In 1956, Navy Enlisted Advanced School Program (NEASP) was initiated by testing
hundereds of Petty Officer Second Class (E5) or above in their Second Enlistment. Of
those that passed, a Navy Selection Board could approve 52, but the selectee must be less than
25 years of age as of September in the year of selection. These sailors would be sent to
'College Preparatory School' at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island. The NEASPes that
graduated would enter, for two years, Purdue University's Electronic Engineering Program at West
Lafayette, Indiana. They would return to the Fleet for two years and, lastly, return to
Purdue to complete their BSEE Study.
Upon graduation, with the BSEE, these Enlisted Men, "NEASPer Electronic Engineers" were
expected to go to factories for specialized training on new emerging shipboard or aircraft
electronic equipment and then assist in its installation in ships and aircraft and then finally,
train other technicians in equipment operation and maintenance.
In 1957, the Program was increased to two participating universities, this required the selection
of 104 sailors. Fifty Two of them were sent to Prep School at Newport and then on to Purdue
University and the balance of them to Prep School at Naval Training Center San Diego, California.
The latter's destination would be the Electronic Engineering Program at University of Washington,
Seattle, Washington.
NEASP(1) SAN DIEGO
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Click on Photo to see Prep School Grads' Names and 1957 Rates.
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In 1958, the Navy modified this program into a Specialized Navy Officer
Procurement Program which allowed an eligible sailor or marine to select any
major in the sciences or technology fields and attend the University of his choice
for four continuous years. The approved University must have a NROTC Unit in
place. The requirement that NESEPer, only, study Electronic Engineering
was eliminated. All groups were integrated and the NEASP group was
renamed "NESEP'A'" and the new group "NESEP'B'" (Navy Enlisted
Scientific Education Program.) When the Navy no longer had any NESEP'A'
students in universities they would simplify the program name to just NESEP.
During U of W NEASP Group #1's second year, about Nov 1958, the remaining
University NEASPs were offered the opportunity to either return to the fleet in
Jul 1959 and then two years later, in 1961, return to finish their
BSEE Degree, OR they could remain at
the university for two more school years completing the EE degree before returning
to the fleet. Need I say that, every NEASPer opted to remain and finish.
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NEASP(1) University of Washington Graduation - 1961
Click on Photo to see Graduates' Names and 1961 Rates/Ranks.
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HEROS and
CRIMINALS
A WORLD FAMOUS HERO (NESEPer)
Lt. Cdr. Michael Christian, USN, A 1960 NESEPer and 1964 Purdue Electronic Engineer
Graduate, after a tour in the Destroyer Fleet, went on to become a Navigator/Bombardier of
a Navy A6 bomber. His aircraft was shot down over North VietNam and he was captured
and held for almost six years. In 1973, he was released from the, Famous Hanoi Hilton,
POW Prison along with the other POWs.
Read some of Mike's biography.
A WORLD FAMOUS CRIMINAL (NESEPer)
Charles Whitman, A 1961 US Marine Corp NESEPer Non-Graduate of University of Texas.
The 1963 Texas Tower Sniping was his ninety minutes of fame.
Read some of Charles' biography.
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NEASP(U of Wash Grp #1) Reunion - TWENTY FOUR YEARS LATER
Twelve NEASPers, (Group 1), Univ of Wash & two PREP School Teachers
aligned in roughly the same order as the Prep School photo of 1957
Click above Photo to see Attendees' Names.
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NEASP(1) Reunion - 1985
Wives in roughly the same alinement as husbands in 1985 reunion photo.
Click above Photo to see Wives' Names.
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© 1999 -2004 R.E.Riesgo
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