Department of Naval Science
Contact Information
CAPT Scott Brunson, Commanding Officer, Naval Science: Hayes Hall, University of Idaho; phone 208-885-6333; Website: Navy and Marine Corps ROTC
Overview
The Navy-Marine Corps Officer Education Program is administered and taught by the Naval Science Department staff at the University of Idaho, Moscow campus. The program’s objective is to provide instruction and training to students in preparation for being commissioned as officers in the United States Navy or Marine Corps through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC). Students are designated as midshipmen and receive extensive academic, physical, and leadership training while pursuing a degree. The program is open to all genders and offers scholarships leading to active duty commissions. Normally, students enter the program at the beginning of their freshman year; however, selected students may enter up to the beginning of their sophomore year and, in very limited cases, the beginning of their junior year. Students take up to 25 hours of professional development courses taught by the NROTC Unit and must participate in Introduction to Naval Science labs each semester. All naval science courses and the majority of training events are conducted at the University of Idaho. Students attending Washington State University are able to participate in the program and can register for these courses via the U of I/WSU cooperative courses program. In addition to the required naval science courses, all NROTC students must complete additional academic requirements as stipulated in their contract. For the Navy Option students, service assignment is completed during their senior year, and students may be assigned to duty on nuclear submarines, surface combatants, naval aviation platforms, information warfare communities, or to the SEAL community. Service assignment for Marine Option students occurs as early as the sophomore year for aviation contracts, otherwise, it occurs following completion of The Basic School after graduation.
Scholarship Program
NROTC scholarship student benefits include full tuition and fees, books, and a between $250-$400 per month stipend. Room and board can be selected instead of the tuition benefit.
Application for this program is normally made during the spring of the junior year or early fall of the student’s senior year of high school. Initial selections for these national four-year scholarships are completed by a Naval Service Training Command-sponsored board and are based on college entrance examination scores (SAT or ACT), high school performance, which includes athletics, drama, work, and school clubs.
A student on scholarship will complete three summer training cruises of approximately four weeks' duration. During CORTRAMID, the first cruise, students are introduced to the submarine, amphibious warfare (Marine Week), surface warfare, and aviation communities. For Navy Option students, the second and third cruises can be aboard nuclear submarines, surface combatants, or with aviation squadrons of the Pacific or Atlantic Fleets and may include overseas travel. Marine Option students attend Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA, for their final summer of training. During summer training events, the students receive one-half of the pay of a US Navy Ensign or USMC 2nd Lieutenant, plus room and board.
Graduates of this program are commissioned as officers in the Navy or the Marine Corps.
College Program
College program students receive uniforms and naval science textbooks at no cost, but receive no other financial benefits beyond the $5,500 Room & Board Scholarship (details below).
Application for this program is normally made during the spring of the student’s senior year of high school and, in limited cases, their sophomore year of college. Applications can be obtained from the unit’s website and should be sent directly to the Naval Science Department head of the University of Idaho. Selections are based on college entrance examination scores (SAT or ACT), high school/university academic performance, and entry-level physical fitness standards. Students can apply to either the Navy or Marine Option programs.
College program students will be nominated by the Professor of Naval Science for a three-year scholarship during their freshman year or a two-year scholarship or advanced standing during their sophomore year if their grades and military aptitude marks are sufficient to warrant such nomination. Students who are not selected for a scholarship or advanced standing by the end of their sophomore year are not allowed to continue in the program. Students who are selected for a scholarship or advanced standing will conduct, at a minimum, one summer training evolution following their junior year. It is an afloat cruise (Navy Option) or attendance at officer candidate school (Marine Option) of the same type and with the same pay as described for the scholarship program. Graduates of this program are commissioned as officers in the Navy or Marine Corps.
U of I Room and Board Scholarship
The University of Idaho established a $5,500 room and board scholarship for all new incoming NROTC students selected for a 4-year national NROTC scholarship and those accepted as college programmers. The scholarship can be renewed for up to 4 years per student as long as the student is an active midshipman, a full-time degree-seeking undergraduate, and a resident in a University of Idaho residence hall or apartment.