Getting started in NROTC ... Any advice?

SSG Stan Morrison Jr — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 19:37:33 -0400

My son is a senior in high school and plans to join the navy as an RN. He would like to go to college on the nrotc program. We aren't sure where to start. Can anyone give us some ideas on what the first steps are? What kind of tuition assistance we can expect? Any help would be greatly appreciated

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jul 9 at 2014 8:46 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 20:46:27 -0400

If he is dead set on joining the Navy, then he needs to find a school that has both a Nursing program AND a NROTC program. Contact the NROTC program's Recruiting Officer first. Most Nursing schools are a 2+2 program: 2 years of pre-reqs with the student applying for admission during their sophomore year for year 1 of actually being in the Nursing program as their junior year. It's very competitive to get into many BSN programs so he needs to get his pre-reqs done on time and maintain a good GPA (I recommend keeping it above a 3.0). If he is wanting to go to school on NROTC scholarship, and he's going into his HS senior year, he has to start applying now. Scholarships can be competitive so he needs to have good grades and a good SAT score. Again, find a school that has both programs.

Now, if he simply want's to be a military nurse, then any university with a Nursing program and any ROTC program will work. Nursing students tend to be viewed as desirable assets so they will try to snag him if they can (provided it looks like he will make it into the Nursing program). Avoid going the direct commission route for now, because the drawdown is going to reduce the numbers that the professional health services recruiters are going to bring in.

From an AD nurse's standpoint, I can tell you that the Navy and AF Nurse Corps are much smaller than the Army's, so career paths and promotion potential becomes much tougher. They don't have as large a go to war mission as the Army. Also because the Navy and AF are not starting to outsource a lot of their inpatient care, the need for nurses on AD is also smaller. Army has the bulk of the deployable (hence budgeted for) DoD medical capability. Just my plug for Army nursing... ;o)

Response by SSG Stan Morrison Jr made Mar 25 at 2015 6:34 PM

SSG Stan Morrison Jr — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 18:34:27 -0400

So, my son has been accepted into the Nursing program at Temple University. Temple doesnt have Navy ROTC, but, they have an agreement with Univ of Penn, which does and is a short train ride away. They have one day per week for his ROTC classes. Anyhow, He did his interview and got his packet in a little late due to a technical issue on the Navy side. His status is listed as Pending. Now, Temple has offered him financial aid, which he must decide on by 01 May. Son is telling me that if he accepts the financial aid package he will be ineligible for ROTC. If he doesn't find out about Status before 01 May, and doesn't accept the financial aid, he loses that. If he doesn't get ROTC after he loses Financial aid, he won't be going to college in September. My head is about to explode! Does anyone know about the ineligibility for ROTC if he accepts the Financial Aid? Also, will the NROTC board make a determination before 01 May?

Response by CDR Terry Boles made Mar 25 at 2015 7:07 PM

CDR Terry Boles — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 19:07:05 -0400

My two-cents worth for Air Force nursing. I became aware of this program when I attended Air Force COT at Maxwell AFB and thought it was a very good deal for those BSN students who may have missed out on the ROTC program as a freshman. Something to consider should it happen to your son. See this web site:

http://www.afrotc.com/careers/programs

If you’re interested in becoming a nurse, Air Force ROTC has a great opportunity for you. The Nursing Scholarship Program is offered on a competitive basis.

To be eligible to apply for a Nursing Scholarship, you must:
• Be a United States citizen by the end of the projected term of activation.
• Pass the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT).
• Pass the Air Force ROTC Physical Fitness Test to be qualified by the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board. (Non-AFROTC students can apply if the examination has been scheduled. If selected, they cannot activate a scholarship until the certification is complete.)
• Have at least a 2.5 cumulative college grade point average.
• Not already be a contracted scholarship recipient.
• Meet the age, moral and other scholarship eligibility requirements for Air Force ROTC.
• Be a sophomore or junior, majoring in nursing at a college or university accredited by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC) or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Visit nlnac.org or http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ccne-accreditation/accredited-programs for a list of accredited programs.

You may also be eligible to receive scholarship money while you are in college.

U.S. Air Force ROTC - Professional Programs - Nursing & JAG

Air Force ROTC can also help to prepare cadets for careers in law, and nursing through professional programs. Learn more about graduate law and nursing.