More than 25 University of Virginia Naval ROTC midshipman candidates participated in a New Student Orientation Week (NSO), Aug. 14-20.

The candidates spent the week going over basic military skills and discipline necessary to succeed as commissioned officers of the Navy and Marine Corps. The candidates also were introduced to military life, physical training, a swim test, uniform inspections, military drill, and weapons familiarization.

"The majority of my week consisted of an 'eyes straight, take orders, and ask no questions' everyday approach," said Midshipman 4th Class Landon Gragg, from Virginia Beach, Virginia. "Although frustrating at times, this week of indoctrination ultimately taught me a lot about the culture and history of the U.S. Navy and UVA's NROTC Battalion."

The week was also full of briefs and time on the drill deck, in which the candidates began to transition to ceremony practice for the graduation ceremony at the end of the week. Gragg said Wednesday the candidates enjoyed time at a shooting range in which each shot 5-10 rounds of .22 caliber pistols.

"Thursday morning, as a welcome substitute for PT we had swim qualifications, which included a high-dive jump, 50-meter swim, 5-minute prone float, and trouser inflations," he said.

NSO Week concluded with a ceremony in which the new midshipmen were sworn into service. After briefing parents on what the NROTC program will require of their sons and daughters, Capt. Christopher Misner, professor of naval science and commanding officer of the unit, read the oath to the candidates. He congratulated the new midshipmen for their commitment and dedication in joining the NROTC program. Following the ceremony, the unit hosted a social for family and friends of the new midshipmen.

"There were certainly a few jitters knowing our friends and families were watching," said Gragg. "However, from what I saw it went off without a hitch."

In the coming years, the midshipmen will participate in multiple military activities and complete a rigorous course of study at the University of Virginia. Upcoming events include naval science classes, drill meets, formal military balls, and annual summer training opportunities on ships, submarines, and squadrons across the globe. Upon graduation and completion of the NROTC program, the midshipmen will be commissioned as active-duty officers in the Navy and Marine Corps.

"Overall, NSO challenged me more than I expected both physically and mentally; however, it indoctrinated me into the Navy's way of doing things and provided me with a real sense of accomplishment," Gragg said.

Rear Adm. Stephen C. Evans oversees the NROTC program as commander of Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), headquartered at Naval Station Great Lakes. NROTC was established to develop midshipmen mentally, morally, and physically and to imbue them with 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 oversees 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), the Navy's only boot camp at Naval Station Great Lakes, NROTC at more than 160 colleges and universities, Officer Training Command (OTC) at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, Navy Junior ROTC, and Navy National Defense Cadet Corps (NNDCC) citizenship development programs at more than 600 high schools worldwide.

For more information about NROTC, visit http://www.nrotc.navy.mil/.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Naval Service Training Command, visit http://www.navy.mil/, http://www.netc.navy.mil/nstc/ or http://www.facebook.com/NavalServiceTraining/.