Naval ROTC Disenrollment Process

December 26, 2025

The Naval ROTC Disenrollment Process is governed by NSTC M-1533.2D, available at this link. Attorney Barry explains the process in this link.

The Naval ROTC Disenrollment Process is typically initiated for the following reasons:

Academic deficiencies that result in a cumulative GPA of less than 2.5 at any point after completing three semesters (or four quarters of college);
Any alleged misconduct;
Substandard aptitude following remediation or an unwillingness to make necessary behavioral changes;
Hardship, Conscientious Objector, or Refusal of Immunization;
Medical disqualification; or,
Two official PFA/PFT/CFT failures within three years, especially when it appears the individual is not exerting proper effort to achieve and maintain these standards

Prior to any Midshipman being disenrolled, a Performance Review Board (PRB) must be convened. A PRB is administrative tool to investigate, review, and document recommendations regarding the best course of action to be taken regarding a specific Midshipman.

A PRB shall consist of at least three voting members and one non-voting member to serve as the recorder. Typically, the XO or another O4 will chair the PRB; however, an O3 can fill this role for minor offenses. No PRB member can have any conflicts of interest with the matter at hand. The outcome of a PRB is determined by a majority vote, by secret and written ballet.

The recorder is a non-voting member and is typically the student's class advisor and should be the person most familiar with the student's performance and conduct. The recorder is responsible for preparing and presenting the case on behalf of the command; one can think of a recorder as the prosecutor during the Naval ROTC Disenrollment Process.

Additionally, the recorder has the following responsibilities:

NLT 5 business days before the PRB, notify the Midshipman in question with the PRB date and the reasons for the PRB;
NLT 5 business days before the PRB, provide the Midshipman in question with any and all documents that may be presented in the case against the him/her;
NLT 5 business days before the PRB, provide the Midshipman with a list of witnesses expected to be called against him/her; and,
NLT 5 business days before the PRB, get the Midshipman in question to sign a statement acknowledging all of this information

Any Midshipman facing the Naval ROTC Disenrollment Process through a PRB has the following rights:

to personally appear before the PRB;
to submit a written statement to the board;
to present documents or witnesses on their behalf; and,
to review all documents that will be presented to the board against him/her

Additionally, the following rules apply during the Naval ROTC Disenrollment Process through a PRB:

the PNS should not testify, unless unavoidable (ie. he/she is the only eyewitness to an incident);
unless specifically authorized by the student, medical documents shall not be acquired for or presented to the PRB, with the exception of cases involving concealing a medical disqualifying medical condition;
to make a statement personally or through counsel; and,
to object to specific board actions or proceedings personally or through counsel, to be decided by the Board President

The PRB should only consider evidence related to the reasons for the hearing that are contained in the notification letter; however, the PRB can consider previous shortcomings or administrative actions.

After the presentation of the evidence, the PRB will dismiss all non-voting members and deliberate. After deliberations, the board will vote by secret and written ballot. The PRB will reconvene all non-voting members and then announce the decision. A PRB may make the following recommendations:

no action;
issuance of a 30-day compliance letter to investigate medical concerns;
a warning;
probation;
a leave of absence;
disenrollment; and,
if disenrollment, whether scholarship funds should be recouped

After a PRB makes its recommendation, at this point in the Naval ROTC Disenrollment Process, a board report will be made. The report, prepared by the recorder, should include the convening order, the preliminary investigation (if applicable), all documents considered by the board, a summarized testimony of each witness, the board's findings of fact, board recommendations, and tallies of board votes. This report will be provided to the Midshipman in question and he/she will be given 5 business days to provide a response.

The next step in the Naval ROTC Disenrollment Process is the Professor of Naval Science (PNS) reviewing the complete board report, and the response of the Midshipman in question, and either concurring or non-concurring. The PNS should only comment on matters presented to the PRB and cannot make a recommendation if he/she was a witness. The PNS recommendation is then provided to the Midshipman in question and he/she is given another five business days to provide a written response. The Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) is the final approval authority.

A Military Lawyer can represent a Midshipman during the Naval ROTC Disenrollment process. A Military Lawyer can help a Midshipman prepare his/her case behind the scenes, collect evidence, prepare a Midshipman's presentation of his/her case in an effective manner, and provide certain statements and evidence to the PRB. Specifically, at the PRB, a Military Lawyer can make an opening and closing statement; however, he/she cannot question any witness. If a Midshipman wants to be represented by a Military Lawyer, the PNS must be notified in writing NLT 48 hours before the PRB.

Any Midshipman in the Naval ROTC Disenrollment Process will benefit from legal representation. Naval JAGs are likely unavailable and unwilling to represent Midshipman. Furthermore, even if available, they are likely inexperienced with PRBs and the Navy ROTC Disenrollment Process. A civilian Military Lawyer can be retained, which allows a Servicemember to be represented by a proven lawyer with good former client reviews.

This Article was written by Attorney Matthew Barry. Attorney Barry is highly rated by former clients and has a proven track record of success. He has extensive experience with the Naval ROTC Disenrollment Process.

The Law Office of Matthew Barry represents Servicemembers worldwide. He has offices on the East Coast, West Coast, and in the Central U.S.