Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Fred Gray IV | 251125-N-TI693-1003 SAINT PAUL, Minn. (Nov. 25, 2025) - Midshipman 3rd Class Mason...... read more read more
SAINT PAUL, Minn., Nov. 26, 2025 - They come from different cities, different schools and different walks of life, but before they ever step onto the deck of a warship or into the cockpit of an aircraft, they share one thing in common: a team that believed in their potential. In the U.S. Navy, mission success has always depended on coordinated effort, and that same spirit of teamwork now drives how the next generation of naval officers is found, mentored and prepared for service.
Across the upper Midwest, Navy Talent Acquisition Group Northern Plains, the University of Minnesota Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program and U.S. Naval Academy Blue and Gold officers are working side by side to identify the best and brightest young men and women for commissioning. Recruiters connect with students and families at the ground level, NROTC staff provide a clear path for earning a commission while pursuing a college degree, and Blue and Gold officers, often Naval Academy graduates themselves, offer firsthand insight into the rigors and rewards of Annapolis.
Together, these three teams form a pipeline of mentorship, guidance and opportunity, ensuring that those with the character, intellect and drive to lead at sea are recognized early, supported fully and given every chance to wear the Navy’s gold stripes.
“As sailors, we know no mission succeeds alone, and that starts long before anyone ever wears an officer’s bars,” said Cmdr. Zach “Buddy” Edge, executive officer, NTAG Northern Plains. “By teaming with the University of Minnesota NROTC program and our U.S. Naval Academy Blue and Gold officers, we’re aligning our efforts to find young men and women with the character, intellect and resilience to lead. When we work together, we don’t just fill quotas; we build the future of the Navy’s wardrooms.”
That collaborative approach is especially visible on the University of Minnesota campus, where prospective officers encounter Navy service as one of several paths they can choose at a pivotal moment in their lives.
“On campus, we see students at a critical crossroads in their lives, and it takes a coordinated team to help them see how their talents fit into service,” said Capt. Abigail Hutchins, commanding officer, University of Minnesota NROTC. “NTAG Northern Plains and the Blue and Gold officer network bring us the right candidates, and we provide the training, mentorship and education that turn potential into proven leadership. That shared effort ensures the officers we commission are ready to lead sailors on day one.”
For many prospective midshipmen, that first impression of naval life comes through a conversation with a U.S. Naval Academy Blue and Gold officer, whom is often a graduate that understands firsthand what the journey to Annapolis requires.
“Blue and Gold officers are often the first Navy officers a student meets, and we take that responsibility seriously,” said retired Capt. Brad Gawboy, area coordinator for U.S. Naval Academy Blue and Gold officers. “By staying closely connected with NTAG Northern Plains and the University of Minnesota NROTC staff, we can match each candidate with the path that best fits their goals, whether that’s Annapolis or an NROTC scholarship. It’s a team approach that keeps the student at the center and the Navy’s future leadership in focus.”
NTAG Northern Plains also plays a key role in helping students and families navigate competitive scholarship and application processes. For many, the NROTC scholarship is the gateway that makes both service and higher education attainable.
“When I sit down with a student and their family to talk about an NROTC scholarship, I know I’m not doing it alone. I’ve got the full support of our field recruiters, the NROTC staff and the Blue and Gold officers behind me,” said Chief Hospital Corpsman James Herkenhoff, NROTC scholarship coordinator for NTAG Northern Plains. “Working together, we can identify promising students earlier, guide them through a complex application process and make sure they understand every opportunity the Navy offers. That kind of teamwork is how we turn interest into commitment, and commitment into tomorrow’s naval officers.”
Whether through an NROTC unit on campus, an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy or another officer accession program, the goal remains the same: to find, develop and commission leaders of character who are ready to serve at sea and ashore. By uniting recruiting, education and mentorship under a shared mission, NTAG Northern Plains, the University of Minnesota NROTC program and the Naval Academy’s Blue and Gold officer network are helping ensure that teamwork remains at the heart of how the Navy builds its future officer corps.
For more information about becoming a Navy officer, NROTC scholarships or the U.S. Naval Academy, interested students and families are encouraged to contact NTAG Northern Plains or the University of Minnesota NROTC unit, or to speak with a local Blue and Gold officer.
NTAG Northern Plains is responsible for the U.S. Navy’s enlisted and officer recruiting, covering 393,000 square miles in the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and parts of Illinois, and Wisconsin.
For more information on NTAG Northern Plains, like and follow us on Facebook (@NTAGNorthernPlains), Instagram (@ntagnp) and X (@NTAG\_NP).
| Date Taken: | 11.26.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 12.01.2025 12:24 |
| Story ID: | 552657 |
| Location: | MINNESOTA, US |
| Web Views: | 14 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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