rotc uniform essay

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A day in the life of ROTC first-years

The uniforms may be intimidating at first, but are these camo-clad students really that different from the rest of the Vanderbilt community? The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) is a program offered at colleges around the nation that provides students preparation to become U.S. military officers while obtaining a college education. With such a rigorous program, this college experience may seem daunting to most students. 

To first-year Martayn Van de Wall, it’s an experience worth having. While being a first-year student majoring in economics, Van de Wall is an MS1, or first-year cadet, in Army ROTC.

“ROTC at its core will allow me to become an officer in the army, which is something I’ve always dreamed of being. It’s putting me on a good path throughout college, and it gives me a sense of purpose in my classes and in my life,” Van de Wall said.

 First-year Mae Winglass is another MS1 at Vanderbilt. While Winglass wasn’t involved in a similar program in high school, she has a grandfather who served in the Marine Corps and a sister who participated in Boston College’s ROTC. Both of these ties influenced Winglass in her decision to join ROTC, she said. Furthermore, Winglass was intrigued by the workforce exposure provided by the program, such as the ability to practice military skills and be introduced to the various military branches. 

“I knew that it would be really nice to have a job right out of college that would give me applicable experience and the army is a really good networking organization,” Winglass said .

So why Vanderbilt? Though Winglass was initially interested in programs at larger colleges, she was drawn to Vanderbilt’s community. She noted being impressed by the distinguished cadre, the officers responsible for training the unit, and motivated cadets on campus. During orientation, which began two days before move-in day, Winglass and her fellow cadets participated in activities such as canoe racing and paintball. In this setting, Winglass was able to connect with other ROTC members and ease into the training of the program. 

Similarly, Van de Wall said the small program threw him with a group of people much similar to a sports team.

“I think it provides a small community-type-feeling so you really get to know the other cadets well, and when I visited, you could feel that,” Van de Wall said. “With the people who guided me around, they gave me a good sense of what my experience was going to be like and definitely made me feel like a part of the program almost from the get go.”

According to Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Mount, Assistant Professor of Military Science, there are a total of 78 students in the ROTC program, with 13 Vanderbilt students in the MS1 class. Along with Vanderbilt students, the ROTC program in Nashville consists of students from Belmont University, Tennessee State University, Lipscomb University, Trevecca Nazarene University, Fisk University and Welch College. As all cadets train together on Vanderbilt’s campus, Mount views the variety of people involved as a great benefit to the program.

“They come from different backgrounds, different universities, different levels of scholastic achievement so they [the ROTC students] have a much more diverse opportunity to work with these other students,” Mount said. 

As a connected group of cadets, Van de Wall and Winglass complete rigorous training every week. For Winglass, physical training is from 5:50 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in which she exercises with fellow cadets for roughly an hour. Winglass also has a Leadership and Personal Development class that teaches her techniques such as land navigation, military customs and courtesies, map reading and various military hand signals. Following this class, Winglass attends a two to three-hour lab in which she practices her newly-acquired skills. Other techniques the cadets practice are first aid training, setting up bases, tactical maneuvering and learning army conduct codes. These activities are led and organized by senior (MS4) and junior (MS3) cadets as well as by cadre members. Despite being in a teaching position, the older ROTC members and cadre members are still approachable and personal, Wineglass said.

Van de Wall is also part of the Ranger Challenge Team, which is often described as the varsity sport of ROTC. This means Van de Wall has physical training throughout the whole week, with an additional two days of training on Tuesdays and Thursdays. While it’s a huge time commitment, Van de Wall said he definitely finds many advantages to the program.

“It inspires you to work hard, keeps you on a good schedule and teaches you a lot about time management and leadership,”  Van de Wall said. “We haven’t really gotten into leadership positions yet as MS1’s, but just going out and inspiring your fellow cadets to keep going despite having to get to bed early and wake up early while working with test schedules I think are the biggest pros, just the life skills that you learn.” 

Though Winglass admits the early mornings can be tough, she appreciates the structured schedule of her ROTC life. The program primarily trains cadets for a life in the military, but the ROTC also helps cadets plan their future in general. Mount noted that he often has interviews with his cadets in order to help them start looking forward to their futures. 

“I try to drive into these kids as freshmen and MS1s that the more planning you can do now for the future, the less surprise you’ll have in the future,” Mount said. “The decisions you are making today are either gonna open or close the doors of tomorrow.”

Winglass has also been introduced to a breadth of opportunities through the ROTC program, such as the Cultural Understanding and Leadership Program (CULP). CULP is an international program through which ROTC students can explore jobs and studies abroad. Winglass has also been able to meet ROTC members who are involved in a variety of clubs across campus, reassuring her that she’ll easily be able to have a world of interests outside of ROTC.

Looking forward, Winglass will serve either four years active duty or eight years reserve commitment post graduation. She is considering going into military intelligence or logistics. Van de Wall intends to also join active duty post-graduation, most interested in joining active duty and going into infantry and aviation. 

“I think it’s nice in that it’s like a sorority: it helps you meet people and it helps you meet older people as well as students in your own grade,” Winglass said. “I’ve obviously gotten to meet a lot of cool people, and I have learned some cool stuff. I get to run around in a uniform, and I’m going to get field training.”

So next time you’re in the crowd at a football game and those students in uniform go out onto the field to do push-ups, there’s a chance they are a fellow student in your class.

“We’re pretty much just like other students. I’ve had people thank me for my service which is just pretty funny because we haven’t really done anything yet other than workout. Hopefully one day I will earn that honor, but people should treat us like anything else like their classmates and putting extra work on the side,” Van de Wall said.

The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University

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Comments (1)

Thank you for the article. I would like to point out, though, that this article concentrated on Army ROTC. VU’s Navy ROTC has different a physical training schedule, I believe, and also has different lab class concentrations. Also the “officer” in the picture is part of Navy ROTC staff and looks to be a Staff or Gunnery Sergeant in the Marine Corps; normally you wouldn’t refer to them as “officers”.

In any case, thank you for the article. Study hard, enjoy life.

Go ‘Dores!

Frequently Asked Questions: ROTC

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View an FAQ that has been put together by our cadet ambassadors to help answer your questions.

General Questions

What is ROTC? Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) is a college program that prepares students to become officers in the U.S. military while earning their degrees. ROTC is available for all five branches of the military: Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Marine Corps. Students who participate in ROTC undergo military training, leadership development, and academic coursework related to military science. Upon completion of the ROTC program and graduating with a bachelor’s degree, ROTC students are commissioned as officers in their respective military branches and may serve on Active Duty (full-time), the National Guard (part-time), or the Reserves (part-time). The goal of ROTC is to develop leaders who are well-versed in both military and civilian affairs, aligning with Stanford's mission of producing principled leaders contributing positively to society.

Why do Stanford students join ROTC? Students join ROTC at Stanford for diverse reasons, often tailored to their individual goals. Some seek the financial benefits of ROTC scholarships, while others want to join the military for a specific career (i.e. Air Force pilot, Army infantry officer, or Navy submariner). Many students like the combined experience of ROTC and college over attending service academies like West Point, the Naval Academy, or the Air Force Academy.

What is the service commitment after completing ROTC and graduating from Stanford? The service commitment after completing ROTC varies depending on the branch of the military, specific program, and assigned career:

• Army ROTC: An 8-year commitment is required in either Active-Duty or Reserve Component (National Guard or Reserves). Active Duty entails 4 years of service and 4 years in Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR), while National Guard or Reserves commitment is 6 years with an additional 2 years in IRR. There are also options to serve the 8 years part-time in the National Guard or Reserves.
• Navy & Marine Corps ROTC: Navy midshipmen are required to serve a minimum of 5 years of Active-Duty upon graduation. Marine Corps Option midshipmen are required to serve at least 4 years of Active-Duty Additional requirements may be required for specific job assignments.
• Air Force & Space Force ROTC: Both Air Force and Space Force cadets are required to serve 4 years of Active Duty. Pilots and some other flying-related career fields may have longer commitments.

What is the difference between Active Duty, National Guard, Reserves, and Inactive Reserve? 

• Active Duty (AD): Full-time service obligation. You are engaged in military service on a daily basis, often stationed on military bases or deployed.
• National Guard: Part-time service with a focus on state and community needs. In peacetime, you serve one weekend a month and two weeks per year, but you may be called to Active Duty during emergencies or for specific missions. 
• Reserves: Similar to National Guard, part-time service with a focus on supporting and augmenting Active Duty. In peacetime, you serve one weekend a month and two weeks per year, but you may be called to Active Duty during emergencies or for specific missions. 
• Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR): You are not actively participating in the military (no duty, drills, or training). However, you may be called back to Active Duty during national emergencies.

How many students at Stanford are in ROTC? Our numbers are small but mighty! As of AY 2023-2024, we have a total of 16 students: 7 Air Force, 2 Marine Corps, 2 Space Force, 4 Army, and 1 Navy.

Are ROTC scholarship selectees given any preferential treatment in the admission process? Can the unit help with getting into Stanford? No, the scholarship selection process is COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT of Stanford's admission process. If you get a scholarship, the host ROTC unit may be informed, but you must gain admittance through Stanford’s general admissions process. We cannot help you with getting into Stanford (sorry!).

Is ROTC the only way I can become an officer in the military? There are several pathways to become an officer in the military, each offering unique opportunities and requirements. The main options include:

• ROTC: ROTC programs are offered at many colleges and universities. Students participate in military training alongside their regular academic coursework. ROTC programs typically span four years and offer scholarships to eligible students.
• Officer Training School (OTS) or Officer Candidate School (OCS): OTS and OCS are designed for individuals who have already completed their undergraduate education or are enlisted members of the military seeking to become officers. OTS and OCS programs are typically shorter and more condensed than ROTC, ranging from a few weeks to several months depending on the branch of service. Admission to OTS/OCS can be highly competitive, and the wait for entry can be lengthy.
• Military Service Academies: Military academies, such as the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the U.S. Naval Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy, offer a four-year undergraduate education combined with military training. Student life at military academies is characterized by a highly disciplined and rigorous schedule, reminiscent of bootcamp training. Cadets undergo intensive physical training, military drills, and academic coursework in a demanding 24/7 environment.
• Direct Commissioning Programs: Some branches of the military offer direct commissioning programs for professionals with specialized skills or expertise, such as lawyers, doctors, and chaplains. These programs allow individuals to enter the military as officers without undergoing traditional officer training programs.
• Specialized Programs: Certain specialized programs, such as the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) and the Nurse Corps Officer Commissioning Program (NCOC), offer opportunities for individuals pursuing careers in healthcare to become officers in the military. These programs provide financial assistance for education in exchange for a commitment to serve as a healthcare provider in the military.

Why should I choose ROTC over other commissioning programs? Choosing ROTC offers several unique advantages over other commissioning programs. ROTC integrates military training with college or university education, allowing cadets to earn their degree while preparing for military service. Additionally, ROTC emphasizes leadership development through a mix of classroom instruction, practical training, and mentorship opportunities. Additionally, many Stanford ROTC students enter with partial or full-tuition ROTC scholarships, providing financial support for their college education. Unlike the military academies, ROTC offers flexibility in life as a college student and allows cadets to pursue specialized training opportunities tailored to their interests and career goals. Finally, the wait for Officer Training School or Officer Candidate School can be lengthy and highly competitive, whereas ROTC offers a more direct path to commissioning. 

Why should I choose Stanford ROTC over other schools with host units and/or the military academies? Participating in ROTC at Stanford offers unique opportunities due to its intersection with Silicon Valley and its long-standing relationship with the U.S. military. The university boasts a robust military presence on campus, providing access to various resources and initiatives, such as:

• Networking with National Security Affairs Fellows from the Hoover Institution
• Conducting policy research with the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation
• Participating in defense startup classes with Hacking for Defense . 
• Completing a thesis with the Honors Program in International Security Studies
• Taking specialized defense, national security, and international relations classes with the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies
• Completing a national security internship or fellowship through Stanford in Government
• Spending a quarter in Washington, D.C. taking classes and working through Stanford in Washington
• Staying connected with military-affiliated alumni with the Stanford Military Service Network

Stanford's appeal lies in its diverse community, attracting a multitude of individuals from various military backgrounds. Every year, the university welcomes 30-40 students from different ROTC programs, military academies, and Active Duty positions who pursue advanced degrees (master’s or PhD) or military fellowships at Stanford. Additionally, Stanford ROTC alumni have forged remarkable paths in their military careers, with former members becoming fighter pilots and test pilots, special forces commanders, flag officers (Generals and Admirals), and even congressional representatives. This alumni network exemplifies the caliber of leadership cultivated within Stanford ROTC.

ROTC Student Life

What is it like participating in ROTC at different universities? Stanford students in ROTC engage through cross-enrollment agreements with nearby universities hosting ROTC programs. This involves carpooling to UC Berkeley (Navy/Marine Corps), San Jose State (Air Force/Space Force), or Santa Clara University (Army) for weekly military training and classes. If scheduling conflicts arise, students are responsible for their own transportation to the host school. Stanford ROTC students enjoy equal opportunities as host-unit students, such as the ability to participate in endurance club, color guard, or any other ROTC-related activities. Check out the “Day in the Life” articles for a better idea of ROTC student life.

How do ROTC students commute to the host units? Typically, Stanford ROTC students carpool using cars, with many upperclassmen having their own personal vehicles. Because freshmen are not allowed to have cars on campus, freshmen usually carpool with the upperclassmen or rideshare to get to training. OMAC gives quarterly transportation cost reimbursements to offset gas/rideshare/ZipCar costs. Please see the ROTC Transportation Fund page for more information.

The commute to each of the host schools is very long, and I’m worried about building camaraderie with my host unit. Is ROTC worth it? Ultimately, the decision to join ROTC depends on your individual preferences and priorities. While the commute to host schools may be lengthy, many Stanford ROTC students appreciate the physical distance between their training unit and campus life. Contrary to common concerns, being a crosstown student has no impact on your ability to build camaraderie with your host unit. In fact, many Stanford ROTC students have risen to top leadership positions within their units, such as Cadet Wing Commander (AFROTC) and Battalion Commander (NROTC, AROTC). Many students nationwide revolve their college life around ROTC, but at Stanford, you have the flexibility to balance ROTC commitments with other aspects of your college experience. 

Can I participate in extracurricular activities such as sports teams, student groups, or Greek organizations at Stanford? Yes. Most of Stanford’s ROTC students are heavily involved in student life and have served as fraternity/sorority presidents, student organization leaders, or even NCAA Division 1 athletes. ROTC encourages participation in the school community. In our experience, scheduling conflicts rarely occur and are easily resolved.

Can I study abroad? Yes! Many Stanford ROTC students have successfully studied abroad through Stanford’s Bing Overseas Programs (BOSP) in locations like Florence, Madrid, and Berlin. Additionally, ROTC can fund certain study-abroad programs through Project GO . Early planning is crucial to ensure you can study abroad while graduating on-time; inform your ROTC advisor early if you are interested.

Can I pursue a coterminal master’s degree? Yes, pursuing a coterm is possible, though timeline requirements vary by branch. Depending on your major and the U.S. military's needs, you may be granted an extra year to extend your commissioning and graduation timeline to coterm in five years. However, this is not guaranteed; in most cases, you should plan on coterming in four years (conferring both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in four years).

Can I talk to a current Stanford ROTC student to learn more about life in ROTC? Yes! You can reach out to our dedicated student ambassadors for all ROTC branches. You can also follow our student-run Stanford ROTC Association (@stanfordrotc) on Instagram and DM to ask questions.

Benefits and Financial Aid

What are the ROTC scholarship benefits? Details vary by branch and by specific scholarships given, but ROTC scholarships often cover:

• Full or partial tuition expenses at Stanford
• Monthly stipends
• Book allowance for textbooks and other required academic materials

Please research specific branch scholarship benefits on their respective websites.

Does an ROTC scholarship cover room and board expenses at Stanford? Generally, no. Some ROTC scholarship recipients have the option of choosing to have their room and board paid for instead of tuition and fees, but the scholarship will not cover both. This depends on the specific scholarship and branch.

Are ROTC scholarship recipients eligible for financial aid? All questions regarding financial aid should be directed to Stanford’s financial aid office . According to the Higher Education Act, ROTC scholarships are not factored into determining the cost of attendance or expected family contributions for federal financial aid eligibility. ROTC scholarships should be treated as a veteran's benefit rather than a scholarship by schools.

Can I participate in ROTC at Stanford if I do not yet have a scholarship? Yes! Students may join any ROTC unit and apply to receive a scholarship for their specific branch before they enter junior year.

Unit Documents

You may have to right click on the link, and click “Save Link As…” in order to access the document for .docx files.

• Event Waiver → send up Chain of Command (to Plt Sgt)
• Semester Waiver → send up Chain of Command and to Advisor
• Medical Waiver Policy → send to Advisor, Ms. Mannery, AMOI, and up Chain of Command
• Annual Certificate of Physical Condition → can be edited within PDF document, use Adobe Reader
• Example OCS Essay
• Essay Evaluation
• Proper Memo Format
• Special Request/Authorization/Leave Chit
• Use this for W24 Leave Chits
• Midshipmen Action Form
• Electronic Communication Guide

MIDN Policies

• Study Hours SOP W24
• General Midshipman Correspondence SOP
• Inclement Weather Policy
• Performance Review Board Guide
• Grooming Standards
• Uniform Requirements
• US Navy Uniform Regulations
• US Marine Corps Uniform Regulations
• NROTC Uniform Regulations
• English Request Form (.docx) , (.pdf version)
• American History/National Security Request Form (.docx) , (.pdf version)
• World Culture and Regional Studies Request Form (.docx) , (.pdf version)
• Navy Option Physics and Math Requirements
• Naval Science Class List
• Knowledge Packet and Handbook W24 [PDF]
• Regulations for Officer Development (ROD)
• Regulations for Officer Development Appendices
• Incoming Freshman Packet
• Navy Correspondence Manual
• Marine Drill and Ceremonies Manual
• MIDN Summer Training Administration Manual
• MIDN Summer Training Handbook

Cruise Documents

• OCS Training Manual
• First Class Surface Cruise Guide
• First Class Subsurface Cruise Guide
• First Class Aviation Ashore Cruise Guide 
• First Class Aviation Afloat Cruise Guide
• First Class Nurse Hospital Guide 
• Second/Third Class Surface Cruise Guide 
• CORTRAMID West Guide
• CORTRAMID East Guide
• For additional information, visit  Summer Cruise Training
• Marine Corps CFT Instructions
• Marine Corps PFT/CFT Standards
• Marine Corps PFT/CFT
• Navy PRT Instructions and Scoring
• Navy Body Composition Assessment (BCA)
• PRT Prep Guide

Club Documents

• Club Proposal
• Club Roster
• Funding Request

Commissioning Documents

• Medical Pre-Commissioning Process Checklist
• Marine Commissioning Documents
• OCS Field Manual
• OCS Preparation Guide
• OCS Shipping Checklist
• OCS Study Guide
• Five Paragraph Skeleton
• Combat Orders Foundations
• USMC Mission and Organization
• USMC Organization and Chain of Command

Midshipman NSTC Forms

• NSTC Form 114: Program Requirements Checklist
• NSTC Form 115: Academic Term Performance
• NSTC Form 117: Degree Completion Plan
• NSTC Form 119: Student Term Performance

Miscellaneous

• NAVAL EQUAL OPPORTUNITY (EO) FORMAL COMPLAINT FORM
• Navy Tattoo Screening Form
• EOD Physical Prep Guide
• Sample MECEP Application
• Inbound MECEP Checklist
• CNO Professional Reading Program
• Commandant’s Professional Reading List

• Get One-on-One Coaching Now
• Army ROTC Scholarship
• Air Force ROTC Scholarship
• Navy or Marine Corps ROTC Scholarship
• Free Training
• ROTC Scholarship Online Courses
• College Incentives
• Testimonials

Navy ROTC Essay Examples with Commentary

CAPT Roberts

7 minute read

• Winning Navy ROTC Essay Examples

The following are winning four-year scholarship essays from Navy ROTC-Marine Corps option applicants we have worked within the past at ROTC Consulting. These also apply to Navy ROTC because the prompts are the same. We will provide commentary at the end of each essay as to why each of these Navy ROTC essay examples is effective.

Winning Navy ROTC Essay #1

Discuss your reasons for wanting to become a Marine Officer. Specifically, comment on leadership positions you’ve held, the challenges you have faced and the lessons you have learned.

• Winning Answer:

My desire to become an officer in the Marine Corps stems from my passion for leadership, athletic merit, community service, and my country. These attributes will greatly assist me on my quest to earn the title of Marine officer.

In order to make that statement, I needed to better understand what life would be like as a ROTC midshipman and future Marine lieutenant. I had an action plan to find out more. I visited the Texas A&M Naval ROTC and talked to midshipmen and the officer staff about what it takes to be a midshipman. I have spoken to several commissioned officers about my chosen career as a Marine aviation officer and learned about the responsibility and standards that will be demanded of me leading enlisted Marines. It is an awesome responsibility that begins with my enrollment in the Naval ROTC

I embrace leadership. For two years I have been the student leader for my school’s design program. My responsibilities included developing solutions to intricate problems, crafting enhanced ways of teaching subjects for teachers, and mentoring younger students on the proper use of tools and safety. This upcoming year I will be a part of the inaugural community-based design class in which we will identify and solve problems in our community.

Sports have been an integral part of my life. From a state-ranked ten-year-old swimmer to a three-time tennis state champion at 17, I have matured into a solid athlete but also a strong teammate and leader. As the cross-country team captain, my goal was not only to form a bond but also to succeed as a team. In my second year as the team captain, I am working to set an example of strong work ethic and to create an atmosphere of camaraderie. I understand the importance the Marine Corps places on being physically fit. As an officer, you must set the example and physical fitness excellence is one way to demonstrate this.

Giving back to my community has become important. Teaching kids with autism how to play tennis has been extremely fulfilling, because it gives them the chance to be athletes who are defined by their skill and not by their condition. I have also found great joy in teaching tennis to younger kids and introducing them to the sport that has given back to me. I believe serving my community for its betterment has made a lasting impact on me and instilled the true value of service to others.

Patriotism and loyalty are two traits that describe my love of this country My whole life I have felt extremely lucky to have been raised and given a great education in this amazing country. I would like to put my education and leadership skills to use in the best way possible, defending this great nation while helping to lead the world’s premier fighting force.

• Commentary on why this essay is successful:

Notice that this essay is a combination of showing things that he did to learn more about being both a cadet and an officer in the United States Navy as well as what the candidate did in high school that applies to the question.

In our opinion, the first part of the essay, namely, demonstrating what you know about the Navy or Marine Corps, in the more important part of the essay. This can be demonstrated by letting Navy ROTC know what research you did on the internet, who you talked to (both cadets/midshipmen and officers) and especially what things you did to visit ROTC programs and actual Navy or Marine Corps units (such as Navy or Marine Corps Reserve Units) to talk with both officers and noncommissioned officers to learn the duties and responsibilities of a lieutenant or ensign.

In addition, did you take the time to visit a Navy ROTC program? If so, what did you learn? Are you ready for the challenges of Navy ROTC? Tell the board members that you took the time to visit and learn more about Navy ROTC and are excited about being a midshipmen/cadet.

Winning Navy ROTC Essay #2

Prompt: How might your background and experiences enhance the U.S. Marine Corps?

My experiences in leadership and community service have provided a strong foundation for me to build off of and further develop as a midshipman and future officer in the United States Marine Corps. Throughout high school I have had valuable leadership opportunities in the classroom, on athletic teams, in church, and in my community.

For the past two years, I have been the student leader in my school’s design program using my problem-solving abilities and organizational skills to guide other students to success in the classroom. Junior year I became the captain of the boys varsity cross country team. I take this honor seriously and work to set an example by having a strong work ethic and a positive attitude for the team. My experience as a leader, coupled with the training I would receive as a midshipman, will help make me a strong future leader of Marines.

My commitment to service is something that I take great pride in. It is not the quantity of community service hours I have, but the quality of service. I believe that the time you do spend must be applied to something meaningful to better the community. To truly make a difference you also have to show passion in your service. I have volunteered every summer with my church to help with their vacation bible school. I have helped with a dog rescue, and I have rung the bell for the Salvation Army. However, what fulfills me the most is volunteering at a weekly tennis clinic for children with autism as well as a tournament for veterans. I have worked closely with the program director to help plan and make each event successful. Working with people who have both mental and physical challenges and seeing them succeed is very rewarding. I understand that selfless service and a servant’s heart are important attributes of Maine officers and I believe my experiences will prepare me to be a better Marine officer.

This is where you provide Navy ROTC your “signature” accomplishments. The top three to four things you are most proud of. List each and then explain in a paragraph why this accomplish is significant. In this way, you highlight to the selection committee clearly what you are most proud of and what they need to pay attention to. This is where you get to “brag” about yourself.

Final Thoughts on Navy ROTC essays:

These essays are important to Navy ROTC. These winning ROTC essay examples highlight several things. Essay #1 needs to show what effort you put in to learn more about Navy ROTC and the duties and responsibilities of an ensign or lieutenant. Essay #2 is your signature accomplishments to demonstrate why you should be selected for a scholarship over someone else. Make sure you highlight only the most important things you have done.

If you do the above things, you are that much closer to winning a Navy ROTC Scholarship!

ROTC Scholarship Consulting provides assistance with your essays as well as other areas of the scholarship application. ROTC Scholarship Consulting has an unparalleled record in helping candidates win ROTC Scholarships.  Please take a look at our services for more information .

Article Contents

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Americans arrested in Congo amid accusations of coup attempt

An army spokesperson told state television that a coup attempt Sunday had been swiftly stopped by Congolese security forces.

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) said Sunday they had arrested several foreigners who were allegedly involved in a thwarted coup attempt after a shootout in the capital left three people dead.

The short official statements did little to address questions raised by the apparently amateur tactics of the alleged plotters and their ease in accessing one of Congo’s most secure sites.

Congolese army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Sylvain Ekenge told state television in a brief statement that the coup attempt had been swiftly stopped by Congolese security forces.

The U.S. ambassador tweeted that she had received reports that U.S. citizens were involved, and local media published footage of two men under arrest, their hands clasped pleadingly, with pictures of a passport that indicated one was a 36-year-old U.S. citizen born in Maryland. Media reports indicated that three other Americans were also arrested. The reports could not be independently confirmed.

“I am shocked by the events of this morning and very concerned by reports of American citizens allegedly involved,” Ambassador Lucy Tamlyn tweeted in French. “… We will cooperate with DRC authorities to the fullest extent as they investigate these criminal acts and hold accountable any U.S. citizen involved.”

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Congo is home to nearly 100 million people, and endemic corruption and repeated civil wars mean most people live in desperate poverty despite the central African nation’s mineral riches, which include gold, copper, nickel and cobalt — vital for the world’s green energy transition.

Parliamentary leadership elections were supposed to be held over the weekend, but they were postponed by President Félix Tshisekedi. He won a second term in a chaotic December vote that was widely criticized for poor planning and a lack of transparency.

The three deaths reportedly occurred at the residence of Vital Kamerhe — a member of parliament previously jailed for corruption but now running to become speaker — which was allegedly attacked before the presidential palace.

“Two of the police officers assigned to his guard, as well as one of the attackers, lost their lives,” Kamerhe’s spokesman Michel Moto Muhima posted on X.

The coup attempt appears to have been led by Christian Malanga , a 41-year-old man who set up a political organization among the Congolese diaspora in the United States and proclaimed himself president of Congo in exile. Congolese intelligence suspected him of previously trying to assassinate President Joseph Kabila, said Dino Mahtani, who has held senior positions for the United Nations in Congo; Kabila was president from 2001 to 2019.

Mahtani said Congolese intelligence had previously told him that Malanga was a former U.S. military officer of Congolese origin; Malanga himself posted online that he had been an Air Force junior ROTC cadet and had led a Congolese military unit. The Washington Post was not immediately able to verify those claims.

Later Sunday, Ekenge, the army spokesman, told the Associated Press that the suspected coup leader, Christian Malanga, was killed at the presidential palace after he resisted arrest by guards.

One of the Americans arrested had a passport in the name of Benjamin Zalman-Polun, according to Congolese television. His social media profiles described him as an American cannabis entrepreneur. In 2014, Zalman-Polun pleaded guilty before a court in Washington to possessing and conspiring to distribute less than 50 kilos of marijuana, court documents showed. A 2022 article in Africa Intelligence connected Zalman-Polun to Malanga’s gold business in Mozambique.

In videos posted on Malanga’s Facebook page and other social media earlier Sunday, men in military uniforms can be seen wandering somewhat aimlessly around the presidential palace, taking down flags, chanting “New Zaire” and filming themselves waving weapons and swearing. There are at least two White men wearing masks. At one point, an American accent off camera says, “It’s jammed”; at another point, someone says in English, “Felix, we’re coming for you n-----” — a racist slur rarely used in Congo.

In most of the videos posted online, the men do not hold their weapons ready; one is leaning against a wall. There is no sign of resistance — or a plan. In another video, a man presumed to be Malanga screams, “Felix, you’re out” while armed men behind him check their phones or adjust their berets before producing a flag associated with Zaire, the country’s former name.

The amateur nature of the coup attempt and the way the group of men were able to access one of Kinshasa’s most heavily guarded government sites with so little resistance provoked many questions among Congo watchers.

“Obviously, Malanga has been used by somebody,” Mahtani said. “There’s many people unhappy with the president inside the Congo and ambitious powers outside the Congo who want him removed — and a lot of it connects to resource ambitions, including gold.”

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Mary Wells Lawrence, High-Profile Advertising Pioneer, Dies at 95

She was the first woman to own and run a major national advertising agency. Her company, Wells Rich Greene, was best known for the “I ♥ NY” campaign.

By Robert D. McFadden

She splashed jazzy colors on Braniff airliners. She put the “plop plop, fizz fizz” into Alka-Seltzer. She warned Benson & Hedges smokers that long cigarettes might pop balloons or set fire to beards. And from Niagara Falls to Broadway, she reached millions with her “I ♥ NY” campaign.

Mary Wells Lawrence, who grew up in Ohio, at 22 took her imagination and ambition to New York, where she broke through advertising’s male bastions of the 1960s, quit a prestigious job when she was denied a presidency, founded her own agency and dazzled Madison Avenue with vivid campaigns that became embedded in American culture. She died on Saturday morning in London. She was 95.

Her death, in a hospital, was confirmed by her daughter Katy Bryan.

Ms. Wells Lawrence was the first woman to own and run a major national advertising agency — Wells Rich Greene — and the first female chief executive of a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In the 1970s, she was reputed to be the industry’s most highly paid executive, with a salary of more than $300,000 (more than a million dollars in today’s currency).

She was “arguably the most powerful and successful woman ever to work in advertising,” Stuart Elliott, who was then the advertising columnist of The New York Times, wrote in 2002 of Ms. Wells Lawrence , who sold her agency for $160 million (about $385 million today) and retired in 1990.

The world of advertising has changed dramatically since her day. Most agencies that nurtured creativity and made commercials with hummable music, talented acting, clever writing and deft strategies to reinforce brands and products have long since given way to corporate giants led by chief executives not closely involved in actual ad production, which relies heavily on market research and pictorially on digital tricks.

But in a pioneering career across four decades, including 24 years as her own boss, Ms. Wells Lawrence and her colleagues, Dick Rich and Stewart Greene, created hands-on campaigns that defied orthodoxy, took chances and, with flashes of wit and insight, often turned old-fashioned selling into entertainment. Sometimes they radically changed public perceptions.

Her agency’s best-known campaign was “I ♥ NY,” which began in 1977, when New York City’s social fabric seemed to be fraying, with dangerous streets littered with garbage and graffiti, a serial killer at large and racial strife. To resurrect tourism in the city and around New York State, the state hired Wells Rich Greene and the graphic designer Milton Glaser , who devised the heart logo to go with the campaign’s catchphrase.

“The first commercial we made ended with Frank Langella as Dracula,” Ms. Wells Lawrence recalled in a memoir, “A Big Life (in Advertising)” (2002). It was shot with machine-generated fog outside the Martin Beck Theater on 45th Street in Midtown, where Mr. Langella was starring as that famous vampire. “Swirling in his Dracula cape, he looks into your eyes and says thrillingly, ‘I love New York — especially in the evening.’”

Stars of Broadway, Hollywood and the Metropolitan Opera, political leaders and hosts of celebrities appeared in the ads. The “I Love New York” song, composed by Steve Karmen, was declared the state anthem by Gov. Hugh L. Carey in 1980, and the Glaser logo, a staple of television ads, still appears on millions of T-shirts, buttons, caps and posters.

Originally meant to last only a few months, the campaign went on for years, growing into one of the most successful and imitated in history. It instilled pride in New Yorkers and brought tourism roaring back as a key industry of both the city and the state.

Even before forming their own agency, Ms. Wells Lawrence, Mr. Rich and Mr. Greene made memorable commercials in the 1960s for Jack Tinker & Partners, a subsidiary of the advertising giant Interpublic.

For Alka-Seltzer, they shot two tablets dissolving in water as a catchy voice-over declared: “Plop-plop, fizz-fizz. Oh, what a relief it is!” They called it “Alka-Seltzer on the Rocks.” Sales nearly doubled as consumers got into the habit of taking two tablets instead of one.

The agency introduced the 100-millimeter Benson & Hedges cigarette with a tongue-in-cheek campaign that focused on the “disadvantages” of smokes so lengthy that they set men’s beards afire or were squashed in the closing doors of a crowded elevator.

The campaign for Braniff International Airways took another novel approach. A little-known airline that flew to Mexico and South America, it had invested in new planes, and its new president, Harding L. Lawrence, was desperate for recognition.

“Listen, Mary,” he said, as she recalled in her memoir, “I need a very big idea for this airline, something so big it will make Braniff important news overnight.”

She toured Braniff’s terminals, examined its planes and staff, and came away dismayed. The terminals “looked like a prison camp,” she said; the planes were drab “metallic or white”; flight attendants were “dressed to look like nurses.”

Then it hit her — an idea to exploit the 1960s culture of rebel freedom, eccentricity and vitality. “I saw Braniff in a wash of beautiful color,” she said.

The result was a fleet of airliners, each painted from nose to tail in one of seven bright hues: ocher, orange, turquoise, beige, yellow and two other shades of blue. Interiors were decorated with Herman Miller fabrics. Terminal lounges were redesigned by Alexander Girard with art from Mexico and South America. Flight attendants were attired in Emilio Pucci fashions worn, and removed, in layers during flights, an idea called “the air strip.”

“The End of the Plain Plane,” advertisements boasted. Braniff, suddenly the airline of the youthful jet set, reported an 80 percent leap in business. (Later, when the airline switched agencies, George Lois of Lois, Holland, Callaway contributed the tagline “When you got it — flaunt it!”)

Ms. Wells Lawrence sold Wells Rich Greene to a French company in 1990. Eight years later, with most of its clients and management talent gone, the agency closed. ( Mr. Rich died in 2014, Mr. Greene in 2019.)

Mary Wells Lawrence was born Mary Georgene Berg in Youngstown, Ohio, on May 25, 1928, the only child of Waldemar and Violet (Meltz) Berg. Her father was a furniture salesman.

Mary was shy, and her mother enrolled her in acting, dancing and music classes. She first performed at the Youngstown Playhouse when she was 5, and at 17 she began studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York.

When she was 18, she enrolled in the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, where she met Bert Wells. They were married in 1949, divorced in 1952, remarried in 1954 and divorced again in 1965. In 1967 she married Mr. Lawrence, Braniff’s president. Mr. Lawrence died in 2002.

In addition to Ms. Bryan, Ms. Wells Lawrence is survived by another daughter, Pamela Lombard; a stepson, State Lawrence; a stepdaughter, Deborah Lawrence; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ms. Wells Lawrence wrote ad copy for a Youngstown department store and was an ad manager for Macy’s in New York in the early 1950s before joining the McCann-Erickson agency in 1953. She rose rapidly, but she felt undervalued. She joined Doyle Dane Bernbach in 1957 and became a $40,000-a-year vice president in 1963. Her first memorable ad was for French tourism — a photo of an old man and a child, behind him, riding a bicycle on a country road.

“Think you’ve seen France?” the caption read. “Think again.”

In 1964, she took a $60,000-a-year senior partnership with Jack Tinker & Partners, one of many agencies in the Interpublic Group. The job, she told Fortune magazine, held “the promise of eventual command.” She and a small group, including Mr. Rich and Mr. Greene, known as “Tinker’s Thinkers,” rented an office away from Madison Avenue’s bustle and devised the Alka-Seltzer and Braniff campaigns.

In 1966, having several high-profile campaigns under her belt and feeling entitled, Ms. Wells Lawrence asked for the presidency of Tinker & Partners. Her boss, Marion Harper Jr. , the president and chairman of Interpublic, told her that he would give her presidential authority but not the title — a woman, he said, could not win acceptance as president.

It was her moment of truth.

“He could see that I was feeling a red rage,” she told The Times in 2012. “And he said, ‘You wouldn’t want to ruin something you built.’ And at that point I just walked out the door. It wasn’t as though I wanted to be Betty Friedan . I just wanted my own agency.”

Mr. Rich and Mr. Greene quit, too. Mr. Rich joined her as treasurer and copy chief of the new agency, Mr. Greene as secretary and art director. They set up shop in a hotel suite, signed Braniff as their first client and soon won Benson & Hedges, Burma toiletries and Utica Club beer. Within months, Ms. Wells Lawrence was a national celebrity.

She took her agency public in 1968. In 1977, she profited handsomely by reverting to private ownership. Annual billings eventually reached $885 million, with clients including IBM, Procter & Gamble, Ford, American Motors, Cadbury Schweppes, MCI Communications, Hertz, Philip Morris, and Pan American and Trans World Airlines.

Her friends became a who’s who of American politics, entertainment, communications and corporate life. She was named Woman of the Year by the American Advertising Federation in 1971 and inducted into the American Advertising Hall of Fame in 1999.

In the 1980s, she survived uterine and breast cancer.

Ms. Wells Lawrence had homes in New York and the south of France, but spent most months in later years aboard her yacht in the Mediterranean. In 2020, she relocated to London. Since 2008 she had worked on wowOwow, a website for women, with her friends the book publisher Joni Evans, the columnists Peggy Noonan and Liz Smith , and the broadcast journalist Lesley Stahl. It was merged in 2010 with PureWow , a site aimed at a younger audience.

Michael S. Rosenwald contributed reporting.

An earlier version of this obituary referred incorrectly to a campaign for Braniff International Airways based on the slogan “When you got it — flaunt it!” It was created by George Lois of Lois, Holland, Callaway — not by Ms. Wells Lawrence’s agency.

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Robert D. McFadden is a Times reporter who writes advance obituaries of notable people. More about Robert D. McFadden