A Day in the Life of a Michigan Navy ROTC Midshpman
Morning activities
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the entire battalion meets at the historic Ferry Field to work out. Every day is different and the exercises can range from competitions with the other branches ROTCs, to learning how to ground fight one-on-one, to team-building intense station workouts. These workouts create a great team building environment, and leave everyone well equipped for the next fitness test. Afterwards, the battalion leadership shares important information for the week, and the midshipmen head off to get ready for their classes.
Additionally, once a week, midshipmen on the drill team meet in the wardroom before heading outside to learn basic drill commands and rifle movements from our AMOI and MECEPs. After several months of training, these midshipmen travel to another school to compete in their drill competition. Each competition requires several teams. Last year I was on the Color Guard Team and Knowledge Team, while this year I am on the Squad Drill Team. This also gives Michigan Midshipmen the opportunity to explore the city, and talk to Midshipmen from other schools. Last year, the Michigan Drill Team went to the UC Boulder Drill Meet in Boulder, CO, where we were able to hike a mountain and I was able to talk to one of the friends that I had made on summer cruise.
2023-24 Michigan Drill Team seen hiking up a mountain in Boulder, CO
Naval Science Classes and Leadership Lab
Twice a week, midshipmen attend Naval Science classes as a part of their regular college schedule. Every semester poses a different type of class, but some of the varieties include history, leadership, navigation, and warfare. These classes are a great opportunity to bond with other midshipmen, as you will take them together. It also allows you to engage more with the active-duty staff, to learn from their experiences and better equip you as an officer. In addition to Naval Science classes, every Thursday evening the battalion meets for Lead Lab to go over a wide variety of topics. This semester alone we have practiced land navigation, began earning the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP), trained on ethics scenarios, had the opportunity to interact with guest speakers, and a lot more. These meetings give underclassmen a chance to practice public speaking, by informing the battalion on current events, and they give everyone the opportunity to catch up on all upcoming battalion events. Lead Lab also serves as a place for our Commanding Officer to go over her mission and plan for the unit. Additionally, she takes this time to go over battalion concerns and discusses what is being done to improve upon them if possible.
2024-25 Midshipmen 3rd Class meet up for a class bonding meal after Lead Lab
Community Service
At the University of Michigan, we have one of the best community service opportunities in the NROTC program. Participating in a color guard for the U of M home football game. After a few hours of practicing, Navy, Army, and Air Force ROTC cadets and midshipmen work together to raise the flag at the start of the game. Those midshipmen then watch the entire game take place from the endzone. It is an incredible experience and brings an overwhelming amount of school pride when you see the Wolverines get a touchdown just a few feet in front of you. After the game, the team works together to take down and properly fold the flag so that it can be safely stored until the next game.
There are many other community service events to participate in here at Michigan. This could be working with the school’s food pantry, helping set up for athletic competitions, and other major military events. These military events include our 9/11 vigil around the university’s flag pole, or the Veteran’s Day flag raising ceremony.
Navy Midshipmen from the September 21, 2024 on the “Big House” field.
Leadership Opportunities
he ultimate goal of the NROTC program is to develop great leaders and successful Navy and Marine Corps officers. One of the largest ways that this is accomplished is by giving midshipmen leadership roles throughout their time in college. Over the course of your time in NROTC, you will have a variety of leadership roles. They will start small, such as a squad leader, and will increase in importance, while covering a wide variety of skills. These roles can be planning the annual Birthday Ball, or training the university’s newest midshipmen as a troop handler, until eventually working up to larger leadership roles, such as being the battalion’s midshipmen CO, XO, and Operations, otherwise referred to as “Big Three”.
Midshipmen Orban and Midshipmen Garland at the completion of the U of M NROTC orientation 2023
Life Outside of NROTC
With the exceptions of early mornings, Lead Lab, and special events, midshipmen are able to live life as regular college students. They are able to chose their major and take whichever classes best suit them and their interests, while also leaving time to join clubs and engage in other social activities with their non-ROTC friends. This availability allows midshipmen to shape their college experience however they see fit, and no two midshipmen’s experiences will be exactly the same because of it.
However, midshipmen are still held to a different standard than other college students, so although you can spend your experience in whatever way you like, it is incredibly important to stay on top of your studies and physical well-being. This helps midshipmen learn how to better manage their time, an important skill in the fleet! They teach themselves how to get their schoolwork and ROTC work done, stay in shape, and still enjoy their college experience, without overwhelming themselves. Although this may sound like a lot, there are upperclassmen who help to mentor the underclassmen that are still learning to manage this balance, which in turn prepares those upperclassmen for helping sailors and marines in the fleet.
For me, I enjoy being involved in the battalion, and I like to balance it out with activities like the Origami Club and baking for my friends. When it comes to classes, as an engineering major, classes can get intense, so I enjoy using my Creative Writing minor classes as a breather for myself, and a chance to express my creativity. It is around these activities that I get most of my work done. During the week, gaps in my schedule and late nights are the best times for me to do homework or prepare for the next ROTC event. On the weekends that don’t have battalion events, I try to hang out with my friends and get myself set up for the week ahead.
Overall, NROTC at the University of Michigan is an incredible place to be. The battalion has introduced me to many interesting things and wonderful people that I know I am going to talk to for the rest of my life. The ability to learn as both a midshipmen and college student has given me so much experience and unique knowledge already. I feel as though I will be well equipped for when I graduate and become an officer in the United States Navy.
Written by
MIDN 3/C Olivia Orban is from New Baltimore, MI and studies Computer Engineering at the University of Michigan. She will graduate from Michigan in 2027 and upon graduation she will commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy. She hopes to attend Nuclear Power School to serve as a Submarine Officer.