New Student Indoctrination (NSI) & New Student Orientation (NSO

New Student Indoctrination in Great Lakes, Illinois was an amazing experience that was able to jumpstart my future career in the United States Marine Corps. Some important things I was taught at NSI were discipline, attention to detail, and the mindset it takes to be a part of the greatest military in the world. I was primarily taught discipline and attention to detail through repetition of simple tasks such as making my bed, folding my clothes, and perfecting my uniform. I was told that the skills I am learning at NSI will help me in the fleet and help make me a better Marine officer and leader to other Marines and Sailors. Every fold in my clothes would be straight and tidy, my bed will be straight and neat, and my uniform would be clean and worn to perfection. I took pride in the little and grew to understand their importance.

My experience also pushed me physically and mentally during workouts and PT. During our morning workouts and runs I not only had to find the physical strength within myself to push through and complete every exercise, but also mentally encourage myself and understand that I can complete every workout we had. I learned and understood the concept that I can always do more and to have a “No Quit” attitude. Whenever I thought I was done and could not continue, I had to find the strength within myself to keep fighting. This also tied in with improvement in my leadership. I was encouraged to motivate all other candidates and help push them to their limits as we are only as strong as our weakest link. We are a team of Marines and Sailors and when one of us quits, it slows everyone down. So, the opportunity to lead everyone and keep morale high was a wonderful experience to learn and be a part of at NSI.

Lastly, I was also able to meet other candidates, now 4/C Midshipmen that also shared my love for the military and as well as basic core values. We were equally fired up to workout, learn about our futures in the military and share a common love for our country. Many of these candidates I still stay in touch with and check in on them constantly about their success at their respective college NROTC units. NSI was an experience that I would not easily trade away. I learned way too much and made too many lasting friends to miss it. I am the man I am today partially due to NSI, and I would encourage everyone who has the opportunity to attend NSI to do so. - MIDN Dotson

New Student Indoctrination as a Midshipman Instructor

Several battalion members participated in New Student Indoctrination (NSI) aboard Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois during its two iterations. The purpose of NSI is to facilitate the military indoctrination of incoming scholarship, and some college program, NROTC (Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps) Candidate Midshipman before entering the fleet. Each iteration lasted 4 weeks. Iterations were broken down into a two-week Restriction of Movement (ROM) phase in accordance the Navy’s COVID-19 mitigation policy, and a training phase. Once the training phase began, Midshipman candidates received training in swimming, Fire Fighting, Small Arms handling, and drill. Upon graduation from NSI, the new MIDN 4/Cs returned home before beginning their first years of college with their home units. The UI/WSU NROTC Battalion also sent three 1/C Midshipman as Midshipman Instructors (MI’s) to both iterations. As MI’s, these MIDN were charged with mentoring and managing the Candidate Midshipmen from their arrival all the way through to graduation. MIs also received firsthand leadership mentoring from AMOI’s and Active-Duty Navy Recruit Division Commanders. - MIDN Salcido

It was a quick intermission in between NSI and NSO. I had spent a lot of time at home saying my goodbyes and spending time with my family and friends as I was preparing once again to leave for an extended period of time to face many obstacles.

An example of one of these obstacles was NSO. The day had come. I remember finally finishing the cross-country drive and staying up late the day I arrived and finally getting settled into my dorm. I had a sense of relief, while at the same time, a feeling of anxiety for what I had anticipated training to consist of that would commence only a few hours later.

I remember when we sat in the auditorium being briefed on some information about the unit, I took a moment and scanned all the new students that were in the room. I realized at that moment that we all sacrificed our comfort to be together. To work as a team and work towards achieving the same goal. We were all there for a reason. That is something that you realize will follow you throughout your time in the unit and will eventually follow you throughout your whole career. All that daydreaming had come to a halt when Master Sergeant and some of the MECEPS came in and yelled at us to run outside. At this point this stuff had seemed like second nature. I just went through the motions that had been drilled into my head from NSI, but when outside, I had realized that I had forgotten something - my camelback! “Go get it! Run! RUN!” I was told and then I thought to myself, “Wow Butterfield. You really messed THIS up. Out of all things?” This helped me realize that no matter how smart you are, experienced, or proficient you are at something, there is always some sort of situation that can really make you humble yourself and also that you can always do better. DO NOT BECOME COMPLACENT.

There were a lot of times throughout training where we would be going through it, and we would all be exhausted and just wanting it to be over. I can speak for myself, and most of us in that situation probably could relate as well, and say that I had to remind myself as to why I was there and what this training was intended to do in order to keep chugging along.

Being there with all the other Midshipman and embracing the suck really bonded us together and helped us all get through it as a team. In the end and after all of the hard work we had put in, all the time we blankly stared at the back of each other’s heads, studying our gouge books, running back and forth all the time and being herded like sheep, we then all stood together in formation and took the Oath of Midshipmen and finished training. A remarkable feat marking the first chapter of our new ways of life. - MIDN Butterfield