Parents

Welcome to the parent’s section of the University of Pennsylvania NROTC website! Here you can find the PowerPoint from the presentation that the Colonel presents at Freshman Orientation

Title Slide
Click here for the PDF

Commanding Officer

  • Enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1993
  • Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant upon graduating from Pennsylvania State University in 1997
  • Over 30 years of operational experience
    • Served in various capacities and theaters
    • Most recently served as the Chief of Staff, Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms
  •  Reported to UPenn NROTC in July 2024
Colonel Scott Gehris

Commander’s Intent

To develop midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically, and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, and loyalty, and with the core values of honor, courage, and commitment; in order to commission college graduates as naval officers who possess a basic professional background, are motivated toward careers in the naval service, and have a potential for future development in mind and character so as to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship, and government.

History of NROTC UPenn

Tradition of military leadership

  • First Commandant of the Marine Corps
    • Maj Samuel Nicholas – 1752 graduate
  • First Secretary of the Navy
    • Benjamin Stoddert – 1777 graduate
  • First Commissioned African American Marine Corps Officer
    • Frederick C Branch – Temple 1945

NROTC Unit established in 1940

  • V-12 Program established in 1943
  • Cross-town Agreements
    • Drexel University
    • Temple University

Over 1500 total commissionees

  • Seven Navy Admirals
  • Four Marine Corps Generals

NROTC Scholarship Overview

  • Equivalent to $65-70k annually/ $260k or more over four years
  • First-rate educations from all schools
  • Little-to-no college debt after graduation
  • Guaranteed employment and salary
  • $48k base pay + $22k housing stipend (location-dependent, untaxed) = $70K+
  • Additional allowances
  • Exciting journey in Navy/Marine Corps
  • Commitment to serving a greater cause

Service Obligation

  • 4-year National Scholarship: no service obligation for the first year
  • Service obligation begins on the first day of September sophomore year
    • Navy Option Minimum 5 years Active Duty, more for certain service selections
    • Marine Corps Minimum 4 years Active Duty
    • Nurse Options Minimum 4 years Active Duty
  • Scholarship only equates to the opportunity to earn a commission
  • Extra requirements for Aviation, Submarines, SPECWAR
  • Service assignment is based on the needs of the Navy and performance

Scholarship Funding

  • Full Tuition (with some caveats)
  • Monthly Subsistence Allowance
    • $250 – $400 per month based on academic year
  • Term Book Stipend
    • Pays for two semesters or three quarters per academic year
    • $375/semester or $250/quarter
  • Uniforms (issued by the Unit)
  • Room and Board is not included in the NROTC scholarship, but…

 

Temple University:

  • $1,250 per semester, 3.0 GPA to continue
  • Scholarship midshipmen only

Drexel University:

  • 3.0 GPA = 100% Room & 25% Board allowance
  • Scholarship midshipmen only

University of Pennsylvania:

  • No Room/Board allowance