Students in the NROTC program at Notre Dame are, in many regards, very much like ordinary college students - they live in dorms, socialize with friends, participate in extracurriculars and athletics, and attend class with their fellow Notre Dame or Saint Mary's classmates. However, unlike their peers, Midshipmen in the NROTC program undertake additional commitments in order to prepare them for careers as officers in the Navy or Marine Corps.
In addition to academics, Midshipmen in the NROTC
program at Notre Dame are required to participate in the
following events each week:
Naval Science Class
In addition to a normal course load, Midshipmen
take
a class in Naval
Science each semester.
Physical Training (PT)
Each Monday morning before classes,
the NROTC Battalion assembles for an hour long PT
session. In addition to that, Navy option
midshipmen attend a second PT session while Marine
Option midshipmen have three additional PT sessions
each week. Once a semester, midshipmen are tested
on their physical fitness capabilities. Navy Option
midshipmen take the Physical Readiness Test (PRT)
which consists of push-ups, curl-ups, and a 1.5 mile
run. Marine Options midshipmen take the Physical
Fitness Test (PFT) which consists of pull-ups,
curl-up, and a 3 mile run.
Drill
Each week the NROTC Battalion attends an hour long
professional development session known as "Drill".
During this time, midshipmen may receive briefings
from guest lecturers, participate in leadership
scenarios, or practice close order marching.
Sports and Extracurricular Activities
While not required, students are encouraged to
participate in sports and extracurriculars that fit
in to their schedules around their NROTC
requirements. For example, current midshipmen in
the battalion are members of varsity sports teams,
student government, inter-hall athletics, community
service organizations, glee club, and the Notre Dame
marching band. Additionally, midshipmen are
encouraged to take part in NROTC-associated
extracurricular activities such as the
Trident Naval Society, a midshipmen-run
community service organization.
