Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps

The officers and enlisted personnel on Embry-Riddle's Naval ROTC staff come from varying backgrounds, including Naval aviation, submarine warfare, surface warfare and all Marine Corps operations specialties (MOS). They guide the students' transitions from civilian to a Naval or Marine Corps officer during their college career.

Contact the Naval ROTC Administration

For all inquiries about the NROTC program, scholarships, unit applications or other NROTC-related topics not addressed in the Frequently Asked Questions section, please email dbnrotc@erau.edu to ensure the unit staff can respond to your questions as promptly and thoroughly as possible.

For other inquiries, Marcia Stevens, Administrative Assistant, can be contacted at stevem24@erau.edu or 386-323-8990.

Tier 1

• Aerospace Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Electrical Engineering, General
• Engineering Physics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Systems Engineering

Tier 2

• Aeronautical Science (Flight costs not covered)
• Aeronautics
• Aerospace Physiology
• Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Civil Engineering
• Computational Mathematics
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science
• Engineering Physics
• Homeland Security and Intelligence (with Cybersecurity minor)
• Meteorology
• Software Engineering
• Space Operations
• Space Physics
• Uncrewed Aircraft Systems

Tier 3

• Aviation and Aerospace Safety
• Air Traffic Management
• Aviation Business Administration
• Aviation Maintenance Science
• Business Administration
• Communication
• Global Conflict Studies
• Homeland Security and Intelligence
• Human Factors Psychology
• Interdisciplinary Studies

Embry‑Riddle NROTC graduates become eligible for varied careers either in the Navy or the Marine Corps. They serve in aviation squadrons, on surface ships, on submarines in the nuclear power programs and at Naval and Marine Corps installations across the globe.

Careers

• Naval Aviation (Pilot or Naval Flight Officer)
• Submarine
• Surface Warfare
• Naval Special Warfare (SEALs)
• Explosive Ordinance Disposal Technician
• Information Warfare
• United States Marine Corps

Navy Option

Marine Option

Other Required Courses

As a member of the Naval ROTC program, you will experience things that some college students only dream of doing. You will be training to become a leader of sailors and Marines — a duty and responsibility that cannot be taken lightly. While your training and education are the primary focus of NROTC, you will have a life beyond the U.S. Navy during your four years here. Friendships made here last a lifetime, and you will build a strong bond with your peers in the program.

• Embry-Riddle Naval ROTC Facebook
• Embry-Riddle Naval ROTC Instagram

Battalion Clubs

Our battalion has lots to offer for midshipmen who want to participate in extracurricular activities. Our clubs within the battalion allow midshipmen to do everything from training for real-world situations to attending drill meets across the country and presenting the colors at prestigious functions, such as the Daytona 500 or an Orlando Magic game.

Drill Team

The Embry-Riddle NROTC Unit Drill Team provides an outlet for all battalion members to practice their drill and marching skills. To foster pride and demonstrate the abilities of its members, the Drill Team participates as instructors and judges for the local high school Navy Junior ROTC drill meets.

Color Guard

Embry-Riddle's NROTC Color Guard performs presentations for various groups and events on and off campus. Notable among these have been functions for the local chapter of the Navy League, the NASA Astronaut Hall of Fame and joint presentations with the Army and Air Force for the University's graduation ceremonies and Daytona 500/NASCAR racing events.

All Navy option midshipmen must pass the forearm plank, pushup and 1.5-mile run events with a “Good – Low” minimum score in each category at least once per semester.

Males: Age 20-24 years

Females: Age 20-24 years

How to Calculate Your Score

Calculate your score by adding points from each individual event and divide it by 3 to obtain your average score. A passing score is the Good category or better.

For all Marine Option Midshipmen to activate their scholarship and be accepted into the NROTC program, they are required to pass the Marine Corps PFT with a minimum score of 200. Following their entry year, Marine option midshipmen are required to maintain a minimum score of 235 and must have a score of 265 before attending Officer Candidate School the summer before their senior year. View the current Marine Corps PFT standards.

All prospective NROTC students in any program (NROTC Scholarship, College Program and NPP Scholarship) will attend a New Student Indoctrination (NSI) at Naval Station Great Lakes before arriving at the host NROTC unit. All travel will be paid for by the Navy, regardless of program.

NSI is a physically demanding 2.5 week indoctrination course designed to provide standardized basic military instruction to Midshipmen Candidates. This course will facilitate the successful integration of new students into Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) and college life.

After the Candidate Midshipman Guidance Office (CMGO) and medical teams review your NSI Package, you will be assigned to one of the three NSI Iteration Dates below. It is your responsibility to coordinate any commitments you have with your family, NROTC unit/university and outside organizations before you submit your package and are scheduled to attend NSI.

• Iteration 1: June 4-22
• Iteration 2: June 25-July 13
• Iteration 3: July 16-Aug. 3

Visit the NSI homepage or reach out to the CMGO at GRLK_NROTC_CGO@us.navy.mil for further guidance and FAQs.

NSI Mandatory Information Package Submission Requirements

NSI Package due dates and references are listed below.  Early package submission is strongly encouraged. Late packages will not be accepted. For specific questions regarding required paperwork, please contact the CMGO at GRLK_NROTC_CGO@us.navy.mil

If you accepted your 4-Year National Scholarship in: 

• Oct, Nov, Dec: NSI Package due by April 1, 2026
• Jan, Feb, Mar: NSI Package due by May 1, 2026
• Apr, May: NSI Package due by June 12, 2026

NSI 2026 Mandatory Information Package (PDF)

NSI 2026 Mandatory Information Package - Example (PDF)

Or if you are:

• Current College Program Student and/or applying for a Sideload Scholarship: NSI Package due by April 1, 2026
• NROTC Preparatory Student (NPP): NSI Package due by June 12, 2026
• All other College Program Students: NSI Package due by June 12, 2026

NSI 2025 Mandatory Information Package - FAQs (PDF)

Physical Preparation

Because of the physical fitness demands of NSI, prospective students must be in good physical shape prior to attending.

At a minimum, Navy Option Midshipmen Candidates should be able to score a "Good-Low" on the Navy Physical Readiness Test (PRT), which consists of:

• Push-ups: 47 (males), 21 (females)
• Forearm Plank: 1:40 (males), 1:30 (females)
• 1.5-Mile Run: 12:00 (males), 14:15 (females)

Navy Option Midshipman Candidates are highly encouraged to prepare for NSI by visiting the Navy App Locker website and downloading the Official Navy PFA app on their mobile device. The app offers current guidance regarding all aspects of the Navy’s Physical Readiness Program, including information on appropriate nutrition, health, fitness, aerobic capacity, muscular strength, muscular endurance and body fat composition.

Marine Option Midshipmen Candidates should be able to score at least 235 on the Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test (PFT), which consists of pull-ups, sit-ups and a 3-mile run. Marine Option Midshipman Candidates are highly encouraged to prepare for NSI by downloading the USMC Squad Bay App for their mobile device. The Squad Bay app challenges aspiring Marines to track fitness progress and learn about the Marine Corps and the demanding and transformative process of Officer Candidates.

• NROTC Scholarship Applicants: The NROTC scholarship applicants may request enrollment in the Marine Corps option program at the time of initial application by placing an "X" in the Marine Corps Program block of the NROTC-Marine Corps Scholarship Application. Once an NROTC scholarship has been awarded as either Navy or Marine Option, it can be extremely difficult to change to the other type.

• Marine Option Four-Year Scholarship Program Students: A Marine option student is an NROTC student, Scholarship or College Program, who has been voluntarily designated by the Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruiting Command as a candidate for commissioning in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Marine option scholarship students are enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

• Marine Option Four-Year College Program Student: College Program applicants who desire the Marine Corps option may enroll as Marine Corps students. NROTC Four-Year College program students (Marine Corps Option) will enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve when they incur obligated active service for a period of eight years, the day junior classes commence.

• Marine Option Two-Year Program Students: Students (Scholarship and College Program) will enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve upon satisfactory completion of NSI for a period of eight years on the day junior classes commence.

• Marine Corps Option Summer Training: All NROTC Marine Corps Option students will participate in the same summer training program with their Navy peers for 3rd Class and 2nd Class cruises. Naval Education and Training Program (NETC) must approve alternate summer training for Marine Option students, with selection for such training being done by Marine Corps Recruiting Command (MCRC). 1st Class Marine Option students will attend the NROTC portion of Marine Corps Officer Candidates School (OCS), Quantico, VA. Attendance will normally be between the junior and senior years. The NROTC unit, utilizing NETC's appropriation data and funding, provides orders.

Please contact Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) Dino for all Marine-related inquires.

Hands-on training is an important part of becoming a Naval officer. Some of the most important training you will receive as an NROTC student occurs while on a summer cruise. Each four-week cruise is designed to show you a different aspect of life in the Navy or Marine Corps.

The program in which you are involved determines the number of summer cruises. Scholarship students will attend three summer cruises under the Navy or Marine Option. College Program students will attend one summer cruise.

New Student Indoctrination (NSI)

NSI is a physically demanding 2.5-week indoctrination course designed to provide standardized basic military instruction to Midshipmen Candidates. This course will facilitate the successful integration of new students into the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) and college life.

More information about new Student Indoctrination.

CORTRAMID

The first cruise will occur during the summer following a student's (both Navy and Marine option) freshman year. This four-week cruise is known as Career Orientation and Training for Midshipmen (CORTRAMID).

CORTRAMID is designed to show midshipmen the different communities within the Naval service:

• One week will be spent with the Surface Warfare community. Midshipmen will experience life in a surface combatant such as a cruiser or destroyer.
• One week will be spent with the Aviation community. During this time, midshipmen will see the everyday functions of an aviation squadron.
• One week will be spent with the Submarine community. Here, midshipmen will experience life on a submarine.
• The final week will be spent with the Marines. During this week midshipmen will be exposed to life as a Marine.

Second-Class Cruise

The summer after their sophomore year, scholarship students go on their Second-Class cruise. For Navy option students, this means they will spend all four weeks in one community. They will be paired with a senior petty officer as a running mate. This petty officer will show the midshipmen what the day-to-day life of an enlisted Sailor is like. This is particularly important for the students, as it gives them an opportunity to see how the people they will be leading experience the Navy.

Marine option midshipmen will be assigned to one of the Marine training schools and experience the training regime for enlisted Marines.

First-Class Cruise

The final cruise in which all midshipmen participate is their First-Class cruise. Navy option midshipmen are once again assigned to a single community for their entire cruise. However, during this cruise, their running mate will be a junior officer. This cruise is perhaps the most important, as it is during this time that students will see first-hand the job they will be doing in less than a year.

For Marine option midshipmen, the summer will be spent at the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School, also known as Bulldog. Marine Midshipmen will go through their final testing to prove that they are qualified to become a Marine Officer.

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