Mission

The Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) was established to develop midshipmen mentally, morally and physically, and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, and loyalty, and with the core values of honor, courage and commitment in order to commission college graduates as naval officers who possess a basic professional background, are motivated toward careers in the naval service, and have a potential for future development in mind and character so as to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.

Life as a Marquette NROTC Midshipman

Located in the heart of Milwaukee, Marquette University NROTC offers an immersive environment where our midshipmen study, train, and develop into future leaders. The Marquette NROTC program provides a well-rounded experience that combines rigorous academics, physical training, extracurricular activities, and professional development. Midshipmen at Marquette are driven by academic excellence and discipline. In addition to their chosen academic majors, all midshipmen complete eight Naval Science courses designed to build a solid foundation of professional knowledge. These courses cover a diverse array of topics, ranging from an introduction to Navy and Marine Corps history, to ethics and leadership, to advanced subjects like nuclear engineering.

 

In addition to academic excellence, midshipmen at Marquette NROTC strive to be physically tough. As a unit, they conduct physical training (PT) together multiple times a week. Throughout the semester, midshipmen have various opportunities to demonstrate their physical fitness, such as PT competitions, swim qualifications, field exercises, rucks, and obstacle courses.

 

 

Beyond academics and physical training, midshipmen also have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities. These include drill meets, leadership conferences, various industry tours, and sports tournaments like basketball and football, among others. These activities provide additional avenues for personal growth, teamwork, and leadership development.

               

 

The journey as a Marquette NROTC midshipman is challenging yet rewarding, fostering the development of character, resilience, and leadership that will prepare them for their future careers as officers in the Navy and Marine Corps.

History

The Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) was established in 1926. NROTC began with six units located at the University of California at Berkeley, Georgia Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, University of Washington, and Harvard and Yale universities. The Marine Corps entered the Navy ROTC program in 1932, offering qualified Navy ROTC graduates commissions in the United States Marine Corps.

In the summer of 1940, two priests at Marquette University, Father McCarthy and Father Bartholomew J. Quinn, played key roles in advocating for the establishment of an NROTC unit at the university. Marquette’s proximity to Lake Michigan, the Great Lakes Naval Training Center (now Naval Station Great Lakes and Recruit Training Command), and the strength of its engineering program all contributed to the successful case for creating the NROTC unit.

The Marquette Gymnasium  -  1923	The Marquette Gymnasium  -  2023

On September 11, 1940, Marquette University gained approval to establish an NROTC unit, becoming the 12th in the U.S. Captain Frank H. Kelley, USN, was appointed as the unit’s first Commanding Officer, while Father Bartholomew J. Quinn served as the Naval Coordinator, acting as the liaison between the NROTC unit and the university. Out of 250 freshman applicants, 140 were accepted after meeting rigorous standards in mental alertness, physical fitness, high moral character, and leadership potential. Those who successfully completed the four-year program and commissioned went on to serve in World War II, contributing to the war effort in both the Pacific and European theaters. Marquette Univeristy students and MUNROTC allumni served their country with dignity and honor. A total of 7,000 Marquette Univeristy students served in WWII. Many gave the ultimate sacrafice.158 alumni were killed in action, and another 215 were missing in action. 

Captian Frank H. Kelly	Father Bartholomew J. Quinn	Father McCarthy

In 1968 Prairie View A&M became the first Historically Black College (HBC) to host the program. In 1972, the Secretary of the Navy authorized 16 women to enroll in the program and attend school at one of four colleges. Women may now participate in the program while attending any Navy ROTC-affiliated college or university. In 1990 the Navy ROTC Scholarship Program was expanded to include applicants pursuing a four-year degree in nursing, leading to a commission in the Navy Nurse Corps.

The mission of the Navy ROTC Program today is to develop young men and women morally, mentally and physically, and to instill in them the highest ideals of honor, courage, and commitment. The program educates and trains young men and women for leadership positions in an increasingly technical Navy and Marine Corps. Currently there are 63 Navy ROTC units/consortiums hosted at 77 schools throughout the United States. The Navy ROTC program is available at more than 160 colleges and universities that either host Navy ROTC units or have crosstown enrollment agreements with a host university. Selected applicants for the program are awarded scholarships through a highly competitive national selection process, and receive full tuition and other financial benefits at many of the country's leading colleges and universities.

Receive Full Tuition, Book Stipend, and More...

The purpose of the Navy ROTC program is to educate and train qualified young men and women for service as commissioned officers in the Navy's unrestricted line, the Navy Nurse Corps and the Marine Corps. As the largest single source of Navy and Marine Corps officers, the Navy ROTC Scholarship Program plays an important role in preparing mature young men and women for leadership and management positions in an increasingly technical Navy and Marine Corps.

Selected applicants for the Navy ROTC Scholarship Program are awarded scholarships through a highly competitive national selection process, and receive full tuition, books stipend, educational fees and other financial benefits at many of the country's leading colleges and universities. Upon graduation, midshipmen are commissioned as officers in the unrestricted line Naval Reserve or Marine Corps Reserve.

The Navy ROTC Scholarship Program is available to qualified students who graduate from high school before August 1 of the year they intend to start college.

Students selected for the Navy ROTC Scholarship Program make their own arrangements for college enrollment and room and board, and take the normal course load required by the college or university for degree completion. Additionally, scholarship midshipmen are required to follow specific academic guidelines.

Full information concerning the Navy ROTC Scholarship Program is available from any of the colleges and universities with Navy ROTC units or from Navy and Marine Corps recruiters. A list of colleges and universities is available on this website at the Colleges and Universities page.