NROTC Miami University
Commander's Intent
18 Jul 2007
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1. The essence of a Naval Officer can be distilled into two basic duties: first to accomplish the Mission, and second to take care of his or her Sailors and Marines. These two duties are interlocked in that as the leader takes care of their Sailors and Marines, the Sailors and Marines will accomplish the Mission, and it is the Mission which comes first.
"The NROTC Program was established to educate and train qualified young men and women for service as Commissioned Officers in the unrestricted line Navy Reserve or Marine Corps Reserve. ..."
--- from the Mission of NROTC
2. The preparation of our future Naval Officers, and America's combat leaders, does not occur in the isolation of an NROTC classroom. Principles and values, academic skill and curiosity, and sound physical fitness are not started, developed, and completed in the confines of NROTC. Therefore, our role in NROTC Miami University is two fold. First, it is our task to concentrate a Midshipman's 18 plus years of moral-mental-physical development as resources for their use as Fleet and FMF Officers. Second, it is our duty to assess both a Midshipman's progress during the program, and assess the Midshipman's demonstrated potential as a Naval Officer. It is our duty to support Midshipmen who have the attributes necessary to become a Naval Officer, it is also our duty to identify Midshipmen who do not possess these attributes.
"Character is the daily choice of right instead of wrong, it is a moral quality which grows to maturity in peace, and is not suddenly developed on the outbreak of war."
--- Aristotle
3. We recognize and respect, that years of influence from family, teachers, coaches, and peers, have contributed in forming a Midshipman's character from a very early age. It is our task to sharpen and polish the positive elements of a Midshipman's character into the leader's who will be responsible for execution of the Navy and Marine Corps Missions and Operations into future generations.
"Character is the foundation of decision making in combat."
--- J.R. Allen, Col, USMC
4. We also fully acknowledge that Miami University is our respected partner in the ongoing development of a Midshipman's character. Miami University has an impeccable national reputation for academic excellence, based on the concept of "Critical Thinking". The Critical Thinking concept directly complements the leadership and vision skills that are fundamental to success as a Naval Officer. We are deeply grateful for the support and cooperation extended from Miami University in the education, training, and development of our future Naval Officers.
5. The basic NROTC curriculum and standards are directed by our higher authority in Naval Service Training Command (NSTC). We fully support NSTC's direction in both letter and spirit. In addition, there are three areas I intend to emphasize in a Midshipman's preparation for Commissioning.
a) The Warrior Ethos.
"No Captain can do very wrong if he places his ship alongside that of the enemy."
--- Admiral Lord Nelson, Royal Navy , 1805
Our Navy's Mission is to maintain, train, and equip Combat ready Naval forces capable of winning wars. Naval Officers provide the leadership required to carry this mission into action. It is our duty to introduce Midshipmen to the twin enduring concepts of the Nature of War, and the Way of War. Midshipmen have chosen a profession of arms, and during their term of service our Nation may very well deploy them into harms way. It is our responsibility to ensure that each Midshipman has an unromanticized introduction to the concepts, and consequences, of Warfare and Warfighting. We intend to instill in Midshipmen that the sober study of Warfighting, with its complex political and social interactions, is a career long endeavor, and that the study of Warfighting will significantly aid in their development as Naval leaders and decision makers. Our reference for Midshipmen's development of the Warrior Ethos will be Marine Corps Doctrinal Publication 1, Warfighting (MCPD 1) .
b) The Navy and Marine Corps as Elements of National Power.
"... maintain, train, and equip combat ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression, and maintaining freedom of the seas."
--- from the Mission of our Navy
It is our duty to introduce Midshipmen to the classic Elements of National Power: Diplomacy, Information, Military, and Economic. We will provide an elementary discussion of the Naval role in support of the National Security Strategy, and the National Military Strategy. We will introduce the Midshipmen to the Navy and Marine Corps Vision and Strategy, and their relationship to National Power and Policy. We do not intend to make Midshipmen experts in US Foreign Policy, rather that Midshipmen have an educated appreciation for their role as a Naval Officer in the operational execution of National Security.
c) One Battalion.
We are obligated to instill in our Midshipmen an astute understanding of the concept of Teamwork in the preparation for, and conduct of, Combat operations. Every Sailor and Marine will be expected to exploit our diversity as a Combat force asset. Therefore every Midshipman in this Battalion is expected to appreciate that their classmates will be their peers and Shipmates in the years to come, regardless of race, prior enlisted service, gender, or service community selection. Strong Naval Officers exploit the Combat power of our diversity, while building on the foundation of respect and responsibility for ourselves and our Shipmates. Our intent is to translate the concept into reality of One Battalion, One Team, One Fight.
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S.J. Johnson, CAPT, USN
Commanding Officer, NROTC Miami University
