PAO training tools for NRS's

1. An Interview with Navy ____________________
About Naval ROTC
Q A lot of people think that if they don’t have a Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC)
unit in their high school, they won’t be able to get into one, but that’s not true, is it?
A No, ROTC programs are available across the nation and are independent of high school
programs. We invite all who are qualified to apply. The branches of service represented will vary
from school to school, so Navy ROTC is not at all schools, but the programs are similar
Q First, can we explain what NROTC is all about?
A Yes, NROTC is a linkage established between the Department of Defense and the Navy
and a number of colleges and universities across the country. Students who join the NROTC unit
are officially in the Navy Reserve and get credit for service time while they are going to school.
Some of the courses these students take are strictly military, but the school gives college credit
for them.
Q What are the qualifications for getting into a NROTC unit?
A In general, a person can qualify if he or she is a high school graduate, aged 17-27,
physically qualified by Navy or Marine Corps standards, with no moral obligations or personal
convictions that prevent conscientious bearing of arms and defending the Constitution or taking
an oath regarding same. Some other variations can apply under certain circumstances. Of course
academic performance while in high school, ACT/SAT scores and college acceptance also figure
into the selection equation, too.
Q How soon can someone initiate the application process?
A We encourage people to begin applying during the second semester of the junior year,
even though a complete transcript including the entire junior year will be required.
Q Once in the program, what academic requirements need to be met?
A First, all of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree must be met in accordance with the
school’s regulations in a normal course load, and also certain courses specified by the Navy. In
addition, there generally are requirements for taking calculus, physics, English grammar and
composition, national security policy/military affairs, and one semester of language or culture,
although some of these won’t apply for certain occupational specialties. A naval science course

2. will be required each semester and weekly drill is required. There is also a four- to six-week
training period each summer.
Q Are there certain people who will be higher on the selection criteria list than others?
A In general, the Navy is highly focused on advanced technology, so tier one people will
include those entering engineering programs of high Navy interest. Tier two will be people
entering other engineering, math and science programs. Tier three will be people entering
language and other select academic programs.
Acceptance into NROTC is also possible for nursing students. Marine Corps applicants can also
qualify with a different academic focus.
Q You mentioned physical requirements earlier. What are those?
A Let’s start with height and weight standards. Men need to be 62”-78” and women 60”-
78”, except Marine Corps candidates where minimum for men is 66” and minimum for women is
58”. Weight needs to be proportional to height, and that is identifiable. Medical exams are
required as well, and items that can disqualify a person include non-correctible vision or
colorblindness, asthma, chronic cardiac/pulmonary conditions, certain skin disorders, certain
bone and joint conditions. A history of problems such as seizures, motion sickness or alcohol or
drug abuse can also be disqualifiers.
Finally, physical readiness will be tested, including push-ups, pull-ups and a timed run.
Qualifications for these may vary depending on age.
Q What is summer training all about?
A Summer Cruise training includes career orientation training, and it helps Midshipmen
determine their career paths. Possible training assignments include nuclear power, surface,
submarine, aviation, Marine Corps assignments and even foreign exchange situations.
Q How can someone find schools near here that have NROTC programs?
A In and around this recruiting district’s area of operations there are many schools with
NROTC programs. Illinois Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, University of
Illinois, Purdue University, University of Notre Dame, Marquette University, and University of
Wisconsin all have programs. What’s more, cross-town affiliates can have students attending.
For example, students at Kennedy King College or University of Illinois at Chicago can attend
the Illinois Institute of Technology program, and students from the Milwaukee School of
Engineering or University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee can attend the Marquette program. Many
of these same schools have the Registered Nurse program as well.

3. Q Are there scholarships available?
A The Navy does offer NROTC scholarships, and those need to be applied for, but not
everyone who is enrolled in a college NROTC program is a scholarship recipient. If someone
wants to pursue a scholarship, he or she should initiate the process early, and consult first with
the Navy recruiting district office nearest them.
Q Where does someone start pursuing this opportunity?
A Actually, the best first step is to contact the local recruiting station to find out about any
and all of the jobs that we have available. To reach us, simply contact our station by calling
______________, or stop in most afternoons at ___________________________________. If
you or an out of-town friend want to locate another station near them, visit www.navy.com and
click on “find a recruiter” on the right side of the home page, then enter your zip code number.
The website will identify contact locations for both enlisted and officer programs. A call to 800-
4go –Navy will do the trick as well.
Additional comment:
To put the Navy’s role in perspective, you need to recognize that 70 percent of the world is
covered by ocean, 80 percent of the world’s population lives along coasts and 90 percent of the
world’s commerce travels by water. Protecting all of that is our job, and that makes America’s
Navy a global force for good.
Sailors serve on land and from the sea; from ships on the water, submarines under the water, and
planes and helicopters over the water – all to meet America’s threats far away so that those
threats cannot harm us here. We welcome the best men and women to join us in accomplishing
today’s missions and meeting tomorrow’s challenges.
- 30 -