Join NROTC

To join the Gamecock Battalion and start your journey toward becoming a Navy or Marine Corps officer, you'll need to meet a set of key requirements. These standards make sure every candidate is prepared mentally, morally, and physically for the challenges of training and leadership. Meeting these qualifications is the first step to proving your commitment to excellence and readiness for service. Below, you’ll find what it takes to be a part of our program.

Requirements

General Applicant Requirements

Citizenship: Applicants must be U.S. citizens by birth, naturalization, or in the process of obtaining citizenship (proof required).
Age: Applicants must be 17 by September 1 of the year entering college and under 23 by December 31 of that year. Candidates must not reach their 27th birthday before December 31 of their commissioning year. Age waivers may apply for prior active-duty service, up to 36 months.
Education: Applicants must hold or expect a high school diploma or equivalent by August 1 of their NROTC start year.
Commitment: Applicants must be willing, and have no moral obligations nor personal convictions, to bearing arms in order to uphold the Constitution of the United States.
College Eligibility: First-year college students at non-NROTC schools may apply for the National Scholarship, while those at NROTC schools should consult with their NROTC unit for alternative pathways to commissioning.
Military Service Obligation (MSO): Recipients serve eight years, with a minimum of five years active duty for Navy option or four years for Nurse option scholarships. If selected for the PREMED program, additional service obligations apply beyond the required five years for Navy option. See the PREMED page for more detailed information.
School Admission: Scholarship recipients must list five NROTC college choices in their application and must be admitted to at least one. Placement change requests are permitted if capacity allows. If a scholarship recipient does not gain admission to any of the schools listed on their application, they must work with the NROTC Placement Office to find a school within the NROTC network with available admission and unit capacity.

Academic Testing Requirements

SAT/ACT Minimum Scores: Minimum SAT (550 EBRW, 540 Math, combined 1100) or ACT (22 English, 21 Math, combined 44) scores are required.
AFQT Option: If SAT/ACT testing is inaccessible, an AFQT score of 81+ on the ASVAB is acceptable.
Score Validity: Test scores are valid up to four years before the application deadline.
Superscoring Policy: Applicants may combine the highest Math and English scores from multiple SAT or ACT tests, but not across different test types.

Medical Requirements

DoDMERB Physical Exam: Scholarship activation requires passing the DoD Medical Evaluation Review Board (DoDMERB) exam.

Physical Fitness Requirements

NROTC Applicant Fitness Assessment (AFA): Applicants must complete an AFA with scores provided by a certified individual (e.g., PE teacher or coach). A completed AFA score sheet is mandatory for a valid application. The AFA cannot be conducted by a recruiter.

Service Members and ROTC Eligibility

Ineligibility for Active Duty Navy: Current active-duty Navy personnel are ineligible to apply through NAVCRUITCOM. Service members from other branches may apply with conditional release (DD Form 368).
Recruit Training Applicants: Applicants scheduled for Recruit Training Command (RTC) may apply but will not proceed to RTC without notification of selection status.

Apply

Keep in mind, perhaps the most important step to joining the Gamecock Battalion is admission to the University. If admissions assistance is needed, specific program contact information is available on our Contact page as well as on Our People page.

Undergraduate Admission

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions manages online applications to the university and provides the most comprehensive information on the application process. The admissions office also provides the latest information on application deadlines and university scholarships for S.C. residents and nonresidents. So whether you are applying as a freshman, are looking to transfer to South Carolina or are planning to come to Columbia from another USC campus, you can check the requirements based on your current status and apply now.

Scholarship Options

NROTC Scholarship Options are available for graduating high school students (four-year scholarships) with the application process beginning the summer before your senior year, and those currently enrolled in college (two- or three-year scholarships). Each scholarship provides full tuition and educational fees or room and board (up to $11,500 per year), books, stipends, uniforms, and summer training cruises. See links for the application process and additional information.

NROTC Preparatory Scholarships allow interested high school students, who show great potential via grades, character, and extra-curricular activities but might lack standardized test scores or advanced high school courses, to apply for one-year university, or privately funded scholarships. NPP is designed to provide students the educational foundation necessary for success in the NROTC program and Navy. Following completion of the preparatory year, you may be eligible for a follow-on NROTC four-year scholarship. Allen University, Benedict College and Midlands Technical College are participating NPP institutions with the Gamecock Battalion. See the link for specific institution requirements and deadlines.

NROTC Navy Nurse Program Option offers an opportunity for students interested in becoming nurses in the U.S. Navy to earn a bachelor's degree in nursing while earning a commission as an ensign. Students enrolled in the NROTC program as a nursing student are referred to as midshipmen and participate in weekly physical fitness training, specific naval science classes, and a Navy lab period to exercise leadership and learn Navy customs, courtesies and basic military knowledge.

College Program

For students who are not on scholarship but want to join, the College Program grants the ability to participate in all unit activities, receive uniforms and books, and have the opportunity to apply for scholarship benefits after their first full semester with the NROTC unit. Students may also be selected for Advanced Standing starting their Junior year, which will provide them with a stipend, a summer of training, and a commission upon graduation.

College Program Application [pdf]

Active Duty Personnel

Current enlisted service members of the United States Navy and Marine Corps also have an opportunity to be a part of the Gamecock Battalion. Active Duty personnel will study alongside the civilian students in the unit, attend unit functions, and occasionally hold positions of responsibility, but will still receive active duty pay and benefits. Please contact our staff following selection for further instruction.

Apply to the Seaman to Admiral-21 program

Apply to the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program

Crosstown Students

For students attending Allen University, Benedict College or Midlands Technical College.

USC NROTC Crosstown Students Application Process

Why Carolina?

NROTC at the University of South Carolina offers several unique aspects that separate us from other NROTC units across the country, for instance:

A unit with a typical strength of around 100 midshipmen, MECEP students, and Officer Candidates.
Excellent selection rate for candidates pursuing careers as EOD/SEAL officers as well as those pursuing Naval Aviation.
An active Alumni Association, which offers scholarships for select out of state students not on an ROTC scholarship to attend USC at the in-state tuition rate.
A gym maintained by the combined ROTC units at USC, for use only by USC midshipmen and cadets, in addition to the two campus gyms.
Close proximity to military installations:
- Fort Jackson is located in Columbia, and Parris Island is in nearby Beaufort County. Both serve as frequent training locations for various unit events.
- Joint Base Charleston is nearby for various needs of midshipmen and Officer Candidate.
Conveniently located minutes from Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE), many restaurants, shopping, site-seeing or a short drive to the beach and the mountains for study breaks.

ROTC