191310Z JUN 19
346/19
MSGID/GENADMIN, USMTF, 2019/CG MCRC QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2020 MARINE OPTION NAVAL RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS//
REF/A/MSGID: BUMED/-/YMD: 20020820//
REF/B/MSGID: DOCUMENT/MCO/YMD: 20161215//
REF/C/MSGID: GENADMIN MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP/YMD: 20131231//
REF/D/MSGID: DOC/CMC/YMD: 20100901//
REF/E/MSGID: DOC/CONGRESS/YMD: 20080630//
REF/F/MSGID: DOC/DODI/YMD: 20130531//
REF/G/MSGID: DOCUMENT/MCO/YMD: 20180501//
REF/H/MSGID: DOCUMENT/MCO/YMD: 20151029//
REF/I/MSGID: MCRC OCM/-/YMD: 20160111//
POC/Amy Coppage/MCRC ON-E/-/-/TEL: 703-784-9447//
NARR/REF (A) NAVMED P117, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY MANUAL OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT (MANMED), CHAPTER 15. REF (B) IS MCO 6110.3A MARINE CORPS BODY COMPOSITION AND MILITARY APPEARANCE PROGRAM. REF (C) IS CMC MARADMIN 703/13 UPDATE TO TRANSFER OF EDUCATION BENEFITS POLICY. REF (D) IS MCO 1560.25, MARINE CORPS LIFE LONG LEARNING PROGRAM. REF (E) IS PUBLIC LAW 110-252, THE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT OF 2008, TITLE V OF REF E IS THE POST 9-11 VETERANS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2008. REF (F) IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION 1341.13, POST 9-11 GI BILL. REF (G) IS MCO 1040.43B ENLISTED TO OFFICER COMMISSIONING PROGRAMS. REF (H) IS MCO P1020.34H MARINE CORPS UNIFORM REGULATION CH 1-5. REF (I) IS MCRCO 1100.2A OFFICER COMMISSIONING MANUAL (MCRC OCM).//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  The purpose of this message is to announce the Fiscal Year 2020 Marine Option Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) Scholarship, the Frederick C. Branch (FCB) Leadership Scholarship and the Pedro Del Valle (PDV) Leadership Scholarship Programs and to solicit applications from qualified Active Duty and Reserve Marines.
2.  The intent of the NROTC, FCB, and PDV Scholarship Programs are to educate and train highly qualified young men and women for careers as commissioned officers in the Naval service.  The NROTC Programs provide an education at selected colleges and universities in the United States.  Upon graduation and successful completion of Officer Candidates School, a midshipman is appointed a Second Lieutenant in the U. S. Marine Corps.  To be eligible for a commission, scholarship students are required to successfully complete Naval Science courses and summer training mandated by the Commandant of the Marine Corps and Naval Service Training Command.
3.  Basic eligibility requirements for NROTC Scholarship Applicants:
A.  Be a U. S. Citizen.
B.  Be 17 years of age by 1 September of the first year of college and younger than 27 on 31 December of the year in which college graduation and commissioning are anticipated.
C.  Be a high school graduate or possess an equivalent certificate.
D.  Be physically qualified as set forth in Ref (A) and be within height-weight standards in accordance with Ref (B).
E.  Personally exemplify and display the following:
(1) Character - Morally qualified and possessing officer-like qualities and character.
(2) No record of military or civil offenses.  Marines awaiting trial or sentence, on probation, under suspended sentence, or under any other type of military or civil restraint as a result of violation of law or regulation or who have been convicted of a misdemeanor, the nature of which manifestly renders them unfit for commissioned service, are not acceptable.
F.  A score of 74 on the Armed Forces Qualification Test, a composite score of 22 on the American College Test (ACT), or a combined score of 1000 in Math and Evidence Based Reading on the Scholastic  Aptitude Test (SAT).  SAT scores must be from the same test.  ACT and SAT scores must be from the most recent test.  Applicants must authorize release of SAT and ACT test scores to the NROTC Scholarship Program by indicating the four-digit program code, 0656, on the test registration form.  Applicants should also be prepared to hand deliver test score verification to their local Recruiting Station Executive Officer (RS XO).  No waivers for test scores are authorized.
G.  Meet admission requirements of an NROTC affiliated college or university of choice.
H.  Cannot have more than 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of college credits at the time the application is submitted.
I.  Time in Service:  Active Duty or Reserve Marines must have at least one (1) year Time in Service as of 1 October 2019.  This requirement is not waivable.
4.  The FCB Leadership Scholarship is named in honor of the first African American Marine Corps officer who was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 10 November 1945.  It is available at 17 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU):
    Allen University
    Clark Atlanta University
    Dillard University
    Florida A and M University
    Hampton University
    Howard University
    Huston-Tillotson University
    Morehouse College
    Norfolk State University
    Prairie View A and M University
    Savannah State University
    Spelman College
    Southern University A and M College
    Tennessee State University
    Texas Southern University
    Tuskegee University
    Xavier University
5.  The PDV Leadership Scholarship is named in honor of the first Hispanic Marine Corps Lieutenant General.  It is available at five Hispanic Serving Institutes (HSI):
    California State University at San Marcos
    Pima Community College
    San Diego State University
    University of Arizona
    University of New Mexico
6.  All scholarships pay full tuition, instructional (academic) fees, provide uniforms, and provide an initial subsistence allowance of 250 dollars per month for freshmen.  The subsistence allowance increases as midshipmen progress through the academic years.  The scholarships also provide an annual book stipend which will be paid after the Fall term has started.  Marines must pay for room, board, and all other personal expenses.
7.  Applicants must read References (C-F) and contact the Veterans Administration and Base Education Office regarding entitlement to the Montgomery G.I. Bill, Post 9-11 GI Bill and Education Benefits if selected for the NROTC Program.  Further inquiries regarding continued eligibility of education benefits may be directed to Daryl Patrick at commercial (703) 784-8099 or DSN 278-8099.
8.  Per Ref (G), the day before classes begin, Marines awarded scholarships are released to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) and all pays and allowances stop.
9.  NROTC scholarship applicants assume all responsibility for the submission of applications for admission to the NROTC college or university, HBCU, or HSI of their choice.  Applicants should be aware of the different deadline dates for each college or university for applications.  Applicants who delay applying for college admission until after notification of scholarship selection may find it too late to gain admission to the college or university of their choice.  A list of schools is available at WWW.NROTC.NAVY.MIL.
10.  Scholarship applications are submitted electronically, via the internet at WWW.NROTC.NAVY.MIL.  Once submitted, the application will be forwarded to a local recruiting station for processing.  Applicants should receive a call within two weeks to schedule an interview appointment to gather additional information required for their application package.  Deadline for completion of online applications is 31 December 2019.  No extensions will be granted.
11.  Applicants can apply to the FCB or PDV scholarships exclusively or along with the NROTC scholarship.  Should an HBCU or HSI be indicated as a school choice in the online application, the opportunity to apply for the FCB or PDV Leadership Scholarship at that university will be available, and should be discussed with the RS XO.
12.  Additional documents that must be provided by the Marine to the recruiter at their scheduled appointment includes a copy of Service Record Book pages 3, 11, 12, 13, unit punishment book, and a Commanding Officers endorsement that addresses the potential for service as a commissioned officer in accordance with Ref (G).  All applicants must follow Ref (H) guidance for tattoos and must complete a tattoo screening form and tattoo statement of understanding.  Tattoo forms are available on the NROTC website or on the Marine Corps Recruiting Command website at www.marines.usmc.mil. If the Marine has body markings, color photos of the body markings with a description provided by the Marine detailing content (what it is and the meaning of tattoo), location, size, and number of body markings must be included as an enclosure with the Commander endorsement. In addition, submit full length photo(s) in PT gear (green shorts and green t-shirt) from each body angle of the body markings (side-front-back-side).
13.  In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements stated in Paragraph 3, mutilation of the body in any manner, attaching, affixing, or displaying objects, articles, jewelry, or ornamentation to, through, or under their skin, tongue, or any other body part (female Marines may wear earrings) must be in accordance with Ref (H). Tattoos or brands must be in accordance with the current version of Ref (H).  Any tattoos or brands that are prejudicial to good order, discipline, and morale or are of a nature to bring discredit upon the Marine Corps are prohibited.  Additionally, any tattoo or body marking that is gang, racist, sexist, or drug related is prohibited.  Tattoos, branding, body piercing, body mutilation, non-dental tooth crowns, and ornamentation are considered body markings and therefore should be carefully evaluated by Commanders to ensure current regulations regarding eccentric appearance are upheld.
A.  Tattoos should be screened in accordance with Ref (H) and Ref (I).  Cross check drawings with the DD Form 2808 Medical Examination, Block 37 Identifying Body Markings, Scars or Tattoos for consistency.  Photos of tattoos on female torsos will not be taken.  Females will hand draw pictures of torso and lower torso tattoos indicating the size and exact location.  Under no circumstances will female applicants be photographed in less clothing than the standard physical training uniform of shorts and shirt (with sleeves rolled to shoulder seam).  Photos must be treated as Personally Identifiable Information. Photos are not acceptable of male applicants with lower torso (below waist) tattoos.  Male applicants must hand draw pictures of lower torso tattoos indicating the size and exact location.  Under no circumstances will a male applicant be photographed in less clothing than the standard PT uniform (shorts).
B.  Commanders must screen all body markings eligible to be photographed as per paragraph 14.a or drawn in accordance to Ref (I) to ensure they meet the above criteria.  The Commander must state in the first endorsement, "I have viewed the applicant tattoos or brands (as applicable) and they are within the Marine Corps standards per MCO 1020.34H Marine Corps Uniform Regulations."  Applications for Marines outside the standards identified in Ref (H) will not be submitted.
14.  Each Marine Corps District has been allocated scholarships to award to qualified applicants.  Marines requiring assistance in identifying the district in which to submit their application should contact the point of contact (POC) listed in Paragraph 19 of this MARADMIN.  The Districts will convene boards as required to meet their scholarship allocations.  All applicants will be notified directly of selection or non-selection.
15.  Marines from the Active Component must have at least one year time in service as of 1 October 2019 to be eligible for the selection board.  Selected enlisted Marines will be subsequently transferred to the IRR prior to executing their orders to their respective NROTC Unit.
16.  Marines from the Active Reserve (AR) applying for the program must have a conditional release from the AR with less than six months on their current enlistment.  The conditional release must be completed and routed to Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) RAM 2 via their chain of command (COC) to include Commander, Marine Forces Reserve (CMFR).
17.  Marines from the Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR) applying for the program must have a conditional release via the DD Form 368 from any SMCR obligation prior to being eligible for the board. The conditional release must be completed and routed to CMFR via COC.  This conditional release must be in accordance with Chapter 4 of Ref (G) that is requesting a valid approval date for 30 days past the boards projected release date.  All SMCR applicants must have completed all Initial Active Duty Training to be eligible for submission.
18.  Commanding Officers should distribute this information to all Marines in their commands.  Interested Marines should contact their career retention specialist, education officer, or write to the Officer Programs, Marine Corps Recruiting Command, 3280 Russell Road, Quantico, VA 22134-5103, for further information.  Additional information and access to the web-based NROTC application program are available at WWW.NROTC.NAVY.MIL.
19.  POC is Amy Coppage (703)784-9447 OR DSN 278-9447.
20.  This bulletin is not applicable to AR members who have more than six months remaining on their current orders.
21.  This bulletin is cancelled 30 July 2020.
22.  Release authorized by MajGen James W. Bierman, CG MCRC.//