ROTC Leadership Advancement Opportunities

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blueplate99

USNA 21
Joined
Jan 6, 2015
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I'm not as familiar with NROTC as I am with USNA, so I was wondering if there are any senior leadership positions (any with more responsibility than being an average midshipman) available in a battalion? I know at USNA there are opportunities to become CC, XO, etc etc. Are there similar opportunities for leadership in NROTC? If so, how would one advance to this position?
 
blueplate99 said:
I'm not as familiar with NROTC as I am with USNA, so I was wondering if there are any senior leadership positions (any with more responsibility than being an average midshipman) available in a battalion? I know at USNA there are opportunities to become CC, XO, etc etc. Are there similar opportunities for leadership in NROTC? If so, how would one advance to this position?
Click to expand...

If you google "College NROTC unit leadership opportunities," it will yield dozens of hits for individual unit websites. All kinds of great info there relating to all aspects of NROTC mid life. Dive in. Google is your friend.

This is a good example, with a section describing unit leadership:
https://www.navy.iastate.edu/about/

Advancing to a leadership position - the same way you are doing it in HS. Learning to be a good team member and follower, working hard, taking initiative, shouldering responsibility, being trustworthy, gaining respect of juniors/peers/seniors, stepping up and earning the chance to lead.

Just as it is at USNA and OCS, mids run daily operations and administration, guided by unit officers and senior enlisted. It's a test bed for real-world Fleet and Corps.
 
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Here is a pretty good video that profiles one university's NROTC program. It gives you a flavor of what NROTC is so you can contrast it with USNA.

The best thing to do is visit a local NROTC program and meet with the recruiting officer and/or PNS.

 
blueplate99 said:
I'm not as familiar with NROTC as I am with USNA, so I was wondering if there are any senior leadership positions (any with more responsibility than being an average midshipman) available in a battalion? I know at USNA there are opportunities to become CC, XO, etc etc. Are there similar opportunities for leadership in NROTC? If so, how would one advance to this position?
Click to expand...

Each NROTC battalion has a midshipman leadership structure, starting with the battalion commanding officer and working down. Students have leadership positions starting sophomore year. This really isn't all that different from the USNA model. How do you get them? First off, perform well. In general though, nearly all midshipmen will have leadership opportunities at some point during their four years, as those are tools for students to develop.
 
Just to share an excerpt from my son's unit regulations. Other units may have variations. If you google enough, you'll probably find pdf copies of other units' regulations/manuals to compare.

Battalion billet assignments will be based upon merit as determined competitively through individual performance in academics, aptitude and physical fitness. seniority and experience will be taken into account but neither will guarantee assignment to a billet. Collateral duty assignments may also be assigned to Battalion officers with the exception of the Battalion Commander, Executive Officer and Operations Officer.

There are only a limited number of billet positions available, and these will be distributed to provide maximum leadership training throughout the Battalion

Assignment to billets will generally be in accordance with the following:

a. Fourth Class Midshipmen are assigned as squad members in their respective platoons. Freshmen will also participate as a member of the Unit Drill Team. This assignment is made to familiarize them with drill, military procedures and the basic operation of a military unit. Freshmen are also encouraged to participate in at least one other NROTC Unit activity such as Color Guard, Endurance team, or Rifle/Pistol Team.

b. Third Class Midshipmen are generally assigned to platoon-level billets. This assignment is made to acquaint sophomores with the challenges of leadership encountered by noncommissioned officers in the Navy and Marine Corps. Sophomores should also participate in at least one NROTC Unit activity.

c. Second Class Midshipmen, where possible, are assigned to company or junior staff billets. These assignments are made to acquaint juniors with the challenges leadership encountered by junior officers and senior non-commissioned officers in the Navy and Marine Corps. Juniors should also participate in at least one NROTC Unit activity.

d. First Class Midshipmen are generally assigned to officer billets within the Battalion staff to familiarize them with the challenges of command and staff work. Seniors will hold most of the senior leadership billets throughout the year. Seniors should also participate in at least one NROTC Unit activity.

Just a general guideline as my son did hold an assistant/junior staff position as a 3rd class mid. Also note "collateral duties" -- i.e. OIC of various activities while holding a billet.
 
Good comments above. DS's unit had about 100 midshipmen and about 39 leadership billets to fill each semester - from Battalion CO down to Squad Leader.
2 companies, 4 platoons, 3 squads per platoon.

DS's progress through his battalion, which I think was fairly typical:

semester 1 - nada
semester 2 - squad leader
semester 3 - squad leader
semester 4 - platoon sgt.
semester 5 - company XO
semester 6 - Operations officer
semester 7 - nada
semester 8 - company XO, Semper Fi President, OCS prep instructor

Thank goodness he only had to carry 12 easy hours that last semester.
 
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