NROTC Frequently Asked Questions
You will find the most frequent questions answered here...
Where can I find out everything I possibly ever wanted to know about NROTC UC Berkeley?
This website will be your best source of knowledge about NROTC at UC Berkeley and is especially useful for incoming and current midshipmen. You can also find information about the NROTC program in general, especially how to apply for the program, at https://www.nrotc.navy.mil (note the “s” in the web address).
What does the NROTC program pay for?
Scholarship midshipmen receive full tuition, educational fees (such as lab fees), and $375 for books each semester (note that Stanford and Davis midshipmen are paid book stipends by semester, although the schools are on the quarter system). NROTC does not pay for room and board. Scholarship midshipmen also receive a tax-free stipend each month that classes are in session, depending on class standing (freshmen: $250, sophomores: $300, juniors: $350, and seniors: $400).
How much military service will I owe after graduating college?
Scholarship midshipmen owe eight years of service, four of which must be active duty. The remaining four will be inactive reserve where, in time of war and extreme personnel crisis, you could be called to serve. Thus, for all intents and purposes, you are required to serve four years. Those who go into training-intensive fields, such as Nuclear Power, Aviation, or Medical, incur longer service commitments.
What happens if I decide I don’t like NROTC and want to quit?
Midshipmen who drop the NROTC program prior the first day of their sophomore year incur no military commitment, and owe no money. After this point, scholarship midshipmen who decide to drop must either pay off all tuition and benefits accrued since the beginning of their sophomore year or serve in the active enlisted ranks, as is deemed appropriate. College program midshipmen do not incur any obligation to serve until they achieve advanced standing and begin to receive financial benefits from the program.
Will I have to go to boot camp?
No. Boot camp trains enlisted personnel, not officers. NROTC midshipmen are given an optional (but strongly recommended) “freshman orientation,” but it is not designed as a boot camp. NROTC midshipmen do not go to Officer’s Candidate School (OCS) either, with the exception of Marine Option midshipmen, who attend “Bulldog” before their senior year.
If there is a war while I am in NROTC, will I get sent away to fight?
No. The primary mission of NROTC midshipmen is to work toward a college degree while developing leadership skills, not to fight wars. You will not be deployed or participate in any operation other than summer training events while a midshipman at NROTC Berkeley.
How do I apply for a scholarship?
Applications for the four-year scholarship are available online at https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/application/default.cfm. In general, the earlier you apply, the better. You can start the application process as early as the second semester of your Junior year in high school. Note that to finalize your application, you will need a full transcript including your complete Junior year. Scholarship applications for the school year you are applying for are due no later than January of that year. For example, if you are applying for the 08-09 school year, your application is due by January 08. If you are in Northern California, you can call the San Francisco Naval Recruiting District main number for officer programs at (650) 603-9633. If you are out of the area, go to http://www.navy.com/findarecruiter/ and type your zip code into the “Recruiter Locator.” This will provide you with a number for “officer positions.”
If I receive the NROTC scholarship does that mean I receive acceptance into the university itself?
No. The NROTC and the university admissions process are separate and not related. Acceptance into the NROTC program does not constitute acceptance into the university itself. It is your responsibility to gain admission into the university. Contact university admissions for information on acceptance.
Who may apply for a scholarship?
To be eligible for a four-year scholarship, you must
Navy Option: SAT: 530 verbal; 520 math or ACT: 22 verbal; 21 math
Marine Corps Option: SAT: 1000 composite combined or ACT: 22 composite
Note:SAT/ACT math and English scores must be from the same test; applicants cannot combine best math with best English scores to achieve a qualifying score.
What can I do if I’m found “not physically qualified” for the NROTC Program?
You can request a waiver through the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB) and the Chief of Naval Education and Training (CNET). Details are online at https://dodmerb.tricare.osd.mil/MiscMenuItems/faqs.asp#num4q. Requests can be mailed to DoDMERB at: DoDMERB, 8034 Edgerton Drive, Suite 132, United States Air Force Academy, CO 80840-2200We have had midshipmen who requested and were granted waivers for “disqualifiers” such as asthma and allergies; start early and be persistent to maximize your chances.
I didn’t get accepted/didn’t apply for a four-year scholarship. Can I still join the NROTC program?
Yes. The NROTC College Program allows non-scholarship midshipmen who attend UC Davis, UC Berkeley, Cal Maritime, and Stanford to participate in NROTC and provides an opportunity to earn scholarship benefits for your last two, and occasionally three, years of college. The service obligation for college program midshipmen is three years of active duty after graduation (or three and a half years for Marine Option college programmers). If you are interested in participating in the College Program, contact LT Gillespie at dgillespie@military.berkeley.edu or (510) 643-6345. There are also a limited number of four-year scholarship opportunities. If you are majoring in a technical major, you have an advantage to one of these scholarships; contact LT Gillespie for more details. You may also want to investigate non-NROTC officer programs such as the Navy Baccalaureate Completion Program and the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate (NUPOC) program. For more information on these programs, contact a Navy recruiter; their contact information is listed above under the question “How do I apply for a scholarship?”
What kind of career options will I have?
The NROTC program is designed to commission unrestricted line officers for the Surface Warfare, Marine Corps, Submarine, Aviation, Special Warfare (SEAL), and Special Operations (Explosive Ordnance Disposal, etc.) communities. Limited openings are available for specialized, restricted line fields, such as being a doctor in the Navy Medical Corps or an Engineer for Naval Reactors. See the document “Career Opportunities in the Navy” on the NROTC UC Berkeley website under “Fo’c’sle” for more information.
What limitations are there for women?
Women can serve in every military career field that men can, with three exceptions: Special Warfare, Marine Ground Combat Arms, and Submarine Warfare. Congress’s “direct ground combat” exclusion law prohibits females from being assigned to units that engage in direct combat; however, Special Operations (such as Explosive Ordnance Disposal) and nearly every other Marine Occupational Specialty are available to women. Women cannot serve on submarines, however women can participate in the nuclear power program on surface ships. At our unit, women are fully integrated into the battalion, and have served in every position of responsibility, including Battalion Commanding Officer. Female graduates have gone on to serve on surface ships (both conventional and nuclear), naval aviation, and the medical corps.
As a NROTC midshipman, what majors can I choose?
You are free to pursue any major you please. Midshipmen at our unit have majored in a wide range of subjects, from Music to Political Science to Nuclear Engineering. However, during the application process, certain engineering majors are considered more preferable to others and will gain advanced consideration. To find out more information visit the main NROTC site for academic requirements located at https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/academicreq.cfm.
What are the academic requirements of the NROTC program?
The NROTC program requires all Navy option midshipmen to take two semesters (or quarters) of Calculus, two semesters of Calculus-based Physics, two semesters of English, and one semester of Military History or National Security Policy/ American Military Affairs, and one semester of World Culture/ Regional Studies. AP and transfer credits generally can count towards these requirements provided that they are accepted by your college for the equivalent classes and units. In addition, midshipmen take a Naval Science class every semester. Marine Option midshipmen are exempted all non-Naval Science academic requirements except for one course in Military History or National Security Policy; Marine option midshipmen also participate in Marine Seminar every semester. In order to remain in good academic standing, all midshipmen must maintain a GPA of over 2.5.
What are the physical requirements of the NROTC program?
As future military leaders, midshipmen are expected to keep themselves in good physical shape and maintain their weight/body fat percentage within acceptable standards. Navy option midshipmen are required to take a Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) every semester. The PFA consists of a weigh-in, push-ups, sit-ups, and a 1.5 mile run. Marine Option midshipmen take a Physical Fitness Test (PFT) on a similar schedule, where pull-ups are required rather than push-ups and the run is lengthened to 3 miles. Failure to pass the PFA/PFT for two consecutive semesters can lead to disenrollment. Midshipmen are also required to demonstrate basic swimming proficiency by their sophomore year. Specific physical standards can be found on our website.
How much of my time in college will NROTC consume? Can I do other extracurricular activities and NROTC?
At UC-Berkeley, NROTC midshipmen meet every Thursday for a three hour Leadership Lab followed by Naval Science classes. In addition, there are generally a few mandatory all-hands events scheduled on weekends throughout the course of a semester. Those midshipmen who hold positions of responsibility within the battalion and/or participate in NROTC extracurricular activities such as Armed Drill Platoon or Color Guard devote additional time to their NROTC obligations. Although NROTC can be a lot of work, midshipmen’s primary mission is to maintain satisfactory progress toward a college degree. Thus, the NROTC program tries to provide as much academic support as possible, even hiring private tutors if necessary. Midshipmen who are required to take a class that meets Thursday afternoons may apply to go on Drill Conflict (DC), which temporarily exempts them from attending Leadership Lab. Most midshipmen are able to balance their commitments with NROTC with other activities. In addition to NROTC extracurricular activities, midshipmen have participated in Greek organizations (fraternities and sororities), both the Berkeley and Stanford bands, other music groups, dramatic productions, social dance, dorm staff, and athletics at all levels (intramural, club, and varsity). Midshipmen have also conducted academic research (including writing honors theses) and studied abroad.
If I’m at Stanford, Davis, or Cal Maritime, how do I get to drill?
Midshipmen who attend Stanford, Davis, and Cal Maritime carpool on Thursdays to attend the weekly Leadership Lab and Naval Science classes. Recently, UC Davis midshipmen have been driven in a unit-sponsored van. Note that while Stanford freshmen are generally prohibited from having a car on campus, one can get a waiver for participating in NROTC; see Parking and Transportation Services’ website at http://transportation.stanford.edu/parking_info/ResidentStudent.shtml#froshwaiver for more information. Because of the one-hour drive for many midshipmen, mandatory activities at the Berkeley campus are kept to a minimum and clustered on Thursdays.
What kind of summer training does NROTC involve?
Each summer, midshipmen are assigned to a summer training “cruise” designed to expose them to life in real Navy ships and flight squadrons, and Marine Corps platoons:
One can receive a waiver to miss any of these cruises except the last (“first class”) cruise; however, it is strongly encouraged that midshipmen complete all summer training, as it is some of the most useful and fun preparation for life as an officer in the Navy or Marine Corps.
I’ve been accepted to UC Berkeley as a “spring admit.” Can I still do NROTC?
Yes. In most cases, your NROTC scholarship covers your tuition for Extension courses in the fall. You need to file a Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) by the university deadline, and enroll in extension course at http://www.unex.berkeley.edu. Note that enrollment is done on a first-come, first-served basis, so the earlier you enroll, the better. Your courses must be approved for transfer credit to UC Berkeley in order for the Navy to pay your Extension tuition. Also note that incoming freshmen will take Naval Science 1 in the fall, which is a 2-unit course. For housing information, see http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/livingatcal.
I’ve been accepted as a midshipman in the unit, and I am preparing to attend school in the fall. What next?
1. If you haven’t received an information packet from NROTC UC Berkeley already,
contact the unit at (510) 643-6345 and make sure we have your summer contact info,
including phone number, mailing address, and email.
2. Prepare to attend Freshman Orientation before school starts. This is an optional, but
strongly recommended step to your success in the NROTC program. It is not hazing or
“boot camp,” but rather an intense but fun familiarization program to introduce you to the
military.
3. Register for classes. UC Berkeley students, remember to sign up for Naval Science 1
and Naval Science Lab through Telebears.
4. Get ready for school and to embark on a unique and wonderful experience unparalleled
in the civilian sector.
What military benefits am I entitled to as a NROTC midshipman?
Midshipmen are members of the Navy Reserve, and as such are entitled to a full range of military benefits. Midshipmen have full access to military bases and their amenities (commissaries, exchanges, recreational facilities, etc.) The military bases located closest to NROTC UC-Berkeley and its cross-town affiliates are listed below.
I have some other questions, or would like to talk to some current midshipmen to ask them about the program. How do I do this?
Contact our recruiting officer, LT Gillespie, at dgillespie@military.berkeley.edu or (510) 643-6345.