Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Paul D. Williams | Navy Diver 3rd Class Patrick Lane, from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2,...... read more read more
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Fifteen U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen visited Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC), aboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va., to learn about Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units and visit with the commander of NECC forces Rear Adm. Michael Tillotson, May 14.
By the end of May the midshipmen will graduate from the academy and receive their commission as U.S. Navy officers. Newly commissioned ensigns will complete the EOD/Diver course at Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC), and progress directly to EOD training at Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NSEOD). Graduates will then be assigned as Division Officers at EOD mobile units where they will be immersed in the community's core war fighting competencies of EOD, Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP), Expeditionary Diving and Salvage and Underwater Mine Countermeasures.
Their pre-graduation visit to the Hampton Roads area gave them an opportunity to see first-hand Navy EOD technicians and divers at EOD Training and Evaluation Unit (EODTEU) 2, EOD Group 2, and Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2.
“The MDSU divers are smart guys, they know what they are doing and they were more than happy to teach us their jobs, I can’t wait to start working with them,” said Midshipman 1st Class Tom Fick. “I’m looking forward to getting to dive school and starting this whole journey.”
The visit also included time for the future EOD officers to have a question and answer session with Tillotson, who is the Navy’s senior EOD officer.
“I think it was important for them to see Rear Adm. Tillotson today because he is the senior officer and leader in the EOD community and he has the best strategic vision in the EOD community,” said Lt. Jake Keefe U.S. Naval Academy EOD Program Director. “These guys (the midshipmen) will be leading at a tactical level so I think this is a great opportunity for the admiral to tell his message to the newest leaders in the EOD community.”
During the midshipmen’s visit with Tillotson he stressed the importance of future EOD operations, ethical and fiscal responsibilities of leaders, and his expectations for EOD officers.
“You weren’t chosen for the Naval Academy because you were satisfied with sitting back and watching the world go by. When you put those ensign bars on you will be leaders—that is what we want and expect from you,” said Tillotson. “What I hope you will take out of your experience as EOD officers is to learn from the professionals and heroes that make up the EOD community and then retain that knowledge so you can carry it with you as leaders.”
NECC is a single functioning command that is responsible for manning equipping and training the Navy's expeditionary forces. NECC forces include Costal Riverines; Naval Construction; Explosive Ordnance Disposal; Maritime Expeditionary Security; Expeditionary Intelligence; Expeditionary Logistics; Maritime Civil Affairs; Security Force Assistance; Expeditionary Combat Readiness and Expeditionary Training.
| Date Taken: | 05.14.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 05.16.2012 15:17 |
| Story ID: | 88519 |
| Location: | VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 409 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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