Freshman Knowledge Packet NROTC Mission Statement To develop midshipmen mentally, morally, and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of honor, duty, and loyalty. 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. ~ 1 ~ Table of Contents Commanding Officers Guidance pages 3-5 OSUNROTC History page 6 Naval Glossary/Terminology pages 7-8 Goals of NROTC/Chain of Command page 9 National Chain of Command Photographs page 10 Unit and Battalion Staff Defined page 11 Unit Staff Photographs page 12 Battalion Structure page 13 Midshipmen Honor Code/Navy Core Values page 14 Sailors’ Creed/Military Code of Conduct page 15 Marine Eleven General Orders page 16 Navy Knowledge/US National Ensign page 17 USMC Knowledge/Leadership Traits page 18 Anchor’s Away Lyrics page 19 The Marine’s Hymn Lyrics page 20 US Officers Rank and Insignia page 21 US Navy and Marine Corps Enlisted Rank and Insignia page 22 Midshipmen Rank and Insignia page 23 Uniforms/Insignia/Grooming pages 24-31 Academic Standards page 32 NROTC PFA Standards pages 33-36 Cadences/Notes pages 37-38 Campus Map pages 39-40 ~ 2 ~ 20011-2012 Commanding Officer Guidance to The Ohio State University Naval ROTC Battalion There are two key objectives while you are enrolled in the Naval ROTC unit at The Ohio State University. The first is to earn a bachelor‘s degree and the second is to earn a commission in the Navy or Marine Corps. My staff is here to help you reach these objectives, but you must also do your part. The NROTC Mission Statement, the Sailors Creed, the Honor Code, and the Navy Core Values highlight what we are trying to achieve and what is important. Through your course of instruction, your summer cruises, and the leadership positions you hold in our unit, it is my goal that you develop the characteristics necessary to successfully lead the men and women of our Navy and Marine Corps team. The intent of the following section is to emphasize some key areas that I consider to be essential for your continued success. In general always, ―do the right thing for the right reasons‖. Safety: Your safety and the safety of your people must always be a top priority. Errors here can injure or kill someone. While I will emphasize safety at my level, you must also be thinking of safety in all NROTC and non NROTC events that you are involved in. Use Operational Risk Management (ORM) in all activities. Always ask the question ‗is what I am doing safe?‖, and apply the ORM steps to eliminate or mitigate risks. Drug Use: Don’t use drugs! We have zero tolerance for drug use. If drugs are present, you shouldn‘t be there. If I determine that you are using drugs you will be disenrolled. Responsible Use of Alcohol: The drinking age in Ohio is 21 years old. Underage drinking will, as a minimum, result in unit probation. If you are of age and drink, do it responsibly. ‗I had too much to drink‘ is no excuse. Never drink and drive. If you believe that you have an alcohol problem we will work to get you help. Respect for All: Treat people the way you want yourself or your family members to be treated, with dignity and respect. As naval officers you will have Sailors and Marines of different gender, race and religions. This diversity makes the team better. Hazing, discrimination, and harassment have no place in Ohio State NROTC. Honesty and Integrity: Be honest. You own your integrity. It cannot be taken from you, but you can give it up. All will assume that you are honest and have integrity and all will believe what you say until you demonstrate otherwise. If you lie, it will take a long time, if ever, for you to regain the trust of the Battalion and Staff. Everyone makes mistakes. Admitting mistakes saves valuable time and allows us to train to prevent similar mistakes in the future. Not admitting mistakes or attempting to cover them up ~ 3 ~ will only diminish your own character, compromise your integrity and possibly impact the safety and well being of those who serve with you. Leadership: You will receive ample leadership training and opportunities to practice leadership during your time with us. These opportunities will present themselves through battalion leadership positions, unit club positions, and various unit activities. Seek out these opportunities and you will learn a lot about yourself and will better prepare you for future service in the Navy or Marine Corps. Do not attempt to become a ―stealth midshipman‖ and avoid leadership positions - you will significantly reduce your chances of earning a commission. Academics: For most people, doing well in college academics is not easy. It takes hard work and persistence to earn good grades. I expect you to strive toward academic excellence. Our NROTC unit provides a tutor to help you in calculus and physics, your class advisor is here to help you, and the university professors are there to help. Take advantage of these. Rest assured, my staff will carefully track your academic progress throughout your time with us. Good grades will allow you to achieve your ultimate goals of earning a degree and commission, can earn you extra money each quarter, and importantly, place you in a better position to select the career field of your choice. Personal Responsibility: You will be challenged in your ability to organize yourself and accomplish the myriad of tasks that you will face. Personal responsibility starts with the ‗little things,‘ such as turning in assignments, attending every class, being responsive to the Staff and answering communications. As a division officer or a platoon leader you will find that the ‗little things‘ are the ‗big things.‘ I expect you to honor your promises and responsibilities – if you say you will be somewhere or do something by a certain time, be there on time or get it done on time. Taking Care of Your Shipmates: Taking care of each other is an ‗up and down the chain of command‘ event. At your level this means everything from helping each other with homework assignments, keeping each other informed of what is going on, having the courage to tell a shipmate that they have an alcohol abuse problem, to watching out for each other when out on the town. Remember that you are given rank in the battalion to better serve those below you. Physical Fitness: Stay in shape. If you are not in shape, get in shape. Any warfare specialty you choose will require physical stamina to effectively perform your job. Most importantly physical fitness will add a quality to your life that nothing else can replace. Now is the time to start the habit of routinely maintaining your physical fitness. You will take two physical fitness tests each year – a failure in three of these at any point during your time here will result in disenrollment from our program. Use of the Unit Staff for Help: The primary reason the Staff and I are here at Ohio State is to provide help for whatever issues you are facing. Issues can range from academic, financial, to emotional. If I cannot help with a specific problem, I will find ~ 4 ~ someone who can. If you do not think that you are getting sufficient help at a certain level go to the next person in the chain of command. No issue is too small if it affects your academic or military performance. If you have any questions about the above or any other questions please address them with your advisor, the Executive Officer or me. I want you to succeed and become a successful commissioned officer in the world‘s finest Navy and Marine Corps. ~ 5 ~ The Ohio State University Naval Reserve Officers‘ Training Corps A Brief Progression from the Past to the Future On 06 September 1945, President of The Ohio State University Howard L. Bevis announced the late September arrival of 200 active duty, wartime, enlisted sailors, all of whom had completed high school, and were selected by the Navy to attend the program for four years, taking both Naval Science and other university courses. The Commanding Officer at this time was Captain John D. Shaw, a 1923 graduate of The United States Naval Academy, Executive Officer of the cruiser Omaha, and more recently Commander of LST‘s with the Twelfth Fleet in Europe. Assisting him was the Executive Officer, Commander W.H. Stewart—who also graduated from Annapolis—and a staff of 13 officers and 11 enlisted sailors. The 1940s and early 50‘s were difficult times for the Ohio State University NROTC. As a fledgling organization that began teaching students on 02 October 1945, the OSU NROTC was one of 10 schools that would receive a reserve unit for classes only until one year after the war had ended; the unit‘s existence was not foreseen past that time… it was discussed, but not known if the unit would continue in peacetime. As is currently obvious, the Ohio State battalion continued and is still active as it passes its 66th anniversary. While so much more happened in the years between, it is impossible to detail all of the facts and historical significance that surrounded the turbulent 1960‘s and 70‘s, the developing times of the 1980‘s, the further advances of the 1990‘s, and all of the effects those time periods have had on the current classes that call the NROTC at The Ohio State University their home.