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Naval Science Minor
All Midshipmen take Naval Science courses, which result in receiving a minor in Naval Science.
Midshipmen Life
Want to see what your Purdue NROTC career would look like? Click the link below to learn more.
Visit Us
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News
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Ignore everything pass this point
Purdue NROTC's mission is to prepare young men and women to become the next generation of Naval and Marine officers. By joining the unit, you take up an opportunity to embark on an adventure where teamwork, dedication, and leadership is not just learned, they're lived. NROTC is a gateway to a future filled with adventure and purpose. You will take up military training while enrolled in courses for your major. The staff and your fellow Midshipmen help you navigate the challenging but rewarding path of officer training, shaping you into a resilient and capable leader of Sailors and Marines. The skills and bonds formed here often last a lifetime, providing opportunities in the military and beyond. We urge you to seize this opportunity to set your course toward a bright and meaningful future. Your adventure starts here.
Learning Community:
The Naval ROTC Learning Community is highly recommended for those looking to live in the Residence Halls their Freshman year. Every year, those who sign up for the Learning Community are placed near each other in the residence halls, helping build camaraderie.
Life
There are a few things that are a part of daily Midshipman life that anyone considering joining Purdue NROTC should know.
When you come to Purdue to begin your freshman year of college, all Midshipmen, whether they have a scholarship or are enrolled in the College Program, are invited to attend a New Student Orientation for approximately four days the week before classes start. This orientation includes an introduction to the skills of Close Order Drill, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps and their traditions, and physical training (PT). Uniforms are also issued. The goal of this orientation is to familiarize the incoming freshmen with life as a Midshipman in the Naval Services, allow them to meet the other Midshipmen of the battalion, and give them an idea of what to expect for the next four years. Incoming scholarship Midshipman will also attend New Student Indoctrination at NSTC Great Lakes before coming to Purdue.
Once the semester starts, Midshipmen will attend classes like non-NROTC students. However, Midshipmen will take one 3-credit hour Naval Science course and a lab period on Tuesday mornings in addition to the classes required by their specific major. Every Tuesday, Midshipmen wear their uniforms all day while on campus.
At Purdue NROTC, academics is our number one priority. The battalion hires tutors to help Midshipmen succeed in their courses, especially Calculus and Physics. Assistance is also available from battalion Midshipmen for other classes.
Fitness is also a key part of developing Midshipmen into officers. Marine and Navy option Midshipmen complete physical training three times a week (M-W-F) at 0545.
Mentorship is organized among Midshipmen every semester. Freshmen and sophomores choose a junior or senior Midshipman to mentor him or her. These mentors work with underclass Midshipmen to develop physically, academically, and in leadership. These mentor pairs complete multiple events every semester that focus on each of these aspects of development.
The battalion sponsors extracurricular activities including a drill team, Purdue Grand Prix team, and Color Guard. Purdue Midshipmen are also involved in other activities on campus. While academics is our top priority, it is recognized that extracurricular activity contributes to a well-rounded individual, and therefore Midshipmen are encouraged to be involved in campus activities.
Every home football game, the battalion works security detail at Ross-Ade Stadium. This is the battalion’s source of income and supports Midshipmen extracurricular activities. It also provides funds to defray the cost of the Navy / Marine Corps Birthday Ball, the Senior Class Mess Night, gifts from the battalion, and picnics or pizza parties the battalion may host.
Midshipmen training continues in the summer. To commission, Navy Option Midshipmen must complete NSTC Great Lakes New Student Indoctrination (NSI), Sea Trials, and First-Class Cruise. Career Orientation and Training of Midshipmen (CORTRAMID) is also important training, but is not a commissioning requirement. Marine Option Midshipmen are required to complete NSTC Great Lakes NSI and Officer Candidate School (OCS) to commission.
Academics, extracurricular activities, and physical fitness comprise life as a Midshipman at Purdue NROTC and provide the experience and opportunity which prepares the Midshipman to succeed as an officer in the United States Navy or Marine Corps.
Marine Options
Students who wish to commission into the Marine Corps join Mike Company. Mike company is for Marine Options and participates in many of the same things as the rest of NROTC, but also has many training opportunities separate from Navy companies. Mike Company serves two primary purposes: to prepare Midshipmen for Officer Candidate School (OCS), and to prepare Midshipmen to become capable Marine Officers. As a Marine Option you will learn small unit leadership and basic tactics, along with many other concepts and skills specific to the Marine Corps. Every semester, there is a three day field training exercise where Marine Options get to practice the skills which they have learned throughout the semester, like squad and platoon level tactics, land navigation, and more. The spring field training exercise is OCS oriented, giving Midshipmen an opportunity to prepare for OCS before actually going.
Mike Company does physical training (PT) separately from Navy companies and has the Physical Fitness Test as as its' physical standard, which is pull ups, plank, and a three mile run. Marine Options can be get ground or air contracts while still in NROTC, meaning that you are guaranteed a pilot slot if you apply and are accepted for an air contract, and you are guaranteed a ground MOS if you apply for and are accepted for a ground contract.
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Events
Fall New Student Orientation - Introduction to Purdue NROTC
All incoming freshman are invited to become acquainted with the battalion and its expectations during this five-day evolution. The incoming fourth-class Midshipmen are taught the fundamentals and skills within the Navy and Marine Corps. These fundamentals and skills are: drill, physical fitness (PT), military knowledge, and customs and courtesies. The evolution includes a physical fitness assessment (PFA) or Physical Fitness Test (PFT), and daily PT sessions and a completion ceremony where the incoming fourth-class become integrated into the battalion. This event is also accompanied by a battalion grill-out.
Summer Cruise
Each summer, Midshipmen on scholarship participate in a summer training program. Both Navy and Marine Option Midshipmen will have the opportunity to spend time onboard submarines, surface combatants, aviation squadrons, and a Marine Corps base during CORTRAMID the summer after their fourth-class year. Navy Option Midshipmen attend Sea Trials after third-class year for advanced training and as a milestone on their path to commissioning. The final summer, Navy Option Midshipmen shadow a junior officer on a surface ship, submarine, or aviation squadron to learn about that community as their First-Class Cruise.
Marine Option Midshipmen attend Fleet Marine Force the summer after their third-class year for more advanced training and to experience life on a Marine Corps base for one month. Marine Option Midshipmen then attend OCS the summer before their senior year to put their training and abilities to the test before commissioning.
Extracurricular Activities of Midshipmen at Purdue NROTC
Intramural Sports
Purdue NROTC sponsors intramural sports such as football. These intramural sports offer a chance for Midshipmen to bond with others outside of mandatory training, as well as play sports at different levels of competition.
Commander’s Cup
Each fall the three Purdue ROTC detachments compete in a variety of athletic events vying for the Commander’s Cup Trophy. The events include sports and activities such as Flag Football, Soccer, Softball, Tug-of-War, Basketball, Volleyball, etc. At the end of the two-week competition the battalion with the most points wins the trophy and holds it until the next fall.
Drill Team
The NROTC Drill Team competes at drill meets hosted by other schools across the country. These competitions feature rifle drill, pistol and rifle competitions, endurance races, and more.
Other activities at Purdue in which Midshipmen are involved...
Purdue NROTC Midshipmen participate in many activities outside the battalion; fraternities, sororities, church groups, Purdue Musical Organization, student government, or clubs relating to their major. Our Midshipmen successfully juggle academics, NROTC, Varsity or Club Athletics, Marching Band, and other activities. Many Midshipmen hold down a job in their time at Purdue. There are many opportunities to get involved in the Battalion and on campus, and the Purdue NROTC Unit encourages participation in such activities.
Purdue NROTC
Purdue Armory
812 Third Street
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907
Hours: 0800-1600
Call (765) 494 2055 to schedule an appointment.
Purdue Naval ROTC is located across the hall from Purdue Air Force ROTC on the second floor of the Purdue Armory.
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