As America turns 250, Tulane sees ‘resurgence’ in ROTC participation

Serving in the military has been Nick Lindung’s lifelong dream.

As he began exploring colleges, the rising senior at Tulane University wanted a school that would challenge him academically while preparing him to become a U.S. Marine Corps officer. Tulane’s Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program offered exactly that.

“When I was searching for colleges, Tulane immediately stood out for not only its location and academics, but the support that it provides to ROTC students,” said Lindung, who grew up in New Jersey. “Military service has been my goal since childhood.”

Today, Lindung is part of a resurgence in ROTC participation at Tulane, where all three ROTC units — Air Force, Army and Navy — met enrollment goals this year and participation has nearly doubled over the past five years. As the nation prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary, university leaders see the growth as the latest chapter in Tulane’s long tradition of military service and leadership development.

University leaders attribute the growth to stronger collaboration between admissions and ROTC leadership, along with renewed interest in military service and scholarships.

“We have unquestionably seen a resurgence in enrolling ROTC cadets in each of our units, and we’re thrilled to see an environment where ROTC at Tulane has returned to a more visible presence on campus,” said Vice President for Enrollment Management and Dean of Admission Shawn Abbott. 
 

ROTC on the rise 

For many ROTC students, affordability is a major factor in choosing a college.

While the military covers tuition through ROTC scholarships, Tulane helps bridge the gap by providing room-and-board scholarships to participating scholarship cadets and midshipmen. Combined with closer collaboration between admissions and ROTC leadership, that support has made Tulane more attractive to students pursuing military service.

“The room-and-board scholarships are a sizable chunk over four years, and it’s one of our selling points,” said Capt. Bob Heely, commanding officer of the Naval ROTC Unit at Tulane and a professor of naval science. “We’re definitely seeing an increase in applications, and the quality of those candidates is pretty extraordinary.”  

Tulane’s campus and its location in New Orleans are also major draws.  

“It’s a vibrant campus with incredible accessibility,” Heely said. “They want to come here.”  

Lindung, who is double majoring in political science in the School of Liberal Arts and in homeland security studies in the School of Professional Advancement (SoPA), said there was never a doubt that he would join an ROTC program, but he said the room-and-board scholarship was key to him enrolling at Tulane. “That was a major factor for my family and me,” he said.

He said he also appreciates the ability to be part of the overall campus experience.

“Academics and ROTC requirements always come first,” Lindung said. “But the program does an outstanding job at enabling us to enjoy extracurriculars such as football games, Greek life and student organizations. The ability to be a regular college student outside of NROTC has helped me to develop interpersonal skills that I believe are vital to success not only in the Marine Corps but in life.” 
 

Expanding support for veterans 

Michael Wallace, a U.S. Navy veteran and director of SoPA’s Emergency and Security Studies Program, said the rise in ROTC participation is part of a broader effort to strengthen the presence of military-affiliated students across campus.

He credits Abbott with helping to strengthen relationships between university leadership and ROTC programs while increasing support for military students and veterans.

“It’s all due to the ROTC commanders reaching out to Shawn,” Wallace said. “He’s 100% on board.”

Wallace noted that military-affiliated students at Tulane extend far beyond ROTC cadets and midshipmen. The university is also home to active-duty military students pursuing advanced degrees and veterans using educational benefits earned through military service.

Tulane’s history of military service dates back to World War I when the campus became a center for military training. Nearly every eligible male student joined the Student Army Training Corps, a War Department initiative that placed military training units directly on university campuses nationwide.

“There’s been a really strong support for the military and vice versa at Tulane for the last 110 years,” Wallace said.

Wallace has also worked to strengthen support networks for military-affiliated students, faculty and staff. In 2018, he and Professor of Practice Rebecca Rouse founded a veterans affinity group that now includes approximately 50 faculty, staff and adjunct members.

Activities include military appreciation football and baseball games, partnerships with the Veterans Alumni Association and support for graduating veterans through honor cords and recognition events.

With one year left at Tulane, Lindung looks forward to the next chapter of his military life as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.  

He said Tulane and the Navy ROTC have prepared him well to lead.

“The leadership experiences, academic rigor and Tulane’s culture have shaped who I am today,” he said. “Balancing academics, physical fitness, leadership responsibilities and life in New Orleans has challenged me more than I ever expected, and I believe these experiences have prepared me well for the responsibilities of leading Marines in the future.”