As a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps midshipman, Billy Morrison balances military responsibilities with academics and plans to fly Navy helicopters once he graduates from the University of Pennsylvania. As an officer-in-training, he’s found lessons in leadership both in and outside the classroom.

An economics and psychology major in the School of Arts & Sciences who was raised in Voorhees, N.J., Morrison, a sophomore, has taken on the role of a squad leader and as the NROTC battalion’s public affairs officer, taking photographs and organizing events.

He says that he enjoyed serving as the public affairs officer last semester.

“I really think public affairs is something that goes unappreciated,” Morrison says. “The world is so connected now, and that provides a major outlet for groups and organizations to brand themselves.”

As the public affairs officer, he’s been able to strengthen the battalion’s online presence by using social media as a tool to connect with others and share NROTC’s activities, such as volunteering with veterans groups for Veterans Day or marching as a Color Guard to present the flag at community events.

The academic side of NROTC at Penn has taken Morrison through introductory courses that explain the military ranking systems, ships, aircraft and culture. He’s also learned about naval history and ethical decision-making.

Last semester, Morrison took an NROTC course in leadership and management, which taught him a lesson about the differences between being a leader and a manager.

“It isn’t always good to be just one, a leader or a manager, all the time,” Morrison says. “The class showed us when to utilize the skills of each in certain situations.”

As a part of the class, he had the opportunity to interview an alumnus of the battalion, James Peluso, and what he said showed Morrison what being a leader was about.

“One thing that really stuck with me when I spoke to Lt. Peluso was the genuine concern he had for the well-being of his men,” Morrison, who has always seen himself as a people person, says. “As an officer, you are responsible for junior personnel and your decisions can have a major impact on their lives.”

NROTC’s commanding officer, Col. Kenneth DeTreux, has spent nearly 30 years as an officer in the Marine Corps and says the classes taught as a part of the NROTC program are essential to grooming military leaders.

“Our active duty staff do a superb job of teaching, advising and mentoring the midshipmen throughout the four-year curriculum and the overall NROTC experience,” DeTreux says. As an alumnus of Penn’s NROTC program, he knows firsthand the value of what the officers-to-be will learn here.

One of the best things about being a part of the NROTC program at Penn, Morrison says, is the camaraderie.

“All of the Penn midshipmen are super close,” Morrison says. “I come in every morning with a huge smile on my face because I know those people will be there.”

An example of this camaraderie is how the NROTC students’ encourage each other in their extracurricular ventures. Morrison was humbled when many of his fellow midshipmen were in the audience at the Iron Gate Theater to support him and his fellow performers in Penn’s swing dance troupe, the West Philly Swingers.

“It was awesome to have them there for me,” he says. “They were the loudest people there.”

When he’s not working out in the gym, drilling for NROTC or studying, Morrison serves as the vice president of fundraising and finance of Penn for Veterans.

In addition, he is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, Club Boxing and the Social Planning & Events Committee’s Film Society, which hosts free movie screenings on campus.

After graduation in 2018, Morrison will serve on active duty for eight years in the Navy.