FISCAL YEAR 2026 ENLISTED MARINE OPTION NAVAL RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Date Signed: 6/26/2025 | MARADMINS Number: 295/25
MARADMINS : 295/25

R 251523Z JUN 25
MARADMIN 295/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CG MCRC QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2026 ENLISTED MARINE OPTION NAVAL RESERVE OFFICERS
TRAINING CORPS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM//
REF/A/MSGID:  BUMED/-/YMD: 20020820//
REF/B/MSGID:  DOCUMENT/MCO/YMD: 20250528//
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: 20211029//
REF/I/MSGID:  MCRC OCM/-/YMD: 20250306//
POC/J. T. HARRISON/MCRC/G3/ON-E/TEL:  571-559-4579/EMAIL:  
JORDAN.HARRISON@MARINES.USMC.MIL//
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 MCBUL 1020 DTD 29 OCT 2021.  REF (I) IS MCRCO 1100.2B 
OFFICER COMMISSIONING MANUAL (MCRC OCM).//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  This MARADMIN solicits applications from 
qualified enlisted Active Duty and Ready Reserve Marines for the 
following Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) scholarship programs listed below:
    Enlisted Marine Option Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps 
    Scholarship (E-O NROTC)    
1.a.  The intent of the E-O NROTC is to educate and train 
highly qualified enlisted Marines for careers as commissioned 
officers in the Naval service.  These 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 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.
1.b.  Enlisted applicants selected for a four-year scholarship are 
eligible to attend any NROTC affiliated university if accepted by 
the university. 
1.c.  Enlisted applicants who have questions regarding 
paragraphs 1.a. and 1.b. should contact their Recruiting 
Station Executive Officer (RS XO) assisting them with their 
application or the Marine Corps Recruiting Command point of 
contact listed above.  
2.  Eligibility Requirements
2.a.  Be a U. S. Citizen.
2.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.
2.c.  Be a high school graduate or possess an equivalent certificate.
2.d.  Be physically qualified as set forth in Ref (A) and be within 
height and weight standards in accordance with Ref (B).
2.e.1.  Personally exemplify and display the following:
2.e.2.  Character - Morally qualified and possessing officer-like 
qualities and character.
2.e.3.  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.
2.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 
RS XO.  No waivers for test scores are authorized.
2.g.  Meet admission requirements of an NROTC affiliated college or 
university of choice.
2.h.  Cannot have more than 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of
college credits at the time the application is submitted.
2.i.  Time in Service:  Active Duty or Reserve Marines must have at 
least one (1) year Time in Service as of 1 October 2025.  This 
requirement is not waivable.
2.j.  Meet all other requirements set forth in Ref (I).
3.  Coordinating Instructions
3.a.  Enlisted Marines interested in applying for the scholarship 
program listed in paragraph (1) should contact their 
Career Planner or Commanding Officer.  All Marines must contact a 
RS XO from one of the 6 Marine Corps Districts (MCD) which can be 
found at https://www.mcrc.marines.mil/units  or at 
https://rmi.marines.com/.
3.b.  Applications must be submitted electronically, via 
https://www.netc.navy.mil/commands/naval-service-training-
command/nrotc/apply/.  Once submitted, the application will be 
forwarded to a local RS XO 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 January 2026.  No extensions or waivers will be granted.
3.c.  Scholarship applicants should be aware of the different 
deadline dates for each college or university to which they are 
applying.  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 
https://www.netc.navy.mil/Commands/Naval-Service-Training-
Command/NROTC/Program-Information/Navy-ROTC-Schools/.
3.d.  Each MCD has been allocated scholarships to award to qualified
enlisted applicants.  Each MCD will convene boards as required to 
meet their scholarship allocations.  All applicants will be notified
directly of selection or non-selection.
3.e.  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.
3.f.  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 a scholarship program.
3.g.  Selected enlisted Marines will be subsequently transferred to 
the IRR prior to executing their orders to their respective NROTC 
Unit in accordance with reference (G) and the Marine Corps Total 
Force System Personnel Reporting Instruction User's Manual via Unit
Diary / Marine Integrated Personnel Service system.
3.h.  Marines in the Active Reserve applying for the program 
must request a conditional release with a DD Form 368, via the first
O-6 in their chain of command, to Headquarters Marine Corps Reserve
Affairs.
3.i.  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 by the Reserve Chain of 
Command to Commanding General, Marine Forces Reserve.  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.
3.j.  Marines must possess unquestionable character and exercise 
sound judgment at all times. Accordingly, applicants must disclose 
all instances of disciplinary and/or investigative actions taken 
against the Marine, regardless of the outcome. This includes but is 
not limited to: court martial proceedings, civilian court 
proceedings, administrative separation processing, non-judicial 
punishment, command investigations, Prohibited Activities and 
Conduct investigations, and any other investigation conducted
by a government agency. This includes court proceedings of any kind 
resulting in an acquittal, a dismissal, or a deferred prosecution; 
and any investigation or proceeding in which the basis is unfounded
or unsubstantiated. Marines reporting such instances must provide a 
detailed statement with any associated documentation explaining the 
circumstances of the matter and the disposition.
3.k.  Career Planners and Commanding Officers should distribute 
this information to all enlisted Marines in their command.  
4.  This MARADMIN will remain in effect until superseded or
canceled, whichever occurs first.
5.  Release authorized by MajGen William J. Bowers, CG MCRC.//