Department of Naval Science
CAPT Price Lockard, Commanding Officer, Naval Science (Hayes Hall, University of Idaho; phone 208-885-6333; www.uidaho.edu/navy-rotc)
The Navy-Marine Corps Officer Education Program is administered and taught by the Naval Science Department staff on 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 lab 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 UI/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 ships, naval aviation or special warfare. Service assignment for marine option students occurs following completion of the Basic School after graduation.
Scholarship Program
NROTC scholarship students’ benefits include tuition, fees, a book allowance, and a monthly stipend. Room and board are not covered by the scholarship.
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) and high school academic performance.
A student on scholarship will complete three summer training cruises of four to six weeks duration. During 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 ships, or with aviation units 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 training evolution. During summer training events, the students receive one-half of the pay of an ensign/second 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.
Application for this program is normally made during the spring of the student’s senior year of high school and in limited cases the end of their freshman 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) and high school/university academic performance. Students can apply to either the navy or marine option programs.
College program students may 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.
UI Room and Board Scholarship
The University of Idaho established a $5,000 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 living in a University of Idaho residence hall. The award can be combined with other scholarships but cannot exceed the cost of attendance established by the Financial Aid Office and may be adjusted each year if scholarships or grants exceed the established cost of attendance. Funds cannot be used for tuition or book expenses. Work closely with your Financial Aid adviser to fully understand what your scholarship covers and any adjustments that may be made to your scholarships.
Field Trips
Field trips to navy and marine corps facilities are arranged periodically in order to allow the Navy-Marine Corps Officer Education Program members the opportunity to learn more about the naval service.