What is NROTC? Tulane’s Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program provides invaluable opportunities and benefits to participating students. While enrollment has steadily increased over the years, the program still struggles with low enrollment and lack of student awareness. Increased student participation and backing from Tulane University could allow the NROTC program to thrive and serve both students and the United States.

NROTC gives students interested in military careers a head start through classes, training and practical experience. Midshipmen gain leadership, teamwork and other skills that prepare them to commission as officers or pursue civilian jobs after graduation. Additionally, NROTC scholarships make college more affordable by covering tuition, housing fees and textbooks in return for five years of service. 

Christian Allmon sought out Tulane’s NROTC program as a pathway to achieve his dream of becoming a Navy officer. Hailing from a modest background, Allmon knew his family would not be able to fully fund his college education. By earning a NROTC scholarship to Tulane, Allmon secured financial assistance for a school which provides training to join the world’s greatest fighting force. 

Now in his third year at Tulane, Allmon serves as the recruiting division officer in the NROTC program, motivating and recruiting fellow students to enroll. He says he is grateful for the opportunities NROTC has afforded him and hopes to see the program grow so that other ambitious midshipmen may benefit as well. This past summer, Allmon had the opportunity to experience life on an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in Norfolk, Virginia. During his summer training deployment, Allmon was able to meet and work with expert naval personnel.  

With greater promotion of NROTC opportunities on campus, more students can reap benefits. Highlighting the program during recruitment events and new student orientation, as well as promoting classes about military culture and history, will boost participation. Current full-time freshmen and sophomore students can also apply to the NROTC and receive the full benefits of the program. 

In 2021, Tulane’s NROTC Unit received a top excellence award from the Department of Defense, which recognized the military department’s outstanding unit and host educational institution. According to President Mike Fitts, “Tulane has a rich and proud history of supporting our Reserve Officers Training Corps, dating back to 1938, with the formation of the Tulane NROTC,” and that this honor “exemplif[ies] the university’s call to service and elevate[s] our mission of educating the leaders of tomorrow.” 

Tulane’s NROTC has commissioned over 2,150 Navy and Marine Corps officers. Tulane NROTC also has numerous notable alumni and powerful women, such as Captain Jennifer Wilderman, who flew night operations in the Strait of Magellan and supported Operation Desert Fox. Additionally, General David Berger was appointed the 38th commandant of the Marine Corps and Colonel Douglas Hurley was one of the first astronauts for U.S. commercial space flights and commanded the SpaceX crew Dragon in 2020. Tulane’s support is seen as crucial to the education and training of top military leaders, and a top excellence award reflects the long history and pride Tulane has in its NROTC programs.

NROTC students complete physical training three times a week in addition to a weekly Wednesday Leadership Lab which conducts a close-order drill and training, such as operational security, nutrition and stress management. 

Dominic LaPata spent six weeks in Quantico, Virginia, training at the Marine Corps Officer Candidates School. LaPata will commission as a Marine Corps officer in May of 2024. Due to LaPata’s experience in the Russian department at Tulane, he hopes to utilize his degree in the Marine Corps. NROTC members Jacob Fontenot and Logan Bartels agreed that the ability to be a college student and have a career path set out for you post-graduation “takes out the worry.” The unit also provides professional development such as leadership training and presentation skills, while also building confidence. Fontenot selected courses in Tulane’s NROTC building — including Leadership & Management and Naval Ops Analysis — that taught him valuable skills to become a military officer.

By growing student membership and expanding institutional support, Tulane’s NROTC program can better prepare midshipmen while providing the Marine Corps with motivated junior officers. With more resources dedicated to outreach and recruitment, Tulane can attract promising candidates who may have overlooked the school previously. By sharing their positive experiences, current midshipmen can then inspire prospective students to explore military service and Tulane’s educational opportunities.

Boosted enrollment and greater support benefits can strengthen the program and its students while also enriching the university’s community and the nation, which gains dedicated military leaders. 

Interested students can contact the Tulane NROTC Unit directly at (504) 247-1605.