Rear Adm. Stephen C. Evans, commander, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), visited the University of Washington (UW) Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) "Husky Battalion," Mar. 7, speaking to the students, staff and school administration at one of the Navy's oldest NROTC units.

Evans was the guest speaker at the battalion's regular drill period, where he spoke to the officer candidates, Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP) students, and midshipmen about the current challenges facing the military and the importance of commissioning and retaining quality individuals. According to Evans, the NROTC program's emphasis on recruiting top talent and educating students in technical fields helps ensure our military maintains a critical technological edge, because "losing is not an option."

Evans shared personal stories of his time as a midshipman with the NROTC program at the Military College of South Carolina, the Citadel, in Charleston, South Carolina, as well as his decision to make the Navy a career. Evans explained that the people with whom he served and the positive impact he was able to make as a leader motivated him to continue his service.

Further topics Evans addressed included the efforts to update policies to expand the applicant pool size and provide incentives to attract and retain high performers, ensuring the Navy has the most competitive force possible.

The midshipmen said they enjoyed interacting with Evans and learning how essential the students are to the Navy's overall mission.

Midshipman Joshua Warnick said it was "a great opportunity to get perspective from someone that started out as a junior officer and progressed to a senior leadership position."

Following the drill period, Evans shared breakfast with the unit staff. He emphasized the importance of staff mentorship, because NROTC students are "normal college students," and leveraging previous fleet experience is vital to developing the "future leaders of our force." Evans concluded his time at UW with visits to members of the university administration, including UW President Ana Mari Cauce.

University of Washington is one of more than 160 colleges and universities across the country affiliated with NROTC.

The NROTC program develops midshipmen mentally, morally and physically, to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, loyalty and Navy core values. The program provides college graduates an opportunity to commission as naval officers who possess a basic professional background, are motivated toward careers in the naval service, and have potential for future development in mind and character, so as to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.

Evans and his NSTC staff, headquartered at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, oversee 98 percent of initial officer and enlisted accessions training for the Navy, as well as the Navy's Citizenship Development Program. NSTC includes Recruit Training Command (RTC) at Naval Station Great Lakes, NROTC units at more than 160 colleges and universities, Officer Training Command (OTC) at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, and Navy Junior ROTC and Navy National Defense Cadet Corps (NNDCC) citizenship development programs at more than 600 high schools worldwide.

For more information about University of Washington NROTC, visit http://depts.washington.edu/uwnrotc/wordpress/.

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For more news from Naval Service Training Command, visit http://www.navy.mil/.