Midshipmen Experience the Fleet Aboard Wasp

Courtesy Photo | Visiting Midshipmen interact with each other following watch station training on USS Wasp's navigation bridge May 23. The U.S. Naval Academy and Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps send large groups of their students to the Fleet each summer to gain practical knowledge of Navy life, and these Midshipmen were part of the first of several groups slated to visit Wasp this summer. (Photo by: Petty Officer 3rd Class Edward Kobobel)  

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES

05.16.2010

Courtesy Story

USS WASP (LHD 1)   

Story by: Petty Officer 3rd Class Edward Kobobel

NORFOLK, Va. – A total of nine U.S. Naval Academy and Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps Midshipmen checked aboard USS Wasp May 16 for three weeks of deckplate summer training, and to ultimately help them decide which platform they will select for their career.

Of the group, seven are 1st Class Midshipmen, upper classmen who have had this experience before; the others are 3rd Class Midshipmen. Regardless of rank, they are here to experience life on a ship for different reasons.

“The 3rd Class Midshipmen are here to gain experience from the ship’s [enlisted] crew and the 1st Class Midshipmen are here to see what life is like as an officer,” said Wasp Training Officer Lt. Cmdr. Jay Forsgren, who is also serving as the Midshipman Training Officer. “All in all, the purpose is to gain experience to better prepare them to be leaders. By working with the crew they learn to appreciate and better understand what is expected of them.”

The U.S. Naval Academy and NROTC send large groups of their students to the Fleet each summer to gain practical knowledge of Navy life. This is the first of several groups slated to visit WASP this summer. When they arrived, they were each assigned Sailors, called “running mates,” to follow and learn from during day-to-day operations.

“They follow us around, stand watches, attend quarters, and even perform spotchecks,” said Midshipman running mate Ens. Ashley Wessel. “The general experience and knowledge they gain helps them see what it is like to be a surface officer before they go to service selection night and choose between Marine Corps, Naval Aviation or Surface Warfare. I was a Midshipman on USS Bataan and this program helped in making me feel more comfortable about my decision.”

In their time spent onboard Wasp, the Midshipmen are experiencing many things that they will take with them into their future careers. The enlisted Sailors and officers are making sure they get the full shipboard experience during their stay on Wasp.

“It’s an eye-opening experience,” said Midn. 1st Sidney Cheek. “It’s a large transition and we’re learning a lot … we even sat through an [Officer of the Deck] board.”

“The balance that you must learn in your daily life in the Fleet simply can’t relate to the experience of the Academy,” added Midn. 1st Kate Kelly. “The Academy is a classroom environment, but in the Fleet, you still perform your studies while performing many other tasks.”

After these Midshipmen depart Wasp May 29 to enjoy the remainder of their summer vacations, a new group of 49 is scheduled to start their deckplate training the following week, beginning the process all over again.

• Date Taken: 05.16.2010
• Date Posted: 06.17.2010 00:21
• Story ID: 51501
• Location: NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US