Midshipman Life

NROTC Battle Rhythm

Weekly

  • Monday: Physical Training separated by Company 
  • Tuesday: Lab period required for all NROTC students - engaging with guest speakers, case studies, group discussions, and more
  • Wednesday: Mandatory Physical Training for Marine Option MIDN, optional for Navy MIDN 
  • Friday: Physical Training separated by Company 
  • Naval Science Courses: All Midshipmen will take Naval Science courses and consequently receive a minor in Naval Science
  • Miscellaneous: Rifle drill practice, study tables, mentorship meetings, billet holder meetings

Fall Semester

  • Inventory & Final Physical Readiness Test (Navy Option) and Physical Fitness Test (Marine Option)
  • 9/11 Memorial Tri-Service event 
  • Field Training Exercise (Marine Options)
  • Navy & Marine Corps Birthday Ball 
  • Tri-Service competition with Army and Air Force 

  • Honor Company competition 
  • End of semester awards ceremony 

  • Miscellaneous: Leadership conferences, drill meets, volunteer opportunities, community events 

Spring Semester

  • Inventory & Final Physical Readiness Test (Navy Option) and Physical Fitness Test (Marine Option)
  • Field Training Exercise (Marine Options)
  • Dining In 
  • Honor Company competition 
  • End of semester awards ceremony 
  • Miscellaneous: Leadership conferences, drill meets, volunteer opportunities, community events

 

 


 

Purdue NROTC 4-Year Timeline

 

Freshmen (4/C) Year

 

New Student Indoctrination (NSI)

  • High School students who earn a four year national scholarship are required to attend NSI, a 2.5 week training located in Great Lakes, Illinois.
  • NSI is a physically demanding indoctrination course designed to provide standardized basic military instruction to Midshipmen Candidates.
  • This course will facilitate the successful integration of new students into NROTC and college life.

Official NSI Website

NSI Video Link 

 

New Student Orientation (NSO)

  • NSO is a four day training located at the Purdue University Armory, intended to integrate high school scholarship and non-scholarship (College Program) students into the Battalion the week before classes begin. 
  • This indoctrination training is typically conducted at many NROTC units and is used to impart the basics of military orientation and drill.
  • During this period, incoming freshmen on four year scholarships who attended NSI are integrated with College Program freshmen not on scholarship to conduct Purdue NROTC indoctrination training together.
  • This training also provides excellent leadership opportunities and training for upper-class NROTC students who are assigned to serve as orientation cadre​                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

 

Sophomore (3/C) Year

 

Summer Training Requirements before Sophomore Year

MIDN on scholarship (Navy or Marine):

  • Following 4/C year, all MIDN on scholarship are required to attend Carrier Orientation Training for Midshipmen (CORTRAMID) located in San Diego, CA or Norfolk, VA.
  • CORTRAMID is a 4-week long summer training event that exposes rising 3/C and 2/C scholarship students to their career opportunities in both the Navy and Marine Corps.  
  • A full week is devoted to the Aviation, Surface, and Submarine communities of the Navy as well as a full week of Marine Corps exposure where Midshipmen have the chance to ask questions and experience each field first-hand. 

 

Midshipmen not on Scholarship:

  • Following their 4/C year, all MIDN not on scholarship (College Program) are required to attend NSI in Great Lakes, Illinois. 

 

Billets

  • Serving in billets within their respective Companies or the Battalion allows MIDN to develop critical leadership and management skills. 
  • During their 3/C year, MIDN typically serve in Company billets such as squad leader or athletics officer.
  • 3/C MIDN can also serve in Battalion level billets such as Public Affairs Officer (PAO), Assistant Supply Officer (ASUPPO), Assistant Training Officer (A TRAIN-O), Fundraising Officer, or Drill/Recuriting Officer (DRO).

 

Junior (2/C) Year

 

Summer Training Requirements before Junior Year

Navy Options:

  • Navy MIDN can either attend a Submarine, Surface Warfare, or Naval Academy Yard Patrol Craft cruise, typically 2-4 weeks long.
  • Cruises vary in both length and location depending on ship and submarine availability.

 

Marine Options:

  • Marine Option MIDN will attend Fleet Marine Force (FMF) month, a 4 week long training in Camp Lejeune, NC or Camp Pendleton, CA.
  • During Marine month, MIDN will receive daily exposure to the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) and will participate in Field Training Exercises (FTX) to prepare for Officer Candidate School (OCS).

 

Billets

  • During their 2/C year, MIDN typically serve in Company billets such as Squad Leader, Athletics Officer, Executive Officer, or Company Commander.

  • 2/C MIDN can also serve in wide variety of Battalion level billets such as  PAO, A TRAIN-O, DRO, Supply Officer (SUPPO), Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR), Training Officer (TRAIN-O), Admin Officer, Academics Officer, Command Fitness Liasion (CFL), Operations Officer (OPSO), or Battalion Executive Officer (BNXO). 

 

Senior (1/C) Year

 

Summer Training Requirements before Senior Year

Navy Options:

  • Navy MIDN will attend one of the following 4-week cruises - Submarine, Aviation, Surface Warfare and Special Warfare - depending on the specific community they are most interested in. 

 

Marine Options:

  • Marine Option MIDN are required to attend OCS in order to commission in the Marine Corps.
  • OCS is a 6-week training evaluation located in Quantico, VA.
  • The mission of OCS is to educate and train Officer candidates in Marine Corps knowledge and skills within a controlled and challenging environment in order to evaluate and screen individuals for the leadership, moral, mental, and physical qualities required for commissioning as a Marine Corps officer. 

 

Billets

  • ​During their 1/C year, MIDN typically serve in the Company Commander billet or Battalion level billets such as TRAIN-O, SUPPO, OPSO, BNXO, or Battalion Commander (BNCO). 

 

Service Selection/Assignment

Navy Options:

  • Based off of the needs of the Navy and individual performance, MIDN will be assigned to one of the following communities during the Fall semester of their 1/C year:

    • Surface Warfare Officer (SWO)
    • Submarine Officer
    • Naval Aviatior or Naval Flight Officer (NFO)
    • Naval Special Warfare - SEAL or Explosive Ordnance (EOD) Officer
    • Nuclear Reactors
    • Cyber Warfare

 

Marine Options:

  • Marine Option MIDN pursuing a Ground contract will not be assigned their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) until they are at The Basic School (TBS) following commissioning.  
  • Aviation and Law contracts are possibilities for Marine Option MIDN prior to commissioning. 

 

Ship Selection

  • MIDN assigned as SWO's will begin the process of ship selection during November of their 1/C year.

  • 1/C MIDN are ranked agains their peers across the country and compete to determine which ship they will serve on following Basic Division Officer Training Course (BDOC). ​

Spring 2023 Ship Selection Livestream 

 

Post Commissioning

 

 

Navy Ensigns (ENS): 

  • All newly commissioned ENS' will typically attend one of the following schools: 

    • SWO - 9 weeks of Basic Division Officer Training Course (BDOC) in San Diego, CA or Norfolk, VA (ship selection dependent).
    • Submarine Officers - 24 weeks of Nuclear Power School in Charleston, SC.
    • Aviation - Naval Aviators and NFOs will report to Pensacola, FL for flight school.
    • Special Warfare - Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training located at the Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado, CA. 

      • Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Officers will report to the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, FL. 

Marine Corps Second Lieutenants (2ndLt): 

  • All newly commisioned Marine Corps 2nd Lt's will report to The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, VA for 6 months of provisional rifle platoon commander training. 
  • Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) will be assigned at TBS along with Permanent Duty Station. 

More Information