or described. At this time last year he had applied to 7 schools and USNA. He was accepted to SS and CVW and participated in all of these events and received a nomination in December. Additionally, he received a NROTC Scholarship in early October last year. He was accepted to all of his schools with varying scholarships from partial to full ride with the exception of USNA where he did not gain an appointment. (He heard in April.) He appeared qualified but also needed an eye waiver.

When he visited USNA and talked to many the feeling was NROTC is easy, you wear uniforms once a week and take a naval science class and you can really relax and enjoy college life. For those considering it and hearing this know that this is very far from the truth. Make sure that you are making a decision based on your desire for a military career and know that you will be devoting a large amount of time to NROTC. We know several mids doing NROTC at different schools across the country and all are experiencing the same thing to some degree. I feel like we are in a good position to compare since we have friends and family that have done both.

The benefits of graduating from USNA are obvious and the first year plebe system is hard and 24 /7. The expectations of mids should be clear though and everyone is experiencing some version of the same thing. Classes, meals, etc are structured around USNA activities. Plebe summer is long and hard. Uniforms, washing, haircuts are within easy access at the Academy. It’s hard and long and you’re in it together.

The benefits of an Ivy League education are also obvious. There is no real plebe system and what does exist is not 24 /7. (No squaring your corners or chopping) Everyone is not experiencing the same thing and this can make doing Navy at a major university difficult. Some have roommates that are staying up until 2 or 3 am at night. When the alarm goes off at 4:45 for PT roommates can get very unhappy. Many universities are not set up around NROTC hours. Meals can be difficult when you are up hours before the rest of the university and in bed hours before. All laundry services including the “military press” of uniforms are done on your own and you only have one to start out. There are many extra events above and beyond navy classes (no credit provided for). They include community service, parades, drilling, sailing classes, overnight hikes, cleaning the unit etc and these are all done on the weekend and after other classes. Getting a haircut can be a major challenge as there are typically no facilities on the campus. There is no Plebe Summer but there is an O week and that is similar but obviously much shorter. The professors don’t recognize the additional responsibilities and may throw up barriers to accomplishing ROTC activities without knowing it.

So, what has he learned? He really loves all the Navy activities and for him all the added activities have been a huge plus! The unit forms a small family in the big sea of the larger university. There is more ability to major in what ever you want to take and 3 of the classes he is taking are not available at USNA including his language. His suite mates have been very supportive and have left him notes in the early am to encourage him and he has learned to juggle many classes, uniform pressing, finding ways to eat, get haircuts etc. It is a great way to have the Navy career that you have always wanted! There has been more respect than he anticipated from students at a liberal university. It has been a great experience and it has been a hard experience. So our advice if you want to be USNA bound….work hard and if you don’t get in or decide your major doesn’t fit as well take the NROTC route but understand that it is much more than most anticipate! Best of Luck!

Juniormom…now Midshipman Mom