How does NROTC (Marine option) compare to AFROTC?

NotHavel

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May 6, 2015
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I'm looking for something that tells you what life is like during college in the Marine NROTC, including activities required each week and each year. Also information like how many mornings you get up early to workout and things like that. I can't seem to find this info for the Marine ROTC.

For the some of information I need, but for Marine NROTC, look at this page: https://www.afrotc.com/college-life/courses

Also, what is the application process like/what are the steps for NROTC Marine Option?

Lastly, how much harder/easier is each scholarship to get than the other? I have 3.96 UW GPA, 34 ACT, team captains, founder/president of business club, football, band, wrestling, quiz bowl, volunteering, etc., and accolades in each so I am decently competitive. I heard AFROTC is more dependent on major and NROTC is more on school choice. The school I want to go to is University of Michigan, which has NROTC.

If this info could come directly from someone in Marine NROTC or with a son/daughter in Marine NROTC, that'd be great. Thanks
 
A good overview from an officer that used to sit on the boards...

http://www.thesandgram.com/2011/01/18/nrotc-marine-option-scholarships/

Marine Option is not dependent on major. The acceptance criteria is based on balance and leadership. Physical fitness is very important. You'll need a high 1st class (280 out of 300 or better) to be competitive. Scan the Marine Corps website for scoring tables on what makes up the score. Basically 20 pull-ups, 100 crunches in 2min, and 19 minute 3 mile run is pretty competitive.

How many "official" mornings varies by unit. Some do 2, some do 3. Some PT Marine Options/MECEPs solely by themselves, some mix it up with Navy options. Regardless, the Marine Corps expects you to PT on those "off" days. My son's unit wants everyone to be above 285 PFT.

The culture is night and day different between being in the Air Force vs. being around Marines. The MOI/AMOI team is tough on their future Marine Officers.

Michigan is one of the first 10 NROTC schools in the nation if I remember correctly. Check their website and social media for clues on what NROTC is like there.
 
My DS is in the NROTC Marine option at UofM. His freshman year, he was in the AFROTC then realized that he wanted to switch. He did and earned a side load scholorship. Since he did not do the typical application route, I can't speak much to that process. Yes, the PFT is very important, but they do realize that you have time to improve. From the things he tells me, it is a great program there. He has never once regretted the switch. I would be happy to try and answer any specific questions you may have. You can PM me if you would like. They PT at least 3 days a week. While they are busy practicing for the drill competitions, they're up there early five days a week. They usually host a drill competition once a year and travel out-of-state to attend them at other universities. They do not treat their scholarship versus non-scholarship MIDN any differently. In the AFROTC, it seemed the exact opposite. Also once a year they host a mini bulldog prep at a local base. It is a great experience getting ready for OCS.
 
If you want a glimpse of courses / concept of operations once you are in the unit, here is a good resource as well...

http://www1.netc.navy.mil/nstc/nstc...evelopment (ROD) for the NROTC (CH's 1-4).pdf

Go to:
http://www.mcrc.marines.mil/UnitHome/OfficerPrograms.aspx

and browse through the documents on Marine Option NROTC

Also... go visit your nearest Marine Corps Officer Selection Office and talk about all the paths to a Marine Corps commission. You can also make an appointment to go visit the Naval ROTC unit. Most units have midshipmen that will actually go to high schools for recruiting visits as well.
 
OP: lots of good advice here.

Here is the University of Michigan's NROTC page: http://navy.rotc.umich.edu/

You can find lots of program information and an excellent description of the application process here: http://naval.dasa.ncsu.edu/general-information

As rocatlin stated: the culture is very different and the programs are very different when comparing Air Force and NROTC (Marine Option). Night and day. From program details, classes, military training and feel - the programs are distinctly different as are the service branches themselves.

Your choice of major is not important to the Marines but it is to the Air Force. As far as the relative ease of earning a scholarship there is no simple answer. Consider all commissioning paths in all service branches to be highly competitive.
 
OP: lots of good advice here.

Here is the University of Michigan's NROTC page: http://navy.rotc.umich.edu/

You can find lots of program information and an excellent description of the application process here: http://naval.dasa.ncsu.edu/general-information

As rocatlin stated: the culture is very different and the programs are very different when comparing Air Force and NROTC (Marine Option). Night and day. From program details, classes, military training and feel - the programs are distinctly different as are the service branches themselves.

Your choice of major is not important to the Marines but it is to the Air Force. As far as the relative ease of earning a scholarship there is no simple answer. Consider all commissioning paths in all service branches to be highly competitive.

I was talking to the Marine recruiter at my school and he said that if I mentioned that I was considering other branches/scholarships in the interview, I wouldn't get the scholarship. What can you say about going for both and then making a decision?
 
I was talking to the Marine recruiter at my school and he said that if I mentioned that I was considering other branches/scholarships in the interview, I wouldn't get the scholarship. What can you say about going for both and then making a decision?

Not to be too condescending to the Air Force (I had a 4 year Air Force scholarship and turned it down for Marine PLC, also have cousin that's a retired AF fighter/bomber pilot), but as a Marine it's hard not to wonder why even consider the Air Force if you're looking at the Marine Corps? What is your goal? Do you want to fly? You'll actually have a better chance of flying "real" aircraft (not drones) if you go into the Naval service in general.

If you want to be a Marine, basically you have to want to be a Marine -- if you can wrap your mind around that. What kind of service lifestyle do you want? Do you want to be combat arms -- infantry, artillery, tracked vehicles, etc? Most of those decisions to some degree are somewhat made for you after you get your commission and go to The Basic School. Even the "non-combat" arms MOS selections can be not nearly as glamorous as non-pilot jobs in the Air Force -- although you do get to be a Marine.

As far as mentioning scholarships, that is somewhat subjective based on who actually does the interview and what your career goals are. Army vs Marine Scholarship (ground service) probably wouldn't negatively affect you. Navy or Air Force (aviator) vs Marine air probably not either. Air Force vs Marine ground -- doesn't match up well.

Not to sound too cliche, but Marines are a different breed with a deep warrior culture and ethos. Maybe the recruiter was saying that if you hint of being on the fence and are unsure, then ultimately it's not in either's best interest you go down that path. Scholarship quotas are tight and the recruiting stations want to ensure the success of the ones that are awarded the scholarship. What they don't want is someone going a year into it and changing his/her mind because it was more than what they expected.

This forum is a great way to start information gathering, but I encourage you to go spend some face to face time with the OSO or the unit staff or Marine Option midshipmen.
 
Lastly, how much harder/easier is each scholarship to get than the other? I have 3.96 UW GPA, 34 ACT, team captains, founder/president of business club, football, band, wrestling, quiz bowl, volunteering, etc., and accolades in each so I am decently competitive. I heard AFROTC is more dependent on major and NROTC is more on school choice. The school I want to go to is University of Michigan, which has NROTC.

NROTC also awards scholarships on a Tier System based on your major, most scholarships are awarded to Tech Majors.

One thing you should consider above all is what you really want to be doing once you finish school and commission. The AF and Marines are on opposite sides of the military spectrum. You should be choosing which ROTC program based on what you want to do after commissioning, not based on the ROTC program itself.
 
What rocatlin is politely trying to ask is.....do you want to be a bad ass or not? :eek2: Through and through, the Marines might be the most respected single fighting force the work over. There is definitely more of a "brotherhood/camaraderie" far beyond that of what you see in the other branches. The term "Once a Marine, Always a Marine" exists for a reason. :usa:

I was talking to the Marine recruiter at my school and he said that if I mentioned that I was considering other branches/scholarships in the interview, I wouldn't get the scholarship. What can you say about going for both and then making a decision?

Not to be too condescending to the Air Force (I had a 4 year Air Force scholarship and turned it down for Marine PLC, also have cousin that's a retired AF fighter/bomber pilot), but as a Marine it's hard not to wonder why even consider the Air Force if you're looking at the Marine Corps? What is your goal? Do you want to fly? You'll actually have a better chance of flying "real" aircraft (not drones) if you go into the Naval service in general.

If you want to be a Marine, basically you have to want to be a Marine -- if you can wrap your mind around that. What kind of service lifestyle do you want? Do you want to be combat arms -- infantry, artillery, tracked vehicles, etc? Most of those decisions to some degree are somewhat made for you after you get your commission and go to The Basic School. Even the "non-combat" arms MOS selections can be not nearly as glamorous as non-pilot jobs in the Air Force -- although you do get to be a Marine.

As far as mentioning scholarships, that is somewhat subjective based on who actually does the interview and what your career goals are. Army vs Marine Scholarship (ground service) probably wouldn't negatively affect you. Navy or Air Force (aviator) vs Marine air probably not either. Air Force vs Marine ground -- doesn't match up well.

Not to sound too cliche, but Marines are a different breed with a deep warrior culture and ethos. Maybe the recruiter was saying that if you hint of being on the fence and are unsure, then ultimately it's not in either's best interest you go down that path. Scholarship quotas are tight and the recruiting stations want to ensure the success of the ones that are awarded the scholarship. What they don't want is someone going a year into it and changing his/her mind because it was more than what they expected.

This forum is a great way to start information gathering, but I encourage you to go spend some face to face time with the OSO or the unit staff or Marine Option midshipmen.
 
NROTC also awards scholarships on a Tier System based on your major, most scholarships are awarded to Tech Majors.

Jcleppe: this is true but for NROTC Marine Options the major doesn't matter.

Just wanted to clear up any confusion on this point.
 
Nothavel, you seem to be focusing purely on the ROTC aspects, but you really need to focus on what service you want spend your time in. They are very different differences in mission, mentality, physical activities, etc.

The Air Force is much more known for being a more laid back culture, aviation based, less emphasis on physical fitness. In the Air Force there are pilots and everyone else. The Marine Corps is very ground based. Yes there are pilots, but the entire Marine Corps is based upon supporting the infantryman. The Air Force is made to support the aviators.

If you are interested in flying the USAF has many more aircraft choices with heavy transportation, fighters, surveillance, drones (which some might say is a good or bad thing), helos. The Marine Corps does have fighters, helos, transportation (C-130s only).

The Marine Corps prides itself on its tough mentality, physical fitness, esprit de corps, ground mentality. Be prepared to live in the field. If living in the field and dirt are not your thing, the Marine Corps is probably not a good fit. I think what you will find is the service mentalities will pass on down to each services ROTC. As mentioned MO ROTC doesn't necessarily care about your major. Most dets will PT 3-4 times a week. The Marine PFT will be a huge factor in your application. It will also be a key part of your career from ROTC, OCS to the fleet. So take a close look at its requirements. The ROTC det will focus on preparing you for OCS as you get closer and closer to it. You don't complete OCS, you don't commission. MO ROTC does guarantee you will go active duty as long as you complete the commissioning requirements. AFROTC is a 2 + 2, you must be selected for field training between your sophomore and junior year to continue with the program. If you are selected, you will be guaranteed Active Duty.
 
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