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Pay & Allowances

Participants in the Seaman to Admiral (STA-21) program receive the following pay and benefits:

  • Full Pay & Allowances: Participants maintain their enlisted pay grade, including Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS).
  • Education Benefits: Eligible to use Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) benefits (Chapter 30) after STA-21 funds are exhausted, provided they are used for different courses.
  • Scholarship: Up to $10,000 per year is paid directly to the university to supplement tuition, fees, and books.
  • Advancement Opportunity: STA-21 participants remain eligible for enlisted advancement while in the program.
  • Commissioning: Upon completing their degree, graduates commission as active-duty Ensigns in the U.S. Navy.
  • Healthcare & Housing: Retain access to military medical care, commissary, exchange privileges, and base housing (where available).

Restrictions

  • Not eligible for Tuition Assistance (TA), the Navy College Fund (NCF), or Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) benefits.
  • Not eligible for Special Duty Assignment Pay (SDAP).
  • Time spent in the STA-21 program does not count toward years of service for voluntary retirement, per 10 U.S. Code § 6328.
  • Some special pay may continue for those in Special Warfare or Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) options, as directed by the Officer Community Manager (BUPERS-311D and BUPERS-311E).

Selection

Selection into the STA-21 program occurs annually in the fall. Selectees are notified in advance of their program start date, with reporting dates determined by Naval Service Training Command (NSTC).

Naval Science Institute (NSI)

The Naval Science Institute (NSI) provides STA-21 officer candidates with core naval knowledge, including navigation, engineering, weapons systems, military history, and justice. NSI is a six-week intensive program at Officer Training Command Newport (OTCN), designed to transition enlisted Sailors into future officers. All STA-21 selectees attend NSI before reporting to their assigned university.

College & Placement

  • College Enrollment: After NSI, officer candidates report to their assigned NROTC-affiliated university to begin full-time coursework.
  • School Selection: Applicants select up to three universities during the application process. NSTC determines final placement based on NROTC unit availability and program option requirements.

Specialized Program Options

Some STA-21 program options have specific university requirements:

  • Nurse Option: Participants must attend an NSTC-approved Nursing Program (designated with ‘RN’ on the NROTC Colleges and Universities webpage).
  • Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) Option: Requires enrollment in an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) engineering degree or a National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) architecture degree.
  • Nuclear Option: Limited to 23 designated universities. View full list here.

Course of Study

STA-21 participants are encouraged to pursue technical degrees. All officer candidates (except Nurse Corps Option) must complete two semesters each of calculus and calculus-based physics. While in school, candidates must participate in all NROTC unit functions except summer cruises and additional Naval Science courses covered at NSI.

Academic Calendar & Program Timeline

  • Students must attend school full-time year-round and complete their degree within 36 months.
  • STA-21 officer candidates are required to be enrolled in every academic term offered by the university (semester, quarter, trimester, or minimester).
  • Most students begin in the summer, though some, such as Nurse Option selectees, may start in the fall.

Commissioning

Upon successful completion of their degree, STA-21 officer candidates are commissioned as Ensigns in the U.S. Navy and report to initial officer training based on their assigned community.

External Hyperlinks Disclaimer

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Navy of non-government sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. These links are provided as additional resources and do not imply editorial control by the U.S. Navy.

 
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