Seaman to Admiral – 21 and Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Programs

The STA-21 and MECEP programs offer active duty personnel within the Navy or Marine Corps with opportunities to earn a college degree and become a commissioned officer. 

Eligibility

Active duty personnel within the Navy or Marine Corps are eligible to apply for this program. To inquire about requirements, those interested contact the appropriate person within their chain of command.

Financial Incentive

Students participating in the Seaman to Admiral – 21 (STA-21) or Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Programs (MECEP) receive certain allowances based upon their rank and time in service. STA-21 Students receive $10,000 per year to defer the cost of tuition in addition to their Navy pay. MECEP Students do not receive tuition compensation but do receive their Marine Corps pay and allowances.

Active duty Sailors and Marines complete most Naval Science requirements before arriving at the NROTC unit.  STA-21 Sailors attend the Naval Science Institute in Newport, RI and MECEP Marines attend Officer Candidates School at Quantico, Virginia.

Students in the STA-21 program take the following courses at SUNY Maritime:

  • Leadership & Management (NVSC 201)
  • Leadership & Ethics (NVSC 402)

Leadership Laboratory

  • Naval Science Leadership (NVSC 150, 250, 350, 450)

Those in the MECEP program take the following:

  • Evolution of Warfare (NVSC 311)  
  • Amphibious Warfare (NVSC 312)
  • Leadership & Ethics (NVSC 402)

Leadership Laboratory

  • Naval Science Leadership (NVSC 150, 250, 350, 450)

Neither STA-21 Sailors nor MECEP Marines have any off-campus summer training requirements.  However, they are required to complete a full summer course load at Columbia.

 For those midshipmen attending college and NROTC on an NROTC Scholarship, the following military service obligations apply:

  • Navy Option midshipmen (does not include Nurses or Marines) starting their freshman year of college in the Fall of 2010 or later will be required to serve a minimum of five years of active military service. Additional requirements may be required for specific job assignments.
  • Marine Corps Option midshipmen will be required to serve at least four years on active duty.
  • Navy Nurse Corps Option midshipmen will be required to serve at least four years on active duty.

Midshipmen who pay their own educational expenses or have a non-Navy source of educational funding may participate in NROTC through the NROTC College Program. Upon graduation and commissioning, this individual will be required to serve at least three years on active duty.

For further information, please see http://www.nrotc.navy.mil/military_requirements.html

 

 

Active duty personnel within the Navy or Marine Corps should contact the appropriate person within their chain of command to inquire about eligibility requirements and the application process for the Seaman to Admiral – 21 (STA-21) and Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Programs (MECEP).