If I don't receive an appointment to USCGA, I am considering attending a civilian university and participating in NROTC. However, I don't know much about NROTC since I recently decided I would be interested in the program and the website does not provide a great deal of information.
Since the applications are due in less than a month, it is not ideal for me to complete it now, but if I decide to apply next year, is that possible? Am I still eligible for the scholarship? What is a NROTC programmer? Do they still participate in the same activities, just without the scholarship? And finally, what is the time obligation for the average NROTC Navy Option program?
FYI, I will be a non-STEM Political Science major.
Thanks in advance.
Duhhh... it suddenly dawned on me that you weren't asking about the time obligation for Active Duty and Reserves, but the time obligation while in college. Here's an outline of what my DS does each week (it can vary some by unit):
1. PT 3 days per week 05:30 - 07:00
2. 3 hours of Naval Science class each week, plus homework (just like any other college course).
3. 2.5 - 3 hours of Naval Science Lab/Drill each week (activities vary each session... sometimes its additional PT, sometimes it's lecture on administrative stuff, sometimes its some form of field training, sometimes it's marching drill, sometimes it's a ruck march, or leadership reaction course). MIDN are required to wear their uniform to all classes on the day they have Lab.
4. Other NROTC clubs (DS does Boat Crew beat downs for 2 hours each Friday evening. This is basically an optional club and they all go to dinner together afterwards.
5. Cleaning football Stadium after home Games 07:00 - 09:00 (or until complete). This is pretty common across units and is how the unit earns money for fun stuff, like the pre-game tailgate party before home games.
6. Other duties required by your billet, or leadership position. First semester freshman year this will not be an issue. As a squad leader, platoon seargent, platoon commander, company commander, company XO, Battalion Staff or Commander the demands on your time will increase. My DS was pretty stressed out second semester of freshman year when he had squad leader responsibilities along with a demanding academic load plus non-NROTC activities he participated in... soccer league and ballroom dancing clubs).
7. Care and maintenance of uniform and other items. You WILL be pressing your uniform each week and making sure it's ship shape. Since DS was doing this he also earned some extra bucks freshman year taking in ironing from the other guys in his dorm. I think he charged a buck a shirt.
8. Additional PT on your own. DS PTs at least 5 days a week and probably seven. This is probably more of a Marine Option thing but I know his Navy Option buddies do it with him a lot. Some days he'll lift weights or something on his own time even on days he did AM PT. Over summer vacation he did MARSOC workouts each day to stay in shape and improve his performance. But then he's a Marine Option and a PT stud. YMMV.
9. Drill Team in the spring... this usually requires an additional 2 days per week, 05:30 - 07:00. This is optional but its a good way to get a free trip to Mardi Gras in N'Orleans and some other interesting places around the country to do drill team competitions.
10. Usually 1 long weekend per semester doing field training exercises. Since he's in SC he gets to go to Parris Island for this. Fun stuff like rappelling, fast roping, extraction exercises, land nav, obstacle courses, etc.
11. Other additional items... eg. DS's unit often meets 05:30 - 07:00 to prepare for special activities such as Battalion Inspection, or Pass in Review.
12. Other fun stuff... Navy Ball, Marine Corps Birthday Party, Dining in... these are things you'll really look forward to, so no need to worry how much time it takes on a Friday or Saturday night.
Basically, as an NROTC participant you WILL become a master of time management.