Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division received over $25,200 in grants from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Research and Engineering Laboratories and Personnel to fund fiscal year 2021 support to the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Program.

Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center and Naval Surface Warfare Center also received grants, and together the three warfare centers will provide mentors for teams of high school students around Ventura County. NAWCWD also received two smaller grants to support unmentored FIRST LEGO League teams, which include elementary and middle school students. The OSD grants provide funding directly to the schools to cover the cost of event registrations and necessary supplies and materials for the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) and FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) teams being mentored by the command.

FIRST is a non-profit organization focused on advancing STEM education and interests in school-aged children. Working with mentors and following a strict set of rules, limited time and resources, FIRST Robotics challenges teams of students to raise funds, design a team "brand," and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. Professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team.

Although the season will be getting a slow start due to COVID-19 restrictions, the warfare centers hope to host the first competition in the spring.