ROTC Engineers Mind and Body for the Future

While many undergraduates in engineering balance their academics with membership in an organization or two, students such as Courtney-Marie Laureys of Pineville, Louisiana, and Karanvir Singh of Clinton manage a full academic load in the School of Engineering while participating in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps and the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps, respectively.

A junior civil engineering major, Laureys applied for an NROTC scholarship as a high school student due to her family’s close ties to the military and the potential for career success upon graduation.

“My father was in the Navy for 20 years, and numerous family members have been in each of the branches of the military,” Laureys said. “In order to carry on the family tradition, ROTC seemed like the perfect choice.”

Laureys said she is not worried about finding work once she graduates.

“I have a guaranteed job as an officer in the Navy.”

Her college experience differs from students who directly enter the military or one of the service academies. She finds time management very important in balancing her role as a student with participating in NROTC. Laureys is appreciative of the support system that she has in place, especially when 6 a.m. physical training is involved three times a week.

“Since I have an NROTC scholarship, I treat it like it’s my job, and part of that job is to maintain my grades,” she said. “My advisers work with me to ensure that I complete my necessary course work. The other midshipmen are always ready to help in stressful situations.”

Laureys encourages any students interested in ROTC programs to pursue the opportunity because it instills responsibility, time management and leadership among other necessary skills.

Lt. Eric Reidelbach, assistant professor of naval science, has enjoyed working with Laureys during her tenure in NROTC.

“She has continuously demonstrated superior levels of performance physically, academically and professionally during her time at Ole Miss,” he said. “Her efforts help set the benchmark for excellence within the unit, and she is an invaluable member of our organization. I expect her to accomplish many great things during her naval career.”

Laureys has been a member of Chi Epsilon civil engineering honor society and the American Society of Civil Engineers. She is confident that the technical skills she has learned as a civil engineering student will aid her no matter what area she chooses to pursue.

Postgraduation, her plans are to commission as an ensign with an emphasis in Navy warfare communities: surface, submarine or aviation. Laureys said she may also pursue additional education in flight school or study nuclear power for submarines.

Singh, a sophomore majoring in electrical engineering, is a member of the Air Force ROTC program. In addition to being a part of the university’s program, he is part of the Air Force Reserve Unit in Jacksonville, Arkansas. Participation in the military has been an interest since his early years of high school, and the AFROTC program gave him the opportunity to merge two of his main goals in life.

“I knew I wanted to join the military, but I also wanted to go to college,” Singh said. “Air Force ROTC allowed me to pursue both, simultaneously.”

Although he is only in the second year of the program, Singh is already looking beyond graduation.

“The leadership and interpersonal skills that I will develop from AFROTC will come in handy when I am working to develop new technology,” he said. “I see having an engineering degree and military experience as an opportunity to broaden my career opportunities.”

Like Laureys, Singh encourages any student considering an ROTC program to pursue it because of the leadership and scholarship opportunities as well as the chance to maintain a high level of physical fitness. After graduation, Singh plans to commission as an Air Force Reserve Officer in addition to pursuing work as an engineer.

Singh’s performance thus far has been commended by his superiors.

“Singh is an outstanding cadet,” said Capt. Nathan McCartney, associate professor of aerospace studies. “He is a leader in our detachment and brings many valuable skills to the Air Force. It’s critical that we have members with a technical background join the force. Cadet Singh has chosen to do just that, and his skills are a valuable asset for us.”

Singh’s natural leadership make him someone other cadets respect and listen to, McCartney said.

“ROTC has improved his leadership skills and given him the confidence to step into larger roles.”

William “Bill” Parsons, former executive director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, agrees.

“My father was a career enlisted Air Force staff NCO, and my family did not have the financial means to send me to college,” he said. “I planned on enlisting in one of the services, but when I applied and was accepted for a full NROTC (USMC Option) Scholarship to the University of Mississippi, I decided on that path for my future.

“The combination of outstanding academics and leadership training I received from both NROTC and the School of Engineering forever changed my life. Any success I have achieved is because of those four years at Ole Miss.”

Graduates of the School of Engineering have also found the combination of ROTC participation and engineering education to be beneficial for their careers.

“The Ole Miss departments of Civil Engineering and Naval Science provided me a quality education based on principles of engineering and leadership,” said Bill Rigby, vice president of facilities services for Seneca SCMC LLC. “This combination led to my successful career in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps and continues to serve me well in my post-Navy endeavors.”

Article by Ryan Upshaw as featured in Ole Miss Engineer (2014-2015).