When Lorin Carter enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Jan. 21, 2025, she was given one job: Excel in her studies as a civil engineering major at 草榴社区 (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System. The UAH junior was already highly qualified for the position; her academic record helped her stand out when she applied for the Navy鈥檚 Civil Engineering Corps Collegiate Program (CEC).
鈥淢y dad inspired me to always challenge myself and to pursue big things,鈥� Carter said, describing her decision at her enlistment ceremony. 鈥淪eeing his career in the Army has always made me want to join the military and make him proud.鈥�
Carter鈥檚 family connections to the military are strong. Along with her father, Army Maj. Joseph Carter, there鈥檚 also her twin sister, UAH information systems major Sarah Carter, who is in Army ROTC. They attended the ceremony along with her mother, Virginia Carter, a nurse, and her grandparents. Her grandfather retired from the Army. Lorin was in Army ROTC with Sarah for a little while but never contracted.
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Joshua Rogers, right, swears in Lorin Carter on Jan. 21, 2025. Carter was accepted to the Navy鈥檚 Civil Engineering Corps Collegiate Program. 草榴社区 junior will receive active duty salary and benefits while finishing her degree in civil engineering.
Michael Mercier | UAH
鈥淚 was originally going to go in the Army,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut the Navy offered better opportunities for Navy civil engineering.鈥�
Along with her studies and membership in the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, Carter is a member of the UAH Cycling Club.
Lt. Cmdr. Joshua Rogers, who came to campus to swear her in, described CEC program benefits:
鈥淟orin is UAH鈥檚 first Civil Engineer Corps collegiate since I鈥檝e been here, and she鈥檚 the only one active as of now,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are several collegiate programs in the Navy, and they all provide an active duty salary and benefits while finishing your college degree.鈥�
Carter won鈥檛 go to boot camp, he said, and she won鈥檛 own a uniform until she graduates in May 2026.
University of Alabama in Huntsville students Lorin Carter, right, and her twin sister, Sarah Carter, both have military careers in their future: Lorin in the U.S. Navy, and Sarah in the U.S. Army.
Michael Mercier | UAH
鈥淪he has no real responsibilities with the Navy other than to be a full-time student and maintain her grades, and then she鈥檒l start training after she graduates. All her time in college counts towards her retirement and her steps in pay.鈥�
Along with helping Carter reach her career goals, the collegiate program attracts outstanding officer candidates to the Navy. Rogers pointed out that the quality of Carter鈥檚 application put her on a fast track through the Navy鈥檚 system.
鈥淗er tests plus her overall application package and her interview with the CEC officer, all those were off the charts,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd that set her up to do this immediate selection. Typically, a Civil Engineer Corps collegiate will have to wait for a selection board, which only happens once a quarter, but because her application was so stellar, she didn鈥檛 have to wait for that. Once her application got to the program manager, it took him a couple hours to review, and he said, 鈥榊eah, this is an easy one.鈥欌��
Rogers noted that Carter was the first candidate in the country to be chosen through the Navy鈥檚 new immediate selection process for the Civil Engineer Corps.
Along with the CEC program, other Navy collegiate offerings include Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate (NUPOC), Nuclear Power Instructor/Naval Reactors Engineer, Health Services Collegiate Program (HSCP), Nurse Candidate Program (NCP) and Health Profession Scholarship Program (HPSP).
The UAH Office of Military and Veterans Programs is available to help students interested in joining the military. For more information, visit uah.edu/mvp.