Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Hendricks | Midshipman 1st Class Brianne Aiken calls the bridge from the combat information center...... read more read more
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By Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class Michael Hendricks
USS Blue Ridge
USS BLUE RIDGE - “Three hundred thirty degrees at 10 knots!”
Midshipman 1st Class Brianne Aiken shouts to the helmsman in the pilot house of U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19). She immediately hears an echo of acknowledgement from the helmsman as he adjusts to the ordered course and speed.
Aiken is normally seated in a classroom at the U.S. Naval Academy, but today she’s standing watch as a conning officer under instruction on a U.S. Navy ship.
Blue Ridge hosted Aiken and 15 other midshipmen, July 5 - 24, when they were able to experience underway life as the ship transited from Yokosuka to Otaru, Japan, and back.
“This is my first cruise, and I’ve learned so much in such a short amount of time,” said Midshipman 3rd Class William Herbert. “Honestly, I can hardly wait to become a junior officer and make an impact.”
Each summer the Academy sends midshipmen to the fleet to gain first-hand experience at sea. Each midshipman is paired with a running mate. Midshipmen 3rd class shadow 1st class petty officers while midshipmen 1st class shadow junior officers.
The purpose of pairing junior midshipmen with a first class petty officer is so they can experience Navy life from the perspective of an enlisted member. This part of the program is vital because it gives them insight on how the enlisted-to-officer relationship works.
“This is the first time I have mentored a midshipman,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Stephanie Martin. “Being able to show them how the enlisted personnel interact with our officers is very important, and I’m happy to have the opportunity to have such a big impact on this year’s program.”
As the midshipmen progress and get closer to graduating, their training shifts to the Wardroom.
“Once they become a midshipman 1st class, the entire experience changes,” said Lt.j.g. John Schimmelman, Blue Ridge midshipmen co-coordinator. “They now get the opposite view and see what it is like from the division officer’s point of view, and they learn how to interact with the chief at a different level.”
Learning how to interact within a division is vital to every officer’s job, but it’s especially crucial for a new junior officer.
“Knowing how to treat your junior enlisted and how to respectfully work with your division chief is very important,” said Ensign Paulanthony Sujka. “If you can’t work well with your division, it becomes extremely difficult to run an effective work center.”
After reporting aboard, each midshipman has the opportunity to shadow in the areas specific to their career goals.
“This option really stimulates the program,” said Lt.j.g. Ronald Ceballos, also a Blue Ridge midshipmen co-coordinator. “It keeps everything fresh and the midshipmen interested. They choose what they want to learn and their focus remains high.”
Midshipman 3rd Class Alexis Brown was interested in the medical field, so took the time to visit Blue Ridge’s health services department.
“I was surprised to see how Navy medicine is operates, and how much there is to learn,” said Brown. “I had no idea that the hospital corpsmen saw so many patients. I just expected it to be like a normal doctor’s office.”
The program embraces each midshipman’s thirst for knowledge by allowing them to reach out and make each cruise as beneficial to their education as they can.
“This program is the building block for successful junior officers,” said Schimmelman. “The training they receive here is the foundation that they will build on for the rest of their naval careers.”
| Date Taken: | 07.25.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 07.25.2014 11:39 |
| Story ID: | 137296 |
| Location: | USS BATAAN, AT SEA |
| Web Views: | 192 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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