Any person at RPI has probably seen a few fellow students walking around campus in a uniform and wondered what they were doing. These students are members of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. They are a part of an organization of men and women who have been selected by the United States Navy and the Marine Corps to train throughout college and ultimately become commissioned officers upon graduation. Each Midshipman in the NROTC Battalion spends four years at RPI, taking naval science classes in addition to their normal course loads, prior to entering the fleet. The Naval ROTC program affords many opportunities that would not be possible otherwise, which, combined with the chance to serve this country, made the decision to join fairly simple.
Naval ROTC allows participants to partake in a variety of activities, many of which we were exposed to as freshmen. This year, new freshmen flew on a C-130 over Niagara Falls and drove Humvees on a tactical off-road course. They were even given the opportunity to shoot pistols and semi-automatic rifles. The NROTC battalion has also been able to become proficient in sailing and racing in regattas at other universities. Finally, all Midshipmen improve their physical fitness by working out with the entire NROTC battalion every Tuesday and Friday morning at 6 am.
As they progress through their time at RPI and in NROTC, Midshipmen spend one month of their summer being exposed to the various aspects of the Navy. This time is designed to help future officers decide which branch of the Navy they want to serve in. During the summer after freshmen year, Midshipmen spend a month at Career Orientation and Training of Midshipmen. This consists of one week with the Marine Corps and one week each with the surface, submarine, and aviation communities. After sophomore year, Midshipmen are exposed to the life of enlisted personnel by working alongside an enlisted sailor as they go about their daily routines on a surface ship or submarine. Following junior year, new seniors get a chance to see what is in store for them as a Junior Officer while they assist with running a division on a ship. During this final summer, Marine Option
Midshipmen attend Officer Candidate School for an intensive six-week evaluation of their physical, mental, and leadership skills.
Naval ROTC also offers numerous leadership opportunities while still at RPI. Midshipmen are given the chance to practice and develop leadership skills for when they are needed in the fleet. Mistakes made here have consequences, but these are not as grave as they would be in the fleet when the lives of sailors and marines are an officer’s responsibility. The four years spent at RPI are the proving grounds for when Midshipmen become commissioned officers in the United States Navy or the Marine Corps, and are sent to preserve the safety of this country all over the world.
Editor’s Note: Piazza is a member of Naval ROTC.
