On September 18th, 17 fourth class Midshipmen reported to the Beaver Battalion for New Student Orientation (NSO). It serves to orient incoming Midshipmen to NROTC student life, establish the code of conduct expected of them as future military officers, and better prepare them to succeed in college. The event was held over a four-day training evolution:
Day One - Incoming Midshipmen were inspected, receive their gear, and conduct the oath of office under CAPT John De Pree, Commander of Oregon State University NROTC. They were also exposed to regulations, codes of conduct, and pertinent information from their upperclassmen in briefs.
Day Two - Midshipmen conducted branch respective physical fitness tests (PRT/PFT), ran through the obstacle course, and were given further briefs on financing and degree planning with upperclassmen.
Day Three - Midshipmen joined unit staff on a motivational cadence run, built esprit de corps with one another during paintball, and conducted a mock swim qualification.
Day Four - Midshipmen joined active duty for breakfast to learn more about their active-duty counter parts. In the afternoon they conducted fire-rescue and damage control with the Corvallis Volunteer fire department. In the evening they were formally welcomed to the Beaver Battalion at the beginning-of-year barbecue.
The NROTC Program was established to develop midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically; and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, loyalty, and the core values of honor, courage, and commitment in-order-to commission college graduates as naval officers. The program enables qualified young men and women to attain a college education leading to a commission in the Navy or Marine Corps and offers scholarship and non-scholarship opportunities for future Navy and Marine Corps officers.
Oregon States’ NROTC program is a leading commissioning source. We were one of the first units to commission women officers to serve on submarines. We commission Navy officers in all unrestricted line communities, including naval aviation, submarines, surface warfare, and naval special warfare. Marine option students commission in aviation, ground combat, and logistics.