Welcome Aboard!
Where are we located?
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park Campus is located at 201 Old Main University Park, PA 16802. The city is State College, PA which is where you want to google in order to find further information on the area.
The NROTC Unit is located in Wagner Building, 3rd floor, across the street from the IM (Intramural Building) and East Residence Halls.
Where do I live?
Depending on your personal preferences there are many options on where you can live. You have 10 days of available “House Hunting” leave which you will have to check in with the command to begin utilizing. You will be in a hotel and the 10 days goes by fast so I recommend using the time prior to checking in to secure a more permanent living situation.
Reporting in the Summer, there are extremely limited options of housing near campus which can also be very expensive. Typically students secure housing in apartments around campus 6-12 months out, so keep that in mind. BAH is for Central Pennsylvania, and doesn’t take into account the high cost of living within State College city limits. Your BAH will most likely NOT cover your housing costs.
The areas listed below are a cheaper alternative to State College with associated approximated times of travel to campus:
● Toftrees (mainly shared apartments): ~ 10mins
● The Station (mainly shared apartments): ~ 10 mins
● Bellefonte / Pleasant Gap (apartments/ single family homes): ~ 15 mins
● Blue Course / White Course (mainly apartments): ~ 15 mins
● Boalsburg (apartments/ single family homes): ~ 15 mins
● Philipsburg (single family homes): ~ 30 mins
● Howard (apartments/ single family homes): ~ 35 mins
● Milroy (townhomes/ single family homes): ~ 35 mins
There are many options and flavors of living situations, you can always reach out to current OCs for more suggestions or a place to stay. If buying a home, reach out as well for information on good realtors, inspectors, contractors, etc. We are here to help!
What are some classes to take the first Summer?
We won’t all have the same major, but the introductory courses are essentially the same for all majors. There will be some type of prerequisite math, history, physics, science classes, etc. that can and should be taken your first summer semester. Typical examples include:
● Physics 1 (PHYS 211)
● Calc 1 (MATH 140)
● Intro to Engineering Design (EDSGN 100)
Don’t overload your first semester, take the time to get acquainted with the area, the unit, and your new position. Attempt to balance classes you believe you will be strong at with harder ones. This will ensure you leave some flexibility in the case that things are not going as expected and will overall make your time here more enjoyable.
Unit Expectations:
You are expected to maintain all standards IAW Appendix N of the Regulations of Officer Development (ROD). In addition to maintaining a GPA greater than 3.00, you are expected to run the PRT, alternate cardio is at the discretion of the Commanding Officer. Make physical fitness a part of your daily routine. Starting off your academic and physical career strong is key to setting yourself up for success.
Required study hours:
You will be required to complete study hours at the NROTC unit. The number of hours will vary depending on the classes you are taking. You can expect your first two semesters to include 2 study hours outside of class for each of the following classes:
● Physics I (PHYS 211)
● Physics II (PHYS 212)
● Calc I (MATH 140)
● Calc II (MATH 141)
● Chemistry (CHM 110) ● Economics (ECON 102/104)
● Statics (EMCH 210/211)
STA-21 requirements state that OCs must be on monitored study hours at least through their first Fall semester. This typically comprises a 15 hr / week monitored study plan proctored by various NROTC and campus staff members.
How can I get involved?
There will be plenty of opportunities to improve your leadership skills, socialize, and get involved in the unit such as:
● Leadership positions within the battalion
● THON events
● Color guard
● Inter-service competitions
● Volunteering for football games and sporting events
● Joining an intramural sports team
Who do I report to?
All Officer Candidates report directly to the designated STA-21 Advisor. You will perform regular check-ins on a weekly basis at minimum in the STA-21 Advisor office located on the 3rd floor of Wagner Building, room 301. The contact information for the current STA-21 advisor is below:
LT Brandon T. Grose
Email: btg5276@psu.edu
What can I expect in a typical week?
A typical week at Penn State involves Physical Training (PT) twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday mornings with a muster time of 0545. There is also an NROTC lab on Thursdays at 1535, so try to leave your academic schedule clear to be able to attend (if that’s not possible you will just complete activities as a “conflict lab” assignment). Outside of that you are expected to attend ALL of your class lectures and complete ALL of your required study hours with recommended attendance at office hours held by your professors. You will also be required to support battalion activities by being the duty driver at battalion functions such as PT or the semesterly Field Exercise (FEX).
During the fall semester, you will have the opportunity and are highly encouraged to help the unit’s student run organization raise money by working concessions and cleanups for football games. All funds raised from these events goes directly to support the battalion. Duty driving for PT is on a rotating shift determined by the Physical Training Officer (PTO). However, if you have any conflicts, reach out to other OCs or MECEPS to ensure the shift is covered. It is expected that you also PT on your own schedule outside of normal battalion events. This involves a self reflection of your current fitness level and what is expected of you as a future officer.
How do I afford college?
The STA-21 Program supplies you $10,000 / yr which is split between Fall, Spring, and Summer. You can expect $4,000 in the Fall and Spring, and $2,000 for the Summer. Penn State offers active-duty military personnel in-state tuition rates. If you are a full time student, which is required, you can expect each semester to average around $12,000 for tuition. You can take out student loans, apply for scholarships and grants, or use your GI Bill (Post 9/11 or Montgomery). All of the above options are available and fully up to you to choose, so we suggest doing your research prior to reporting to see what options best suit you.The Office of Veterans Programs (OVP) is an excellent resource for learning how to apply for benefits and use them properly. If using your benefits, you will have to apply to use them through the VA every semester and then submit the approval to OVP. The contact information is below.
Phone: 814-863-0465
Fax: 814-865-3815
Email: ovp@psu.edu
146 Ritenour Building, 371 Pollock Rd, University Park, PA 16802
Where do I get medical care from?
There is no immediate Naval Base in the area. Ensure you switch to Tricare Prime Remote and apply to have a PCM assigned to you as early as possible. This will allow you to get seen at a nearby place for your convenience. There are many options available such as campus healthcare, Penn State Health and Geisinger Medical. Again, the options to choose your primary provider and location are up to you so do your research when you switch to Tricare Prime Remote on the website.The unit staff can assist in making sure you are set up correctly. Do not wait to start the process until a medical issue arises!
Other NROTC Unit Events
● NSO – Every August, the week before classes start. Unless you are on leave, you will be asked to duty drive, supervise students, help with events, and monitor urinalysis.
● Fall/Spring FEX – Normally this is a 48 hour event that OCs and MECEPS help coordinate and duty drive for.
● Navy and Marine Corps Ball – Held each semester, this is a required event for the entire battalion. UOD is dinner dress, so ensure you have all the required uniform items (bow tie, mini medals, mini warfare devices, etc.)
● Day of Caring – The battalion travels to various local properties and assists with landscaping/ mini construction projects, etc.
● Toys for Tots – Battalion sponsors boxes and collects toys to be brought to collection sites.
General Lessons Learned and Tips From Previous Officer Candidates
● Make finding housing one of your top priorities!
● Summer semesters are more relaxed due to the Midshipmen being gone on Summer Cruise. Take this time to get acclimated and settled into the area and university, as the first Fall semester with the entire battalion back notoriously can be a stressful and shocking transition.
● Make sure NSI actually stamped your orders so Penn State can gain you! It wasn’t the worst problem but it caused a few days of delay for in-processing.
● Do not be afraid to reach out to professors and other staff in your major. Oftentimes, when you explain to them your STA-21 situation, they are willing to help out as much as they can.
● Communicate issues with the unit staff until resolved! They can’t help with things they don’t know about!
Check-In and Administrative Paperwork Point of Contacts
● Debra Jones – dsj3@psu.edu (814) 865-6289 (DOD HUMAN RESOURCES)
● Gabriella Sandoval – gcm5342@psu.edu (814) 865-6289 (DOD HUMAN RESOURCES)
● Deborah Kern – dak16@psu.edu 814-865-4052 (PENN STATE UNIVERSITY REP)