Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Unit Rutgers University Hosts Inaugural Rutgers University Military Excellence Competition

Photo: (March 30, 2019) Midshipmen and cadets pose for a group photo after the conclusion of the inaugural Rutgers University Military Excellence Competition in Piscataway, N.J.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Release Date: 3/30/2019 6:00 p.m.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – On Saturday March 30, Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) Unit Rutgers University held the inagurual Rutgers University Military Excellence Competition (MEC) at the Sonny Werblin Recreation Center in Piscataway, N.J.

A MEC is a graded competition between multiple ROTC units held to test midshipmen aptitude in several different areas such as physical fitness, military knowledge and tactics, and close-order drill and rifle manual.

In addition to the midshipmen of Rutgers and Princeton Universities, the Rutgers MEC was attended by several different ROTC units, including State University of New York Maritime College NROTC, Rutgers University Air Force ROTC Detachment 485, and Rutgers University Army ROTC Scarlet Knight Battalion – a total of nearly 100 cadets and midshipmen.

“The intent was to be a trial run so that we could work out the kinks now and, in the future, host a bigger MEC,” Midshipman Battalion Commanding Officer John Van Kleeff said. “This MEC ran very smoothly, and I am very proud of the work that all the midshipmen did. All their contributions made … this MEC possible.”

The midshipmen of NROTC Rutgers/Princeton planned and coordinated the entire event over the past several months. They developed several complex and challenging events that tested the military acumen of the participating cadets and midshipmen across multiple spectrums.

The day started with close-order drill evaluation in platoon and squad-level rifle manual.

According to the Marine Corps Drill and Ceremonies Manual, close-order drill is used to “teach discipline by instilling habits of precision and automatic response to orders and to increase the confidence of junior officers and noncommissioned officers through the exercise of command, by the giving of proper commands, and by the control of drilling troops.”

The midshipmen proudly displayed a refined drill product after countless hours of practice over the semester before moving on to several different physical events later in the day.

MEC’s are notorious for body-hardening physical trials, and the Rutgers MEC delivered adequately in this department.

The Mogadishu Mile required a team of midshipmen and cadets to conduct a stretcher carry and calisthenics with a 200-pound training log.

The Corpsman Challenge tested the medical knowledge of the midshipmen and cadets, drilling them in the application of trauma care to a simulated casualty with a gunshot wound after conducting a 50-yard sprint and military low crawl.

The midshipmen and cadets also competed in basketball, soccer, and swimming events which counted toward their total unit score.

At the end of the day, NROTC Rutgers/Princeton earned the first-ever Rutgers MEC trophy after placing first-overall out of the four participating units.

In the future, the midshipmen of Rutgers and Princeton hope the Rutgers MEC will become the premiere regional MEC for neighboring universities to attend.

“We put a lot of planning into this. This is a culmination of a couple months of planning. For quite some time now we have wanted a MEC of our own and finally it’s here,” Midshipman Fourth-Class Gavin Mayes said. “I know a lot of moving parts were involved just to get the different units here, and now we are looking to have even more come in the future. So it’s not only great we had this event now, but it will also set a great foundation for any future MEC’s we plan to hold and hopefully make a tradition for many years.”

About NROTC Unit Rutgers University

NROTC Unit Rutgers University was established in 2012 and recognized Princeton University as a cross-town affiliate in 2014.

For more information about the NROTC program, please visit the official NROTC portal at https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/.

For more information about NROTC Unit Rutgers University, please visit the unit website at https://nrotc.rutgers.edu.

Media seeking additional information should email NROTC Unit Rutgers University Public Affairs at kevin.p.stapleton@usmc.mil.

###