Some of the newest Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) midshipmen from across the United States will participate in a new indoctrination initiative designed to better prepare them for their four-year training curriculum and future as Navy and Marine Corps Officers.

Approximately 70 midshipmen will participate in the pilot program at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, July 23 - August 4.

The pilot program is designed "to provide standardized entry-level militarization and prepare midshipmen with a common training orientation. The 13-day Indoctrination Cruise will serve as the launch point for the training of future naval officers and the development of their character and professional competence," said Rear Adm. Mike Bernacchi, commander, Naval Service Training Command.

NROTC is the only officer accession program in the Department of the Navy that does not require an established, standardized, entry-level militarization and indoctrination phase to commence training. The Navy's two other line-officer accession programs, the United States Naval Academy (USNA) and Officer Candidate School (OCS), have a six week "Plebe Summer" and a three week "Indoctrination Phase," respectively.

Throughout the 13 days, midshipmen will undergo initial militarization while training in basic firefighting, watch standing, seamanship, navigation, force protection, drill, and swimming along with physical fitness training and military inspections by NROTC staff. They will also receive military education including customs and courtesies, and military history. At the culmination of the program, midshipmen must pass a final exam to advance in training, mirroring requirements at USNA and OCS.

This program also offers upper-class NROTC Midshipmen the opportunity to gain leadership experience on a large scale for the first time in NROTC history. Under the guidance of instructors, they will be responsible for the training of the Midshipmen Candidates from across the country, very similar to how "Detailers" are responsible for training the "Plebes" at the United States Naval Academy during their summer program.

Indoctrination Cruise participants will be evaluated on individual and team skills which will be required to complete training. When fully implemented, this standards-based training will allow the NROTC units to begin Naval Science training sooner and allow for immediate scholarship activation upon arrival.

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The NROTC program is supported by commander of Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), Rear Adm. Mike Bernacchi and his NSTC staff at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois. NROTC was established to develop midshipmen mentally, morally and physically. The program also imbues in them the highest ideals of duty, loyalty and Navy core values in order to commission college graduates as Naval officers who possess a basic professional background, are motivated toward careers in the Naval service and have a potential for future development in mind and character so as to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.

NSTC supports 98 percent of initial officer and enlisted accessions training for the Navy, as well as the Navy's Citizenship Development program. NSTC's support also includes RTC, the Navy's only boot camp also at Naval Station Great Lakes, the NROTC program at more than 160 colleges and universities, OTC at Newport, Rhode Island and Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) and Navy National Defense Cadet Corps (NDCC) citizenship development programs at more than 600 high schools worldwide.

For more information on NROTC visit: www.nrotc.navy.mil/

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

For more news from Naval Service Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/greatlakes/.

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