USD Magazine, Winter 2001

Dting Things Differently The NROTC program runs like a military operation, with students taking charge of tasks like supply, budget and operations. Because of the program's bigger-than-average scope-started in 1982 and headquartered at USD, it's actually a partnership composed of 250 students from USD, San Diego Scare, Point Loma Nazarene University, Cal State San Marcos and the Un iversity of Cali fornia, San Diego-the midshipmen learn early on to discipline themselves. USD and San Diego Scare serve as host schools, so students from the three other universities come to one of rhe host schools for classes and training. In addition to their regular coursework, NROTC students must complete physics and calculus before their junior year. They can major in any subject, bur are required to minor in Naval Science, taking classes in

each on ships, submarines, aircraft and with the Marines. In subsequent summers they narrow down their interests and receive more specialized training-some as pilots or as members of special warfare teams like the Navy SEALs-all leading to their commis– sion as Naval ensigns or Marine second lieu– tenants upon graduation. Back on campus, many NROTC students are visible in their roles as resident security advisors - essentially public safety officers for the dorms-for which the university pays their room and board. Despite the dif– ferences , most say they don't feel particularly distinct from their fellow students, as mid– shipmen can be fou nd on the footbal l and crew reams, in acting and music programs, and in many extracurricular clubs. And in San D iego, a Navy town for decades, military uniforms are an everyday sight. "You do get students who are curious about NROTC and will ask why we wane to do it," says junior Jennifer Liebertz, who is applying to the Navy's Explosive Ordinance Disposal program, an underwater bomb squad. "When I tell them I want to dedicate myself to protecting our country, they're very supportive. Some have even thanked me. " Duty Bej11re D11llars In a competitive job climate where even high-paying jobs go wanting for lack of qualified applicants, the military can't com– pete financially with private sector jobs that engineering and comp uter science graduates can land. Graduates who earn $50,000 to $60,000 as officers might make six figures at a corporation, without the need to do all that extra work in college. Even so, NROTC has little problem find– ing enough good candidates to fill the 1,500 open spots nationwide each year. Unlike mil– itary recruiting in general, NROTC recruit– ing isn't as big of a challenge, as competition for scholarships is intense. And while there are the Naval Academy and Seaman to Admiral program to fill some of the officer vacancies, the Navy now counts on NROTC as its main source of officers. "The students in NROTC want to be here," says senior Joe Moore. "They see a chance to serve their country for a few years, gee their college education paid off and then maybe lacer chink about getting that high– paying job in rhe private sector." The commitment to service above material gai n, NROTC and university administrators say, is what makes the officer training pro– gram such a perfect fir for USD. At a univer– sity committed to the ideals of service, values

and morality, the NROTC mission to develop its students morally, mentally and physically is a welcome addition. And with jointly sponso red programs such as the James Bond Stockdale Symposium on Ethics and Leadership, an annual workshop and lecture named for the retired mili tary hero and Medal of Honor recipient, students across campus are exposed to a broader dis– cussion of ethics and morality. This year's symposium, jointly sponsored by NROTC and USD's Values Institute, features an April 10 public lecture by Albert Pierce, director of professional ethics at the Naval Academy. "Ir's truly a symbiotic relationship between rhe program and the university," says Cmdr. Mike Gurley, the program's executive officer. "Especially in current times, when the mili– tary is increasingly used for peacekeeping operations, it's clear to me char we stand for the same things. " By the rime they finish up their first year, no matter how they come into the program or whether they aspire to serve the minimum commitment or stay in the military for life, the young midship– men have a pretty clear sense of what they stand for, too. They may miss a few parties, work out in the gym instead of lounging in the dorm or give up that summer trip to Europe, but to most, it doesn't feel like they're missi ng a thing. "We do some things above and beyond what ocher students do, but it's more of a privilege than a sacrifice," says Liebertz. "With the training I've received, the respect I've learned for ocher people and the respon– sib ility I've been given, I feel I'm getting more out of my coll ege life than most. " +

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Naval history, ethics, leadership, engineering, navigation and combat systems. They are expected to keep themselves in top physical condition, maintain solid grades, dress appro– priately while in civilian garb-no rube tops, flip-flops or facial hair for these students– and demonstrate high moral character at all times. Even their classes are different. "Our classes are open to everyone, and it's always interesting to see how students out– side NROTC react when the professor walks in and we all stand to attention," says senior Hector Rivera, 25, who served four years in the Navy and came to USD through a spe– cial program that includes one year of pre– NROTC preparatory courses. "For us, it's just part of how we do things. " Doing things differently comes with the territory. While most college students take on summer jobs at the mall or at a home– town business, NRTOC midshipmen spend the summer after freshman year on a four– week training deployment, spending a week

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