Midshipmen Schooled by the Sea

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Anton Wendler | Sailor aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) run on Ford’s flight deck for a 5k event. Ford is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting an independent steaming event. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Anton Wendler)  

NORFOLK, VA, UNITED STATES

11.07.2020

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class William Spears 

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)           

Norfolk, Va. — Midshipmen from the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) embarked aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) for their sea year experience, Nov. 7, 2020.
According to the school’s website, USMMA is a federal service academy based in Kings Point, New York that educates and graduates leaders of exemplary character who are committed to serve the national security, marine transportation, and economic needs of the U.S. as licensed merchant marine officers and commissioned officers in the armed forces.
Midshipmen who attend USMMA have to complete sea year. It’s a part of their course where they receive hands-on training by embarking on commercial and military vessels that travel the world’s oceans to foreign ports. It provides them with unique practical training and an opportunity to learn more about themselves.
“We have been welcomed [aboard Ford], and everyone has been teaching us everything that goes into every department on the ship,” said Midshipman 2nd Class Brennan Shute, from Annapolis, Maryland. “We really have been shown how the ship works from every aspect of it. All the way from reactor to deck. It really is a breath of fresh air because during COVID-19 we weren’t allowed liberty on campus. We came straight from school to the ship and it has been nice to be welcomed.”
While they learn about every department, the Midshipmen get to experience different training scenarios and different jobs to give them more of an idea of what designation they would like to choose when they graduate and become commissioned officers in the branch of their choosing.
“Working with the shooters on the flight deck has been the coolest thing I have ever done,” said Midshipman 2nd Class Joseph Nunez, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “I was on the waist [catapults] near the stern and having jets come over my head where I can feel the afterburner through my entire body. That is just something that can’t be described as anything other than, wow.”
Shooters are catapult officers and are responsible for all aspects of catapult maintenance and operation on an aircraft carrier.
“We were able to ride around in an [MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter] with two enlisted rescue swimmers and those guys were super cool,” said Midshipman 2nd Class Vincent Nowak, from Arvada, Colorado. “Honestly, the coolest thing to me was the greeting from our arrival and getting thrown right into everything. We went from taking our finals to getting right into Navy life. It was awesome.”
Nowak has always wanted to serve in the military since he was young. His family has served in the military and his friends all wanted to serve as well. He had no doubt in his mind that he wanted to serve in some way or another.
“My grandfather was a Major in the U.S. Marine Corps, my other grandfather was in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, both of my parents graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, and my sisters are Ensigns in the Navy,” said Nowak. “All of my friends joined either the U.S. Army as rangers or the Navy as Seals. Being a part of all of that has given me this overwhelming urge to serve and give back to the country.”
The Midshipmen were very appreciative of all of the training and hospitality they have experienced in their short time aboard Ford. They all said they are more excited to serve after their visit so far and can’t wait to see what else Ford has to offer for them.
“I’d like to thank everyone from [Capt. J.J. Cummings, Ford’s commanding officer] to the whole crew for helping us get out here,” said Shute. “We are trying to make the best impression possible for all the future midshipmen who will come aboard Ford to experience everything this ship has to offer. This whole experience so far has been fantastic and it is because of everyone here.”
Ford is in port Naval Station Norfolk for a scheduled window of opportunity for maintenance as part of her post-delivery test and trials phase of operations.
For more news from USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), visit www.dvidshub.net/unit/CVN78

• Date Taken: 11.07.2020
• Date Posted: 11.30.2020 08:44
• Story ID: 383913
• Location: NORFOLK, VA, US