Like most others, I am considering alternative plans if I was not awarded the 4 year scholarship. I was recently accepted to Cal State Maritime Academy and I am considering it as an option to attend there for a 3 year scholarship if Naval Academy and 4 year scholarship do not work out. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this school as in the atmosphere, traveling to Berkeley, or any other cross town affiliate schools. Thanks in advance.
Cal Maritime NROTC
- Thread starter expaustin
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I can't speak to the school. I'm not sure what you're getting at with your mention of a 3 year scholarship. NROTC only gives 4 year scholarships out of high school at present. If you mean you would hope to win a 3 year side-load scholarship then that makes sense.
Go Dores!
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Cal Maritime is a cross town affiliate of the NROTC unit at UC Berkeley.
@expaustin - I applaud your effort in finding alternate plans if USNA or the 4-year NROTC scholarship don't work out this year.
Here's my recommendation. Reach out to the unit at UC Berkeley (https://www.nrotc.berkeley.edu/contact-unit) and after asking the LT about life at the unit as a Cal Maritime midshipman (typical commute time to unit, number of days per week going to Cal to participate in NROTC program, leadership opportunities for cross town mids, etc.), ask if he/she can put you in touch with one of the CMA midshipman. Get the skinny straight from one of the mids.
In addition, in case you had not considered this as well, CMA runs a Strategic Sealift Officer Program (https://www.csum.edu/web/academics/ssop) on campus. While this program commissions into the USN Reserve, there are opportunities each year for SSOP students to seek an active commission - you end up in same place as NROTC mids. Suggest a phone call to the SSOP rep at CMA to at least hear about this alternative as well.
From the CMA SSOP FAQ section:
Question: What is the difference between SSOP and NROTC?
Answer: NROTC offers a full college scholarship and is designed to commission naval officers into active duty service. SSOP is a program designed to commission naval reserve officers. Through SSOP you are eligible for student incentive pay from the Maritime Administration of $4000 per semester (for a maximum of eight semesters).
@expaustin - I applaud your effort in finding alternate plans if USNA or the 4-year NROTC scholarship don't work out this year.
Here's my recommendation. Reach out to the unit at UC Berkeley (https://www.nrotc.berkeley.edu/contact-unit) and after asking the LT about life at the unit as a Cal Maritime midshipman (typical commute time to unit, number of days per week going to Cal to participate in NROTC program, leadership opportunities for cross town mids, etc.), ask if he/she can put you in touch with one of the CMA midshipman. Get the skinny straight from one of the mids.
In addition, in case you had not considered this as well, CMA runs a Strategic Sealift Officer Program (https://www.csum.edu/web/academics/ssop) on campus. While this program commissions into the USN Reserve, there are opportunities each year for SSOP students to seek an active commission - you end up in same place as NROTC mids. Suggest a phone call to the SSOP rep at CMA to at least hear about this alternative as well.
From the CMA SSOP FAQ section:
Question: What is the difference between SSOP and NROTC?
Answer: NROTC offers a full college scholarship and is designed to commission naval officers into active duty service. SSOP is a program designed to commission naval reserve officers. Through SSOP you are eligible for student incentive pay from the Maritime Administration of $4000 per semester (for a maximum of eight semesters).
great advice! I will definitely go ahead and do that. Hopefully I do not have to think about this too much and that either my Plan A or B works out!