Merch Store
The Holy Cross NROTC has launched a merch store to support the battalion.
Naval Science (NROTC)
Our History
One of the oldest NROTC units in the country, the Holy Cross NROTC Unit has been established for over half a century. In May 1941, the Department of the Navy announced that the College of the Holy Cross was to be among twenty-seven colleges and universities selected to participate in the NROTC program. The program was created fifteen years earlier to ensure commissioned naval service officers were available to meet unforeseen national emergencies.
The unit was established at the College of the Holy Cross on July 14, 1941 with an enrollment of 115 freshmen. During the ensuing years of World War II, Holy Cross alumni and faculty served their country in the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. Of the almost four thousand Crusader alumni who served in that conflict, one hundred and nine lost their lives in combat. Their names are inscribed on two commemorative scrolls in Saint Joseph’s Chapel, alongside those honoring similar sacrifices in World War I, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
Medal of Honor Recipients
Holy Cross has the distinction of recording three recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Rev. Joseph Timothy O’Callahan, S.J.
O’Callahan was the first Jesuit to be commissioned as a Navy chaplain in World War II and the first chaplain to receive the Medal of Honor. He was cited for his heroism aboard the USS Franklin.
Marine First Lieutenant John V. Power '41
Awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in the Pacific theater in World War II.
Navy Captain Thomas G. Kelley '60
Awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in the Vietnam War.
Areas of Study
Naval Science at Holy Cross is an intensive four-year program that simultaneously trains you in the liberal arts and military subjects. While the Naval Science mission is to support the development of midshipmen, the department opens its courses on warfare, leadership, ethics and history to any member of the Holy Cross community. In the program, you will:
- Complete physical training, including swimming proficiency, at the College’s extensive athletic facilities.
- Participate in a four-week summer cruise following every academic year, allowing you to experience military life and responsibilities at sea (only for NROTC scholarship students).
- Attend the Mountain War Training Center in California after sophomore year (for Marine-option midshipmen).
- Participate in a six-week Officer Candidates School (OCS) prior to your senior year.
- Hear prestigious guest speakers share their extensive firsthand knowledge of military service. Previous guests have included commanding officers of nuclear submarines, admirals in the SEAL community, Medal of Honor recipients, the Vice Chief of Naval Operations and more.
Four Schools. One Mission.
The Crusader Battalion is proud to include members from crosstown schools.
- 25 Attend Holy Cross
- 7 Attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- 5 Attend Brown University
- 3 Attend Worcester State University
Requirements
Students participating in the Naval Science program are required to complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited institution in four years to receive a commission as an officer in the U.S. Navy or the U.S. Marine Corps.
Any of the available majors at Holy Cross are permitted, but students are strongly encouraged to pursue some form of technical major. Those who major in non-technical subjects are still required to take some technical courses (see below) in order to prepare for the highly technical nature of today’s naval service.
These courses, even for non-tech majors, should count toward degree requirements as most majors require some math and science coursework. When computing national standings prior to service selection during senior year, the Navy gives additional credit to those pursuing technical degrees.
The following are the academic requirements for participation in the NROTC Program:
- Calculus (two semesters, Navy only)
- Calculus-based Physics (two semesters, Navy only)
- English (two semesters, Navy and Marine Corps)
- World Culture and Regional Studies (one semester, Navy only)
- American History/National Security Policy (one semester, Navy and Marine Corps)
Students must complete calculus and English prior to the start of their junior year and calculus-based physics prior to the start of their senior year.
The following are the required courses for all midshipmen, both Navy and Marine Corps (except where noted). They are taught by the unit’s officers, and often must be taken in addition to a normal collegiate course load.
- Intro to Naval Science
- Sea Power
- Leadership & Management
- Navigation (Navy only)
- Naval Operations (Navy only)
- Naval Engineering Systems (Navy only)
- Naval Weapons Systems (Navy only)
- Marine Corps Leadership (Marine Corps only)
- Evolution of Warfare (Marine Corps only)
- Leadership & Ethics
Program Types
Graduating high school students can apply through the national competition for a four-year Naval ROTC Scholarship.
If selected for the four-year Naval ROTC Scholarship Program, they receive full tuition, all academic fees, military uniforms, a stipend of $750 per academic year for textbooks, and a graduated monthly subsistence allowance ($250/month for freshmen, $300 for sophomores, $350 for juniors and $400 for seniors) while attending college.
Additionally, the College of the Holy Cross offers free room to all four-year national scholarship winners living on campus. They are required to take certain college courses, undergo three summer training cruises, each approximately four weeks in duration, and are required to serve at least five years on active duty after commissioning.
Second-year college students can apply through the national competition for the two-year Naval ROTC Scholarship Program. If selected, during their third and fourth years they will receive full tuition, all academic fees, the annual stipend of $750 for textbooks, military uniforms, and a monthly stipend the same as a four-year scholarship student. In addition, they may attend the Naval Science Institute at Newport, R.I. for six weeks during the summer before their third year, will be required to take certain college courses, and will undergo one summer training cruise of four weeks’ duration. They will be required to serve at least five years on active duty after commissioning.
First- and second-year students who applied for, but were not awarded, a four-year scholarship may apply directly to the Professor of Naval Science for enrollment in the College Program (non-scholarship).
After completion of at least one semester in the College Program, students who have achieved a GPA of 2.5 or higher, passed one semester of calculus with a grade of C or better, and performed well in the battalion may be recommended by the Professor of Naval Science for a Naval Service Training Command Controlled Scholarship. The scholarship includes all the same rights and responsibilities as a scholarship student detailed above.
College Program students not selected for a scholarship by the beginning of their junior year must be selected for advanced standing or will be dropped from the NROTC program. Selection for advanced standing is competitive and centrally managed by the Naval Service Training Command. This program provides military uniforms and a subsistence allowance of $350/$400 per month for juniors/seniors respectively while attending college.
College Program students are required to take certain college courses and to undergo one summer training cruise of four weeks during the summer preceding their fourth year.
Second-year College Program students who receive advanced standing or a scholarship may attend the Naval Science Institute in Newport, R.I. for six weeks during the summer preceding their junior year.
Upon commissioning, College Program students are required to serve at least three years on active duty.
Battalion in Action
