NJROTC Comprehensive Course Study Guide

DRILL AND POSITION FUNDAMENTALS

• Types of Drill Commands

  • Preparatory: States the movement to be carried out and mentally prepares the cadet.

  • Command of Execution: Indicates when a movement is to be carried out.

  • Combined: The preparatory command and command of execution are combined (e.g., "FALL IN").

  • Supplemental: Given by subordinate leaders to supplement the commander's commands.

• The Command Voice

  • Development requires the use of the diaphragm muscle rather than the throat.

  • Characteristics of an effective voice include distinctness, inflection, and loudness. Punctuality is not a vocal characteristic.

• Key Definitions in Drill

  • Element: Any unit which is part of a larger unit (e.g., individual, squad, section, or platoon).

  • Formation: The arrangement of elements in a unit in line or in column.

  • Cadence: The rhythmic rate of march at a uniform step.

  • Pace: The length of a full step in quick time ($30$ inches).

  • Alignment: The dressing of several elements on a straight line.

  • Distance: The space between elements in the direction of depth, measured from the chest of one to the back of the person ahead ($40$ inches).

  • Interval: Lateral distance measured between individuals from shoulder to shoulder ($30$ inches for normal, $4$ inches for close).

  • File: A formation where persons are placed one behind the other.

  • Rank: A formation where persons are placed side by side.

• Marching Cadence and Steps

  • Quick Time: $120$ steps per minute using a $30$-inch step.

  • Double Time: $180$ steps per minute using a $36$-inch step.

  • Half Step / Back Step: Both are precisely $15$ inches in length.

  • Column Half Right/Left: Requires a turn of precisely $45^\circ$.

• Positions of Attention and Rest

  • Attention: Heels on line, feet turned out equally to form a $45^\circ$ angle.

  • Parade Rest: The left foot moves smartly $12$ inches to the left. The only command that can be given while at parade rest is "ATTENTION."

  • At Ease: The right foot must remain in place; silence is required but the body may move.

  • Rest: Same as "At Ease," but talking is permitted.

• Customs and Courtesies

  • Overtaking an Officer: Salute when abreast and request "By your leave, sir/ma'am."

  • Eyes Right: Head is turned smartly $45^\circ$ to the right.

UNIFORM REGULATIONS AND NAVAL RANK STRUCTURE

• Uniform Philosophy

  • The word "uniform" suggests a distinctive mode of dress.

  • The "Uniform of the Day" is directed by the Senior Naval Science Instructor (SNSI).

  • Modifications to NJROTC uniforms can only be approved by the NJROTC Program Office.

• Grooming and Accoutrements

  • Male Hair: Must be tapered upward and outward not greater than $3/4$ of an inch above the ears/neck.

  • Female Hair: May touch but cannot fall below the horizontal line level with the lower edge of the back of the collar.

  • Earrings (Female): One small gold or silver ball per ear, centered on the lobe.

  • Rings: Maximum of one per hand.

  • Ribbons/Nametags: Standard placement is $1/4$ inch above and centered on the pocket buttonhole.

• Awards and Ribbons

  • Distinguished Cadet: Awarded yearly to one cadet in each year group with the highest combined average for scholastic standing and aptitude.

  • Honor Cadet: Awarded to the cadet in each year group with the highest overall academic GPA.

  • Device for 4th Award: $1$ gold star.

• NJROTC and Navy Ranks

  • Cadet Enlisted: Seaman Recruit (no device), Seaman Apprentice (two silver diagonal stripes), Seaman (three silver diagonal stripes).

  • Cadet Petty Officers: Third Class ($1$ chevron), Second Class ($2$ chevrons), First Class ($3$ chevrons).

  • Cadet Officers: Ensign ($1$ gold bar), Lieutenant Junior Grade ($2$ gold bars), Lieutenant ($3$ gold bars), Lieutenant Commander ($4$ gold bars), Commander ($5$ gold bars).

  • Navy Officer Structure: O-1 is Ensign, O-2 is Lieutenant Junior Grade ($2$ silver bars/$1$ half-inch stripe), O-6 is Captain ($4$ stripes).

HEALTH, FITNESS, AND FIRST AID

• Physical Fitness Fundamentals

  • Components of Fitness: Mental, Physical, Emotional, and Social.

  • Skill-related Fitness: Agility, Balance, Coordination, Power, Reaction Time, and Speed.

  • Target Zone Principles:

    • Principle of Overload: Increasing the amount of exercise over a period of time for benefit.

    • Principle of Progression: Gradually increasing exercise intensity to improve fitness.

    • Target Heart Rate: For teenagers, the maximum is approximately $200$ bpm. To measure target rate, take pulse for $6$ seconds and multiply by $10$.

• Nutrition and Metabolism

  • Metabolism: The collection of chemical reactions that convert food into energy.

  • Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR): Number of calories burned when the body is at complete rest.

  • Calorie: The energy required to raise $1$ kilogram of water $1^\circ$ Celsius.

  • Nutrients: Proteins (amino acids), Carbohydrates (starches/sugars), Fats (energy storage), Vitamins, Minerals, and Water ($60-70 \%$ of body weight).

• First Aid Priorities and Procedures

  • ABC Analysis: Airway, Breathing, Circulation.

  • Heimlich Maneuver: Used for complete airway obstruction in conscious victims; fists placed above the navel with upward thrusts.

  • CPR: used when both breathing and heartbeat have stopped.

  • Bleeding Types:

    • Capillary: Slow, oozing flow.

    • Venous: Dark red, steady stream.

    • Arterial: Bright red, spurting; most dangerous.

  • Treating Shock: Position the victim with the head lower than the feet to maintain blood flow to vital organs.

  • Burn Classifications:

    • 1st Degree: Only first layer of skin (redness).

    • 2nd Degree: First and second layer (blisters, oozing).

    • 3rd Degree: All layers, penetrating to muscle/bone.

  • Heat Casualties: Heat cramps (salt depletion), heat exhaustion (excessive loss of fluids), heat stroke (breakdown of sweating mechanism; critical emergency).

NAVAL HISTORY AND STRATEGY

• Early Sea Power

  • Crete: The first known people to use sea power.

  • Battle of Salamis ($480$ B.C.): Ushered in the Golden Age of Athens.

  • Punic Wars: Between Rome and Carthage.

  • Battle of Lepanto ($1571$): Christian forces defeated the Ottoman Turks.

• American Revolution and Growth

  • Continental Navy: Established Oct 13, 1775. Esek Hopkins was the first commander.

  • John Paul Jones: Commanded Bonhomme Richard against the Serapis.

  • War of 1812: Caused by British impressment of American sailors and interference with trade. Treaty of Ghent ended the war.

• The Civil War

  • Hampton Roads: Battle between CSS Virginia and USS Monitor, the first ironclads.

  • Admiral Farragut: Famous for the Battle of Mobile Bay ("Damn the torpedoes!").

• The World Wars

  • WWI: Emphasized the Convoy System to counter German U-boat "wolfpacks."

  • WWII - Atlantic: Operation Overlord was the Normandy invasion (June 6, 1944). Operation Torch was the invasion of North Africa.

  • WWII - Pacific: Turning point was the Battle of Midway (June 1942). The first great carrier battle was the Coral Sea, where opposing ships never saw each other.

• Strategic Doctrines

  • Alfred Thayer Mahan: Preached that sea power is the key to national greatness; author of The Influence of Sea Power Upon History.

  • Karl von Clausewitz: Author of On War; defined war as a continuation of political policy by other means.

  • Triad of Strategic Nuclear Forces: ICBMs (Land), SLBMs (Submarine), and Air-delivered nuclear weapons.

NAUTICAL SCIENCE AND NAVIGATION

• Maritime Geography

  • Chokepoints: The Strait of Hormuz (Persian Gulf entrance) and the Strait of Malacca (Europe-Asia route) are critical strategic locations.

  • Ocean Basin Features: The Puerto Rico Trench is the deepest spot in the Atlantic; the Marianas Trench is the deepest in the Pacific.

• Meteorology

  • Atmospheric Layers: Troposphere (where weather occurs), Stratosphere (contains Ozone layer), Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere.

  • Clouds: Cirrus (high/wisp), Cumulus (puffy/cauliflower), Stratus (low/layered). "Nimbus" refers to rain clouds.

• Global Positioning and Navigation

  • Latitude: Angular distance measured North or South of the Equator ($0^\circ$ to $90^\circ$).

  • Longitude: Measured East or West of the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, England ($0^\circ$ to $180^\circ$).

  • Nautical Mile: Approximately $6,076$ feet; represents one minute of arc along a great circle.

  • Chart Projections: The Mercator projection is the most commonly used for navigation.

• Buoyage

  • Safe-Water Buoys: Red and white vertical stripes; mark the middle of a channel.

  • Lateral Marks: Usually red (nun) or green (can) to indicate the edges of channels.

• Time at Sea

  • Bells: indicates the half-hour within a four-hour watch. $8$ bells signify the end of a watch (0400, 0800, 1200, 1600, 2000, 2400).

  • Standard Time Zones: The world is divided into $24$ zones, each covering $15^\circ$ of longitude.