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Scholarship Midshipmen engage in summer training programs designed to immerse them in the daily operations of active duty Sailors and Marines. Over the course of approximately one month, they observe, interact with, and learn from personnel in a variety of Navy and Marine Corps communities. Following their freshman, sophomore, and junior years, Midshipmen are assigned to training sites across the U.S. and overseas, where they experience firsthand the missions, tasks, and equipment of different warfare communities. These training opportunities provide invaluable insights into potential career paths, practical leadership development, and real-world application of the skills they’ve learned.
Career Orientation and Training for Midshipmen (CORTRAMID) offers rising sophomores (3/C Midshipmen) a month-long opportunity to step away from university life and experience the operational communities of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. CORTRAMID is hosted in two locations: CORTRAMID West in San Diego, CA, and CORTRAMID East in Norfolk, VA.
During the program, Midshipmen spend one week each with the surface, submarine, aviation, and Marine Corps communities. This hands-on training introduces them to Navy and Marine Corps operations and helps shape their future summer cruise experiences and service selection preferences before commissioning. Most participants will travel aboard ships, submarines, and aircraft, and spend a week embedded with Marines, gaining valuable exposure to these key communities.
After their sophomore year, Navy Midshipmen participate in 2/C summer cruises, serving aboard surface ships or submarines to gain hands-on experience with fleet operations. Marine option Midshipmen undergo Fleet Marine Force training, where they immerse themselves in the daily life and duties of Marines. Nurse option Midshipmen attend specialized cruises with medical commands, either on land or at shore-based facilities. These upperclassmen cruises take place at various U.S. Navy ports and around the world, providing Midshipmen with invaluable real-world exposure to their future careers.
1/C summer training marks the final preparation before commissioning. Navy-option Midshipmen have the opportunity to serve aboard surface ships and submarines, or participate in specialized cruises with the aviation, Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL), Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), or Information Warfare communities. Select Midshipmen may also have the chance to train with a foreign navy. During their cruise, Midshipmen are paired with a junior officer sponsor at their host unit, where they participate in training, stand watch, and gain firsthand experience in the daily operations of their chosen warfare community. Marine-option Midshipmen complete their summer by attending Officer Candidate School, solidifying their path to commissioning.
2/C Marine Option Midshipmen spend about a month at either Camp Pendleton, CA, or Camp Lejeune, NC, where they engage with key elements of the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF). Their training includes live-fire ranges, Infantry Immersion Training (IIT), land navigation, and exposure to the various Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) that form the MAGTF. This experience emphasizes small unit leadership and serves as crucial preparation for Officer Candidate School (OCS) the following summer.
The first proving ground for future Marine Officers is Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Quantico, VA. The mission of OCS is to rigorously train, screen, and evaluate candidates, ensuring they possess the leadership potential and dedication required to earn a commission. OCS is an intense and demanding experience, serving as the crucible that Marine Option Midshipmen must conquer to join the ranks of the Marine Corps as commissioned officers. Success at OCS is a critical milestone on their path to becoming Marine leaders.
Summer training provides Midshipmen with invaluable exposure to real fleet operations, offering hands-on experiences that cannot be replicated in the classroom. NROTC units make every effort to coordinate these training opportunities around Midshipmen's work, academic, and family commitments, ensuring that every Midshipman can fully benefit from this essential aspect of their development.