I'm Danielle Head, I'm majoring in mathematics
at Carnegie Mellon University. And I'm part of
the Carnegie Mellon University Naval ROTC program
as a third-class midshipman.
My name is Maggie Jackson, I attend
Duquesne University in their School of Nursing.
I'm a second-class midshipman at the
Carnegie Mellon University Naval ROTC program.
Danielle Head - I joined the Naval ROTC program
because I needed to get to college. Ah, my parents
are not very wealthy, and I wanted to attend
Carnegie Mellon, and to get there,
I needed to be able to pay for it.
Maggie Jackson - My inspiration for joining the
Naval ROTC program was probably my brother.
He attended the Naval Academy. So I looked into
the Naval ROTC Scholarship and found that they had
a nursing option and it was the perfect fit for me.
Danielle Head - I choose Navy, actually, because
from the time I was about knee high to a grasshopper,
I have loved submarines and I have loved rockets.
And, ah, Navy has both so it seemed absolutely perfect.
Maggie Jackson - Told my mom and dad, and explained
the benefits, such as full tuition and a stipend
each month, and the ability to go and see the world
one day. And they were really excited and told
me to live out my dream and get going.
Danielle Head - I found Carnegie Mellon, they have
one of the best performing arts colleges in the nation.
And they have one of the best technical programs,
for mathematics, for physics, for engineering.
You name it they have it. But with this scholarship,
the tuition is covered, the fees are covered,
I get a book stipend, so all that's left for my parents,
and myself to pay, is the room and board and the dining.
Maggie Jackson - I've always wanted to be a nurse,
so with the Naval ROTC program it allowed me to almost
pick my dream school, so Duquesne University just was
a wonderful school and had a great nursing program.
So, decided to apply there, and got into the nursing
school. And was super excited 'cause now I got
to live my dream of being a nurse.
Danielle Head - We have tons of benefits that aren't
available to normal college students. They actually
have a fund for tutoring. So if you need a tutor,
they have the ability to pay for it.
The entire battalion is behind you, when you have
trouble, when you need time to do something
or a favor. They're right there for you.
Maggie Jackson - With the monthly stipend that
the Naval ROTC scholarship provides, actually
is a big benefit in itself. It provides me the
opportunity to not have to work outside of college,
and be able to focus on my grades, get good
grades and work really hard for that.
Danielle Head - As a Naval ROTC student,
the skills that I've been learning apply not
only to my future career in the Navy, or to my
time as a midshipmen in the unit, but also to my
life in the civilian sector as well.
Maggie Jackson - It really doesn't limit you to
working hard and always be in the library.
There's times to go out. I like to go out with
my friends, you know, I like to go to Penn's games,
and Steeler games, and anything that really
goes down in Pittsburgh.
Danielle Head - There are commitments that we are
expected to fulfill. For example, we have physical
training, that keeps the freshman fifteen away.
But, ah, it's expected of us. We have drill
training, we have battalion training, that
prepared us for life in the fleet. We're also
expect to attend special classes that give you
knowledge in Naval science, Naval history,
other topics like that. As far as the commitment
after we go to school, we do four years in the
ROTC program, and then we are expected to do
eight years total to pay off our debt. And for
those eight years, four of them are required to
be active, and the other four are
inactive or in the Reserve.
Maggie Jackson - A lot of the time is spent at
the unit really learning different things and
learning the military stuff that we need to
continue on our career.
Danielle Head - Another benefit of the
Naval ROTC scholarship is that each summer
that you are in college, they send you on what
they call "cruise". And that is where you get
to spend a month out in the fleet, experiencing
everything they told you about all year.
Ah, this year, I'll spend a week with the aviators,
a week with the Marines, I'll spend a week with
the surface warfare, and a week on a submarine,
which I cannot wait for.
Maggie Jackson - So, right now I want to be a
nurse in the Navy and I'm thinking I really want
to be in San Diego, California. So, I want to be
in the sun and the sand along side being a nurse
and fulfilling my dream. So as far as that goes
right now, I have a four-year commitment active
and a four-year Reserve commitment.
Danielle Head - Through the unit I've been able
to meet three midshipmen from three different
colleges in Pittsburgh. Some of my best friends
go to different colleges. Ah, there aren't any
other kids, I can say, that go to Carnegie
that can say that their best friend goes to Pits,
University of Pittsburgh or their best
friend goes to Duquesne.
Maggie Jackson - Another great benefit with being
in Naval ROTC is meeting a lot of wonderful people.
I've met people just in Pittsburgh, that are doing
the same thing as me. And I've also met people
while on my summer cruises that we'll probably be
friends for a long time. So, it's really nice
'cause you really get a good bond and really
good camaraderie. So, it's really a great feeling.
Maggie Jackson - With Naval ROTC I know that I
definitely learned a lot of things about myself.
I learned to become a better leader, I learned a
lot of military bearing, and I've also learned a
lot of great life skills that'll really help when
I continue my career either it be in the Navy or
out in the civilian sector. Wherever it's going
to take me. I know that with Naval ROTC there's
always somebody there to help. You have your
chain of command up and down that's willing to
answer a question or find the answer if you
really need it.
Danielle Head - Say in my first year here I've
gone to Maggie I've gone to other upper
classmen with questions about my uniform,
questions about classes, questions, just tons
of things. And because they've already gone through
it, and they're always there to help, they give
you the answers. Um, I mean, the one you hear,
I've learned how to properly wear a uniform,
I've learned leadership skills. I've learned drill,
which I've never done before. There's so many
things that are available to you and, ah, so many
things you can do.
Maggie Jackson - It's definitely a lot of
different people coming together. A lot of
different personalities, a lot of different
backgrounds, people coming from all over, I mean,
Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, everywhere. So, it's definitely
a lot of students looking for the college life and
for the Navy life style but they're coming together
for, in the end, a common goal, to be a part of the
Navy and really have that Navy camaraderie in the end.