School of Military Sciences
Naval Science
Mission. The Naval ROTC Unit at Texas A&M University provides qualified young men and women the opportunity to learn the mission of the Naval Services and pursue a commission as an officer in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps. The Naval ROTC Unit operates as the Department of Naval Science at Texas A&M and is one of the largest Naval ROTC Units in the United States. Graduates from our program can be found serving around the world. Officers commissioned as Ensigns in the United States Navy have the option, based on physical and aptitude qualification, to serve in the Aviation (Pilot or Naval Flight Officer), Surface Warfare (Conventional, Nuclear, Engineering Duty or Oceanographic specialty), Nuclear Submarine, or Special Warfare (SEAL or Explosive Ordnance Disposal) communities. Officers commissioned as 2nd Lieutenants in the United States Marine Corps have the option, based on physical and aptitude qualification, to serve in the Aviation (Pilot or Naval Flight Officer), Combat Arms (Infantry, Artillery, Armor, Assault Amphibians or Combat Engineers), or Combat Service Support (Logistics, Supply, Data Processing or Finance) communities.
Naval ROTC students may participate fully in all aspects of University life. This includes serving in positions with Student Government or the Memorial Student Center, belonging to campus clubs and service organizations, or participating in religious, social, professional or personal interest organizations. The NROTC Unit also sponsors and advises special units within the Corps of Cadets such as SEAL Platoon and RECON Company.
Scholarships. The Naval ROTC program provides numerous scholarship opportunities for qualified individuals who are seeking a commission upon graduation as an officer in either the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps. The four-year Naval ROTC scholarship program is a nationally competitive program. High school students seeking a four-year Navy or Marine Corps Option Naval ROTC scholarship may apply as early as the spring of their junior year in high school, and should apply no later than December of their senior year in high school. The Naval ROTC scholarship pays for all tuition, most university fees, uniform fees, and provides the student with a stipend of $250 per month during the freshman year, $300 per month in the sophomore year, $350 per month during the junior year and $400 per month during the senior year. Naval ROTC scholarship recipients also receive a book allowance of $300 per semester while on scholarship. Three- and two-year scholarships are available for qualifying students who apply while enrolled as NROTC students at Texas A&M.
College Program. Most students in their freshman and sophomore years at Texas A&M without NROTC scholarships initially participate in Naval ROTC as Naval Science Students. Those meeting established prerequisites may be enrolled as Basic College Program Students. Those prerequisites include: motivation to serve as a commissioned officer in either the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps, meet the physical requirements for commissioned service, maintain a minimum of 2.00 cumulative GPR, and possess the aptitude for commissioned service. The Basic College Program exists to provide students the opportunity to learn about the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps and provide an alternate means for a commission for those not on scholarship. Basic College Program students are also reimbursed for the cost of their cadet uniforms. Basic College Program students can apply for a two-year or three-year Navy or Marine Corps Option Naval ROTC scholarship. These scholarships provide the same benefits as the four-year scholarship covering all tuition, most university fees, uniform fees, and provide the student with the same stipend rates and book allowance. Students who do not qualify for a scholarship but still desire a commission can apply for acceptance into the College Program (Advanced Standing). The College Program (Advanced Standing) begins during the junior year and pays the stipend rates of $350 per month during the junior year and $400 per month during the senior year. All NROTC students are provided Naval Science textbooks at no cost.
All Scholarship and College Program (Advanced Standing) NROTC students are also members of the Texas A&M Midshipman Battalion, an organization providing distinct training and leadership opportunities for students pursuing Navy and Marine Corps commissions.
Academic Requirements. Academic requirements vary by program. All freshman Naval ROTC students must take Naval Science 101 and 102. All sophomore Naval ROTC students must take Naval Science 203 and Naval Science 202. These courses provide a basic understanding of the Navy and Marine Corps organization and mission; address the concepts of leadership, ethics and management; cover the basics of naval engineering; and provide a basic understanding of the history of American sea power. All Scholarship and College Program (Advanced Standing) students continue to take Naval Science courses during their junior and senior year. These courses cover navigation, weapons systems, evolution of warfare, amphibious warfare and leadership and ethics for the junior officer.
Navy Option ROTC Scholarship students are not restricted on their choice of major but are required to take two calculus courses and two courses in calculus-based physics, choosing from Mathematics 151 and 152 or Mathematics 171 and 172, and Physics 218 and 219 or Physics 218 and 208. Four-year Navy Option Scholarship students must complete the required calculus courses by the end of their sophomore year and the required physics courses by the end of their junior year. Completion time requirements vary for the three- and two-year Navy Option Naval ROTC scholarship awardees. Marine Option Naval ROTC Scholarship students may major in any field that satisfies University requirements for a baccalaureate degree. There are no additional academic requirements for Marine Option NROTC Scholarship students or Navy Option College Program (Advanced Standing) students.
Enlisted Commissioning Programs. There are two primary programs which provide enlisted sailors and marines an opportunity to pursue a commission. They are the Navy's Seaman to Admiral-21 Program (STA-21), and the Marine Corps' Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP). Students assigned to the Naval ROTC Unit under these programs are active duty personnel who attend their regular college classes while receiving full pay, benefits and are eligible for promotion. Selection for these programs are made by the Naval Service Training Command and Headquarters Marine Corps, respectively. Active duty personnel desiring to apply for these programs must do so via their parent command.
Summer Cruise. Scholarship students receive four to six weeks of additional training every summer with operational Navy and Marine Corps units around the world. Between the freshman and sophomore years, students receive orientation training with naval aviation, surface combatant, submarine and Marine Corps units. Between the sophomore and junior years, Navy Option students experience the life of enlisted sailors aboard ships and submarines and Marine Option students experience the life of enlisted marines with Marine units in the field. For the final training session between the junior and senior years, all Scholarship and College Program (Advanced Standing) students receive service specific training in final preparation for commissioning. Navy Option students are assigned to aviation units, surface combatants or submarines depending upon their qualifications and desires and receive hands-on training working closely with qualified junior officers. Marine Option students attend Officer Candidate School at Quantico, VA where they are screened, trained and evaluated in an intense, competitive environment alongside other Marine Option students from around the country. Students participating in summer cruises are provided government travel, medical and dental care, commissary and exchange privileges, and are paid approximately $735 per month for the duration of the training.
Commissioning. Upon graduation, qualified Naval ROTC Navy and Marine Option Scholarship students receive commissions as Ensigns in the United States Navy Reserve or as 2nd Lieutenants in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and serve a minimum of four years of active duty. Qualified Naval ROTC College Program (Advanced Standing) Navy Option students receive commissions as Ensigns in the United States Navy Reserve and serve a minimum of three years of active duty. Qualified Naval ROTC College Program (Advanced Standing) Marine Option students receive commissions as 2nd Lieutenants in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and serve a minimum of three and a half years of active duty. Those Navy Option graduates who are academically qualified and accepted to graduate school in certain disciplines may apply for active duty deferments to complete their post-graduate education.
NROTC Staff. The active duty staff of the Texas A&M NROTC Unit sponsor the First Regiment of the Corps of Cadets and act as military advisors to units within the Regiment. The staff of the Naval Science Department is dedicated to producing officers of the highest quality for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. All instructors are active duty Navy or Marine Corps officers and senior enlisted personnel assigned to the University by the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps. This group of highly trained professionals places specific emphasis on the academic and professional development of every student assigned. Additional information about the Naval ROTC program at Texas A&M University can be obtained by calling the department at (979) 845-1775, or by visiting the Texas A&M Naval ROTC website at nrotc.tamu.edu.