NROTC FAMU FAQs

The NROTC Scholarship pays the student's tuition (or room and board), uniforms, and lab-related fees. A textbook stipend is also provided to assist with books. It also provides the student a stipend every month during the school year. This increases as you complete years in the program, to help with the cost of living.

If you plan to delay entry prior to arriving at the NROTC Unit, you will need to contact NSTC Student Operations or Marine Corps Recruiting Command (MCRC) as applicable for further guidance. In the past, students have been offered a leave of absence, if accepted, for a religious mission. Leaves of absence for religious missions after arrival at the NROTC Unit are processed through the Unit.

Academic major changes must be approved by the Professor of Naval Science. Marine Corps Scholarship students and all College Program (Basic) students are allowed to major in any academic field that will grant them a Bachelor's degree. Navy scholarship MIDN must, in addition to 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 per semester
• one Naval Science lab per semester

College Program MIDN that will commission with Advanced Standing are required to meet all the above with the exception of calculus and calculus-based physics. Navy College Program MIDN must instead take College Algebra or higher math, and one year NROTC-approved Physical Science.

Absolutely. There are two avenues for this: 

1. The College Program (Basic) and the other is 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 do not go on summer training, however they do attend the initial orientation prior to 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 selection is based upon a student's grades, military aptitude and physical fitness performance in NROTC. Students may participate in College Program without any service commitment for the Freshman and Sophomore years.
2. The Naval Science program is simply enrolling in Naval Science classes. Naval Science students have no obligation to NROTC other than attending the class(es) in which they are enrolled. Both College Program and Naval Science students may apply for a scholarship after attending naval science classes for one semester.

Yes, if you are awarded a scholarship you will be released from the Active Reserves. Please ensure you coordinate and discuss this with your Reserve chain of command.

Unfortunately in order to become a Commissioned Officer through the NROTC program you must have a scholarship or have qualified for the College Program Advanced Standing. Otherwise, you would need to visit a local recruiter or Officer Selection office for information about Officer Candidate School (OCS)/Officer Candidate Course (OCC) after graduation. For more information on these programs refer to www.navy.mil or www.marines.com. Naval Science classes are open to all students at FAMU, regardless of affiliation with the NROTC program.

This is highly unlikely. Several factors would have to fall into place before this happens and that has not happened in the last 70 years.

Yes, four years for Marines, and five years for all other Navy occupations (some Warfare Specialties require additional service).

Unfortunately, our program is for undergraduates only. For information on graduate school opportunities, please contact your local recruiter, who can be found at www.navy.mil or www.marines.mil.

If your degree requires more than eight terms (18 credit hours/term) to complete, you may petition for Extended Entitlements.

All MIDN are required to participate in Summer Training. Prior to their first year, MIDN are highly encouraged to attend Naval Science Introduction (NSI) in Great Lakes, IL. The summer between Freshman and Sophomore year, all students will experience life with different communities within the Navy (Surface Warfare, Submarines, Naval Aviation, and Naval Special Warfare) for approximately four weeks. The summer between Sophomore and Junior year, Navy Option MIDN will shadow Sailors on a U.S. warship lasting between two and four weeks while Marine Option MIDN may attend field training for four weeks. The summer between Junior and Senior year, Navy Option MIDN will chose a community to learn more about for two to four weeks and Marine Option MIDN are sent to Officer Candidates School for ten weeks.

Maintain physical fitness and review the Midshipmen Handbook that will be sent to you once accepted.

No, all communities are now open to women. Within NROTC, women have served as Battalion Commander (the highest ranking MIDN) and in every other leadership billet.

An average week includes about 10-15 hours of work including class, drill and some weekend commitments. Expect to do more as you gain seniority.

Only students in an Active Duty Status receive full-time medical coverage. MIDN will receive coverage during Summer Training. If at any time you are injured while participating in an NROTC required event, you may petition for the Navy to pay for medical costs, this is similar to filing a worker's compensation claim.

You will not receive a NROTC scholarship unless you are found physically qualified for the NROTC program. It is imperative that you become physically qualified before commencement of classes. If you are attempting to gain a waiver for some disqualifying physical condition and you start classes at the university, you will be responsible for payment of tuition, fees and books for that semester. If you are later found physically qualified for a NROTC scholarship during that same semester (i.e. your waiver is granted), your tuition, fees and book expenses can be reimbursed (case by case basis). If you are found not physically qualified for the NROTC program, tuition, fees and book expenses will not be reimbursed. If you are not sure if you are physically qualified or if you need information on how to get a waiver, please contact the recruiter who helped process your application.

Each semester you will take a physical readiness test. For Navy option students, this entails push-ups, planks, and a 1.5 mile run; Marine option students perform pull-ups, planks, and a 3-mile run and/or a Combat Fitness Test. We expect you to do well on these tests. Also, each MIDN must pass a swimming test. We require that you work out regularly.

We have had MIDN participate in University Athletics in the past, however, each case must be reviewed by the Commanding Officer. As a NROTC Scholarship MIDN, the top priorities are academics and NROTC program requirements.

No, this is not a recruiting station. This is an Academic Department with information on the undergraduate degree Navy/Marine Officer Training Program (NROTC). If you are not interested in participating in the NROTC program, please contact your local recruiter who can be found at www.navy.mil or www.marines.mil.

Please email nrotc@famu.edu. We will follow up with you as soon as possible. Please note the Color Guard is only during the academic school year.