Nicolina Shah
Integration Two
Moreau FYE
December 2nd, 2021
Shah

We All Need Somebody to Lean On
Being a member of Notre Dame’s NROTC battalion can be compared to being a member of another family on campus. Everyone has each other’s backs, all of the midshipmen look out for each other, and push each other to be the best person they can be. However, there are also a lot of challenges that this program entails. Since the program is so competitive, it is easy to hold yourself to imaginary expectations. For example, a midshipman could push themselves to run the fastest mile and a half in their squad or earn the ‘midshipman of the week’ award more than once. These accomplishments should be praised, but that does not mean that everyone has to be held accountable to those expectations. Not everyone can run a 9-minute mile and a half, and not everyone even wins the ‘midshipman of the week’ award. These imaginary expectations hold some of the midshipmen back, instead of making them stronger. In an article by Julia Hogan, she says that “Not only are these expectations arbitrary, but they will almost always backfire on you. You can’t live your life according to the expectations of others” (“Why Letting Go of Expectations Enables You to Live a Better Life” by Julia Hogan-Moreau FYE Week 9). If any of the midshipmen are accomplishing anything in the battalion purely for the sake of others, then they are truly not accomplishing anything. Like Julia said, living up to the expectations of others will always backfire on you. Instead of trying to accomplish something for someone else, one should accomplish something for their own happiness. In the end, this way of living life will grant freedom. 
Another aspect of being a member of Notre Dame’s NROTC battalion is encountering several different views on today’s world and its problems. Since the battalion consists of almost 150 midshipmen, there are a variety of differing opinions about race, faith, modern world problems, political views, and so much more. However, the midshipmen are constantly reminded of who and what they are representing by their Commanding Officer, Lieutenants, Captain, Gunnery Sargent, and Commander. The midshipmen are representing the soldiers and sailors who have died before them, the soldiers and sailors actively serving, and their country. Everything that they do both in and out of uniform represents these ideals. Therefore, it is extremely important that the midshipmen are mindful of their actions, and stand up for the correct values in today’s society. For example, if any of the midshipmen saw racial injustice or sexual harassment happening, they should stand up for the person or people being harmed, and be proud of what they are doing and who they are representing. In a Seminary Commencement address, Father Jenkins says, “I ask you to affirm again the noble beliefs that led you here, and advance those beliefs in ways that strike a moral contrast with the dominant culture of discourse in the country today. If you do this, you will set a new standard for moral conviction in the 21st century” (“Wesley Theological Seminary Commencement | Office of the President | University of Notre Dame” by Father John Jenkins-Moreau FYE Week 10). Father Jenkins is asking everyone to stand up for their noble beliefs. Those noble beliefs are the difference between a person committing injustices and a person standing up for what is right. If the midshipmen stand up for their noble beliefs and follow through with what their Senior Officers have instructed them on, then they have the power to create a new standard of hope and justice in the world. 
Another key part of the battalion is that everyone in the Notre Dame NROTC battalion is ranked. The freshmen are 4/C, which is the lowest ranking, the sophomores are 3/C, and so on. Not only do the individual grades hold ranks, but there are also battalion jobs that hold a higher ranking in themselves. For example, there are the positions of Battalion Operations, Battalion Sargent Major, and Battalion Commanding Officer. These positions immediately rank higher than any of the midshipmen with no jobs, and even some of the jobs outrank the other jobs. In summary, the battalion has a hierarchical structure. From the outside, this can look demeaning and soul-crushing, but in reality, this is what makes the battalion so strong. It creates a sense of respect between the midshipmen and deepens the professional relationship between one them. It also teaches the midshipmen with higher rankings to not abuse their power. The more they learn while in the battalion, the less they will err in the real fleet. In an article by Parker J. Palmer, he says, “Contrary to popular opinion, community requires leadership, and it requires more leadership, not less, than bureaucracies” (“Thirteen Ways of Looking at Community • Center for Courage & Renewal” by Parker J. Palmer-Moreau FYE Week 11). Leadership is what creates a community, and it is what creates the battalion. If there was only one person in charge, then the leadership would be chaotic and unpredictable. Everyone needs someone to depend and rely on, and that is the point of a hierarchical structure. The battalion could not operate with a single Battalion Commanding Officer or a single Commanding Officer just like the country could not operate with a single President. The hierarchical structure allows a strong flow of information, a trustworthy way to communicate, and a system where no one is alone. A strong community needs leadership and should be fought for.  
A final aspect of the battalion is the battalion’s hope for future success. Everything that the battalion does holds importance. Everything that the midshipmen do prepares them for their future careers as Naval or Marine officers in the fleet. It not only prepares them for a future career, but for a successful future career. The battalion staff and officers want the midshipmen to be successful, and they all hope for their success. This is proven by their dedication to the midshipmen and the battalion itself. Every officer in the battalion has mentioned at least three times each day that the midshipmen can walk into their office at any moment of the day, and that they are there to help them with any of their problems, even if it seems small and unrelated. This hope instilled in the officers allows the midshipmen to have a similar way of thinking. They accomplish all of their tasks with dedication and the utmost attention to detail hoping that it will help them later in the fleet. The midshipmen are hoping for a successful future career just like the officers are. In a text by Father King, it says that “we must be men with hope to bring” (“HOLY CROSS AND CHRISTIAN EDUCATION” by Father James B. King- Moreau FYE Week 12). Everyone has some sense of hope for the better in their lives. It is the hope that we bring into the world that changes it. If no one had any hope, then the world would never change. The hope that the midshipmen have pushes them to learn the most they can out of their four years at Notre Dame, while the hope that the officers have strengthens them to become the best instructors they can be to their midshipmen. That hope makes everyone in the battalion desire to accomplish amazing things, and change the Navy or Marine Corps in a positive way. Without hope, all would be lost, and nothing would change for the better. 




	















In this image, MIDN 4/C Shah is being lifted by MIDN 4/C Flowers and Gonzalez during their Navy Ball Freshmen dance. During this dance, the 4/C midshipmen from each company complete a five-minute dance to be judged by their higher-ranking midshipmen. 


In this image, a midshipman is on watch for the Veteran’s Day Vigil Ceremony. Each midshipman in the battalion has a 30 minute watch period, which goes over the course of 24 hours. The midshipmen represent those who have died serving and those who are actively serving, and they honor them by going on watch. This ceremony teaches the midshipmen to understand who and what they are representing.  

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