Letter to My Former Self: ENS Elizabeth Miller ('14)

In the "Letter to My Former Self" series, USNA graduates lay out the advice they would give themselves as midshipmen based on their experiences as junior officers in the Navy or Marine Corps. This week's letter was written by ENS Elizabeth Miller, a surface warfare officer and 2014 graduate. 

Dear MIDN Miller,

It might seem like it's a long way away, but commissioning will be here before you know it and the next thing you know you'll be nearly six months into your first division officer tour! As excited as you are to leave Mother B behind and begin your new life as a big, bad ensign take some time to enjoy what you have while you can. The friends (and maybe not-so-friends) you've made over the last four years won't be a quick chop away, and you'll go from getting the plebes to do your bidding to having a real say in what your Sailors do and accomplish on any given day.

Hang on to pro-know, and try and get as much out of your Luce Hall classes as you can because you'll wish you had later on. Stop by the laundry center, and get any uniform items you might be missing while they are still free, and if you need anything hemmed or altered take it over to 7th Wing!

Spend a little extra time with your sponsor family and if you've never made the 45 minute drive into DC for the Cherry Blossom Festival make it a point to get out there at least once before you go.

Some things I've learned that you might not realize at first but really mean a lot:

- Your guys work really hard, and no matter what else you might have going on, make time to spend some time with them, see what they do, and get to know them. If you come in early and stay late, it may take time but it doesn't go unnoticed.

- Make friends with Supply. As a new Divo (especially if you get put in Engineering, like I did) you'll spend a lot of time routing and running CASREPS, checking on parts, and getting everything together for your work centers' 3M, and Supply can make or break you with a lot of that.

- Be genuine. If you're not being true to yourself or your Sailors and showing a genuine interest in their wellbeing, you're not doing your job.

Enjoy what time you have left because you'll never get it back! We spend so much time looking forward to what's ahead we forget to enjoy the now, even if it doesn't seem that enjoyable at the time. You might not think that you'd ever find yourself down in the pit, several decks below the rest of the sleeping crew at 0200 wiping oil off the engines, running on 5 hours of sleep in the last 3 days, for an inspection that determines the fate of the ship (and loving every minute of it), but just wait; it's coming.

Best wishes,
ENS Elizabeth Miller
Main Propulsion Officer, USS ASHLAND

Ship Selection 2015: USNA vs. ROTC

The pomp and circumstance of Ship Selection Night is unique to USNA. Here, two SWOs on the Yard - share their very different experiences in finding out their first ship. One is a USNA grad and one a graduate of Villanova's NROTC unit.

Tonight's ceremony will be streamed live online at http://www.navy.mil/navymil-live-usnashipselect-2015.html.

Ship Selection 2015: Advice from SWOs on the Yard

Surface warfare officers (SWO) on the Yard share their experience choosing their first ship and some advice for the mids of the USNA Class of 2015 who will choose their ships tomorrow, Jan. 29, starting at 6:30 p.m. The Ship Selection ceremony can be watched online through a live stream at http://www.navy.mil/navymil-live-usnashipselect-2015.html.

What is Ship Selection Night?

CDR Glen Quast, from USNA's Seamanship and Navigation Department, explains what the U.S. Naval Academy's Ship Selection Night is all about. Ship Selection Night for the prospective surface warfare officers of the Class of 2015 is this Thursday, Jan. 29. 

Future SWOs Attend Homeport Night at USNA

The U.S. Naval Academy hosted a “Homeport Night” for the class of 2015’s future Surface Warfare Officers (SWO) in Luce Hall Jan. 21.

Homeport Night was an opportunity for the SWOs on the Yard to share with midshipmen the advantages and opportunities that each of the surface navy ship homeports provide, and to offer advice on where to live, available activities, cost of living, and many other details that the midshipmen may not be thinking about.

Next week on Jan. 29th, USNA will host the annual Ship Selection Night, where approximately 250 midshipmen who are assigned to the surface warfare community will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of available homeports including Mayport, Fla.; Norfolk, Va.; San Diego; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Everett, Wash.; Yokosuka and Sasebo, Japan; Manama, Bahrain; and Rota, Spain.

“Each homeport offers different lifestyle and mission opportunities, and we are able to answer their questions and broaden their view as they choose where to go first,” said Lt. Andrew George Ross Marsh, Seamanship and Navigation instructor at the Naval Academy.

Surface warfare officers and instructors from around the Yard attended Homeport Night, offering advice and answering any and all questions that the midshipmen had about the future of their careers in the Navy and what to expect before they pick their ship.

“The officers who attended provided a lot of good information that the midshipmen don't normally think about,” said Marsh. “Questions like: What is the housing market like in San Diego? How long is the traffic to get on the base?  If I get married, do I qualify for military housing? It gives us the chance to shine a light on new places they may not have considered.”

The goal is to ensure every midshipman picking a ship has made an informed choice based on all of the variables, and it is a unique opportunity for experienced SWOs to provide information and mentorship to the midshipmen before they choose a particular ship and homeport.

“Every homeport is going to provide these new Ensigns with an amazing adventure,” said Marsh. "We are just trying to provide them with guidance and widen their perspective so that they have all the facts when they climb onto that stage to pick their first ship.”

USNA Hosts Platform Night for Future SWOs

The U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) hosted a “Platform Night” for the class of 2015’s future Surface Warfare Officers (SWO) in Luce Hall, Jan. 14.

Platform Night is an opportunity for the Academy’s future SWOs – first class midshipmen who were service assigned to Surface Warfare - to learn more about the ships and ship classes available to them in advance of the annual Ship Selection Night Jan. 29th.

 “What is particularly important about this event is that it gives midshipmen the opportunity to think through their options prior to having to stand in front of the board and choose a ship,” said Lt. Ashley O'Keefe, a SWO and Flag Aide to the USNA Superintendent. “It allows them to weigh the pros and cons of each platform, and get perspectives from officers who likely just came off of those ships a few months ago.”

Approximately 250 midshipmen were assigned to the surface warfare, and they will have the opportunity to choose from a large variety of available ships including: guided missile cruisers (CG), guided missile destroyers (DDG), amphibious assault ships (LHA)/(LHD), amphibious transport docks (LPD), dock landing ships (LSD), mine countermeasure vessels (MCM), amphibious command ships (LCC), and littoral combat ships (LCS).

Recently re-designated as Fast Frigates (FF) by the Secretary of the Navy at this year’s Surface Navy Association (SNA) Symposium, the littoral combat ships will be available for selection for the midshipmen for just the second year. This is the first year traditional frigates (FFGs) will not be available for selection.

Midshipmen pick their ships in order based on their overall order of merit, or class rank.

Surface warfare officers and instructors from around the Academy yard attended the event, offering advice and answering any and all questions that the midshipmen had about the future of their careers and their platforms. It is a unique opportunity for experienced SWOs to provide information and mentorship to the midshipmen before they choose a particular ship and homeport. The goal is to ensure every midshipman picking a ship has made an informed choice based on all of the variables.

“Platform Night is a special time - it's always an honor for me to be able to discuss the excitement that comes with the Surface Warfare community with the midshipmen,” said CDR Jason J. Brianas, Deputy Director, VADM James B. Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership. “To offer advice, discuss the issues that matter to them, and respond to the focused questions, when they're about to select ships just a few weeks away - it is an incredibly informative period in their career, and we get to do that together.”

“Different ships provide different opportunities, and every midshipman we talked to last night has their own unique desire for their first ship,” said Lt. Andrew Marsh, Seamanship and Navigation Instructor. “I look forward to Homeport Night next week so we can continue to guide and mentor these future SWO ensigns towards the right ship assignment, all leading, of course, to ship selection night. This choice is a major career milestone that they will remember for a very long time.”

Are you SWOtivated to join the surface community?

By LT Harry Qui 

Service assignment for the first class midshipmen is coming up later this month. By now the Class of 2015 has had experience during their summer training observing a variety of jobs available to naval officers that will help them make their first major decision about their future careers.

And the second class mids are just behind them. This past summer, midshipmen from the Class of 2016 underwent summer training – PROTRAMID (professional training of midshipmen). During PROTRAMID, they spend a week with each unrestricted line community to learn in-depth of what each offers.

One of the communities that they spend a week with was the surface community and the Surface Warfare Officers. Everyone has heard of Surface Warfare Officer or SWO, but have you ever considered of becoming one?

Since the age of sail, officers serving on board those ships were in charge of navigation, weapons, supplies and training the next generation of officers. They were the origin of the SWO community, and they have been the backbone of a Navy since its inception.

As time progressed, naval weapon platforms diversified. This brought about different communities within the naval forces. However, the core missions for SWO have remained the same.

With time, jobs for SWOs have expanded as well. It is reasonable to say that the career paths of a SWO are as unique as the individual. Of course, there are certain milestones that all SWOs must achieve, but it varies greatly how each officer reaches these goals.

For instance, a person could spend his or her entire career on board major surface vessels, while another officer might switch between platforms. If the thought of being on a river really gets your heart pumping, then you can join a RIVERON squadron. Perhaps the aspects of littoral combat have certain hold on you. If so, the new LCS could be an option. These new class of ships are multi-mission and very versatile.

During surface week, the midshipmen experienced firsthand what newly commissioned officers go through during their first command. They had the chance to learn about the variety of jobs available within the SWO community in a real world setting. The midshipmen spoke with newly commissioned ensigns regarding how they transitioned from being a midshipman to an officer and what the expectations were for them as they reported to their first command.

Their experiences might differ from each other after graduation, however, one common theme is that as new ensigns, they are expected to lead from day one. To have a successful career, they must ensure that the sailors working for them are set for success as well. 

It is a big responsibility but those who are SWOtivated will be well prepared for the challenges.

Letter to My Former Self: ENS Kellie Hall

In the "Letter to My Former Self" series, USNA graduates lay out the advice they would give themselves as midshipmen based on their experiences as junior officers in the Navy or Marine Corps. This week's letter was written by ENS Kellie Hall, who is serving on board USS Pinckney (DDG-91), based in San Diego, California.

Let me be frank:  there is in fact life after the Naval Academy. I am writing this letter from a coffee shop one block from my townhouse and only three blocks from the beach, as I sit and overlook the palm trees that are highlighted by the beautiful San Diego sunset.

While at the Academy I was too distracted by six-week exams, noon meal formations, sports period, company events, and downtown Annapolis to truly reflect on the idea that I would graduate and eventually join thousands of Naval Academy alumni to serve as an officer in the fleet. Being officer is not a myth; it is not some outlandish idea that may or may not happen—it will happen, I promise—and everything that happens after Induction Day truly affects how you will react to it.

I found out two weeks before graduation that I would be meeting my ship for the remainder of its deployment in the Pacific. I read my orders as I was studying for my last final, thinking “deployment will be like an extended midshipman cruise, it’ll be fine.” Little did I know I’d be thrown into USS Pinckney's peak of operations out in 7th Fleet.  On July 4th, I packed my sea bag to the brim and caught a ride to San Diego International Airport to be flown to Guam to meet my ship for her remaining seven weeks out at sea. Welcome to the Navy.

It was this experience that served as the biggest “reality check” in my life and in result, generate these words of wisdom from my short naval career thus far:

You cannot always use the excuse “I’m an Ensign.”

A multitude of officers and mentors at the Academy told me “don’t worry, you’re not expected to know anything as a brand new Ensign.” Within the first twenty-four hours of being on my ship, I was expected to conn. Not just conn from point A to point B, I would be driving the ship during “Guamex,” an exercise with eight Japanese vessels used to help increase interoperability. I quickly realized that I was being trusted as an Ensign to drive the ship (with the help of my Officer of the Deck) and that my role was completely imperative to make “Guamex” a successful exercise. No longer was I conning just an afternoon YP exercise on the Severn before sports period—this was the real thing. The bridge watch team, standard commands, and the Japanese Maritime Defense Force were my harsh, new reality and I was expected to know how to do my job.

Retain the information you learned at the Naval Academy – and keep your notes!

After four years of sitting in a classroom, thinking “When am I ever going to need this information?” I wish I could turn back time and hit myself over the head with a textbook and say, “learn and understand this! You’ll need to know it to look like a competent Surface Warfare Officer!”

I didn’t take my weapons class seriously; I thought it was another check-in-the-box course I needed to get through in the Naval Academy’s curriculum. Navigation was often my last course before the start of my weekend, so my attention span was at its most minimal level. Then there was Thermodynamics, my last real hurdle to jump before graduation. Little did I know that these three classes are the foundation to everything a Surface Warfare Officer will need to know. Nothing is worse than trying to qualify for your SWO pin and realizing that you’ve seen all the information before, you just didn’t retain it the first time. I had many palm-to-forehead moments during my deployment when I was asked questions about radar, the AC cycle, or how to calculate “PIM” that I legitimately couldn’t remember but at one point—before the final exam at the Academy—I did. Don’t let this be you.

My commanding officer often reminded me the reason why those two gold bars set me apart from the rest of the ship. He said, “There’s a reason why you make the big bucks. You’re not paid to listen, you’re paid to think. And you must think about what’s best for the ship.” I was motivated to learn and relearn what I once forgot because my lack of experience and knowledge was only hurting our ship’s mission.

Play to your strengths.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the best Surface Warfare officer there is. I find myself flustered when the OOD asks me what sound signal I should utilize or what day shapes need to be up during an underway replenishment. I’m not the fastest to learn and at 5’2 and 100lbs I can’t necessarily pull off the intimidating-authority figure persona. But at the end of the day I know I can do one thing right: utilize my experience in public affairs to publicize the ship’s successes.

My assignment as my ship’s Public Affairs Officer has been a true blessing so far because it has given me an opportunity to showcase my biggest strengths to my Commanding and Executive officers, as well as the rest of the wardroom and crew. There is no task I am assigned as PAO that is too big or too small that I won’t try to knock out of the park. I write articles, take pictures, organize media events, and even orchestrated my ship’s participation in Fleet Week San Diego. Even though I struggle as a SWO, at least I have one way to prove I’m still competent.

If you are good at something, showcase it. It will help give you the confidence boost you need to push through the stress of being a new ensign.

Be ready to juggle personal and professional issues.

From the Academy I moved to San Diego and quickly realized I needed to take out my own trash, cook my own food, and pay bills. I still struggle to scramble eggs yet I’m trusted by the Navy to drive a multi-billion dollar warship.

Everything since graduation day has been a challenge, whether it was putting together IKEA furniture or conning behind an aircraft carrier at night in the rain. Even though I may not have retained the physics, calculus, or rules-of-the-road knowledge from the Academy I did learn how to multi-task, be disciplined, and stay organized. For this, I will forever be grateful for the Academy and the harsh lessons I had to learn then in order survive in the fleet now.

Luckily, the Navy does not foster a “sink or swim” atmosphere. But, if you find yourself sinking and your stress flowing overboard, I promise you there will be someone to sound those five short blasts and order an Anderson turn to help get you back on course.

Letter to My Former Self: ENS Logan Wilk (USNA '14)

In the "Letter to My Former Self" series, USNA graduates lay out the advice they would give themselves as midshipmen based on their experiences as junior officers in the Navy or Marine Corps. This week's letter was written by ENS Logan Wilk, who is serving on board USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53), which recently moved homeports from San Diego, California, to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

The one thing that nobody ever prepares you for when you graduate the Academy is this: TAPS only exists at the Academy! Trust me. You don’t need to go wandering around the ship at 2200 after hearing the announcement for TAPS. There is no paper for you to sign.

Prior to that embarrassing scenario and after graduating the academy, I spent my basket leave at home with family and exploring the Riviera Maya with my boyfriend. Soon the weeks of leave I had turned to days and then days to hours.

On 23 June 2014 at 0615 I reported to the Starbucks at Pier 3 in San Diego, California, in my summer whites. Now if you thought it was easy to recognize a female plebe by their short hair, imagine walking on board your new home in whites while everyone else is in NWUs. There is no hiding.

But, contrary to popular belief, SWOs do not eat their young. Instead I found myself welcomed with open arms handing me CASREPs, EVALs, Energized Work Chits, 8 O’clock Reports, and other confusing documents. Lucky for me behind those documents were friendly faces willing to explain every single acronym that came my way, and the old phrase “I’m a plebe, sir!” came out of my mouth once more, except this time it was “I’m an ensign, sir!”

Since that fateful Monday morning, I have now had my two-month anniversary on board USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53). And while I’m still just a baby ensign, here are a few tips I’m glad I knew and some I’ve picked up along the way.

It’s ok to say you don’t know the answer. Humility is the biggest piece of advice I can give any young officer. While it may seem hard or embarrassing to say you don’t know – for instance, the load of one of the ten shore power cables –admit it, and then find out the answer. The people around you will respect you a lot more if you admit your lack of knowledge, then search for the answer. There is a reason we learned the phrase “Sir, I’ll find out and report back.”

There is a huge difference between interacting with a LT at the Academy and a LT on the ship. Due to the high number of LTs at the Academy I became incredibly desensitized to the two silver bars. On the ship there are only five. Every now and then I need to remind myself that my Department Head is not my Company Officer. He is not here to help me decide my service selection or do well academically. He is here to do his job and make sure I do mine. Do not desensitize yourself to the two silver bars!

Learn the Rules of the Road. You roll your eyes now, but you will be tested, and they are important. Especially when you have the 0000-0400 watch and you see that the white, red, and green lights are getting bigger. As my CO said, “There are only two tests I have been scared to fail my entire Navy career: Rules of the Road and the PFA.”

Get to know the other JOs. These people are your family now. While it may seem familiar and comfortable to hang out with only Academy friends, you will find that ship life is very similar to Academy life. You eat together, live together, and work together. No matter how much you try to avoid it, these JOs will play a huge part in your life.

Learn to cook. If you already know how to cook, great! If you don’t, learn pronto. Eating out every night will get expensive and you want to save some of your money. Plus now is the time when you finally get to decide for yourself what you are going to eat every night. Cherish the freedom!

Lastly, don’t shy away from your mistakes. Embrace them and learn from them. The last night of our transit to Pearl Harbor, I was conning during DLQs (Deck landing Qualifications for helicopters.) The whole situation was a mess. The pilots had been given the true winds as relative winds. There was a miscommunication regarding the number of DLQs that the pilots were going to do. The ship was at trail shaft and needed to come up to split shaft (go from one running propeller to two), and basically the entire exercise was a huge flop. The CO told me to order starboard engine ahead, indicate 1 PCL. I gave the order; the helm repeated it back, lost control of the rudder and put his port engine ahead 1 PCL. The Captain took the conn. Rather than become embarrassed by the entire situation, I learned so much from those ten seconds. I learned how quickly the bridge can turn to chaos and how loud the bridge can become when those on the bridge are allowed to chat. I learned that I need to sound off when giving conning orders. Failing is not a career-ending event. Allowing your failures to control you is what ends your career. But I chose not to, and five minutes later I took the conn again. I look forward to my next mistake because it will show me how I can improve.

Take from this what you will. I don’t have all the answers, nor do I pretend to. But if I could go back and write a letter to myself this is what I would have said.

Letter to My Former Self: ENS Gee Gee Greene (USNA '13)

In the "Letter to My Former Self" series, USNA graduates lay out the advice they would give themselves as midshipmen based on their experiences as junior officers in the Navy or Marine Corps. This week's letter was written by ENS Gee Gee Greene, who is serving on board USS Gettysburg (CG-64), based out of Norfolk, Va.

After tossing my midshipman cover at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium in May of 2013, I immediately drove down to my hometown of Columbia, S.C., and spent my basket leave at home with family and friends in relief after four tough years at USNA.

Basket leave quickly flew by and I prepared myself to report to my first duty station as an adolescent Ensign. My path was quite different from many of my classmates as I was temporarily assigned to NAPS before reporting to my ship.

After complaining for several years at the academy I soon realized how much I took for granted. You do not have the luxury of free housing in Bancroft Hall, three free meals a day are no longer served, laundry becomes self-service, and respect is not given, but earned.

Responsibility is earned as well. Standards increase tremendously, and you are expected to be on time and execute your job. Nevertheless, you will enjoy the freedom of going home after a long work day, as opposed to being confined within the walls of the Yard. 

After coaching football and standing CDO for a few months with midshipman candidates, I was notified that I would be flying to Bahrain to join my ship, USS Gettysburg (CG-64), in the midst of their nine-month deployment. After having a great experience at NAPS, I knew the real work was about to begin as I started my journey to become a qualified Surface Warfare Officer (SWO).

On Nov. 28, 2013, I found myself in Norfolk, Va., proceeding to my flight to the Middle East. Reporting to USNA was the first time I had left my home state, and four years later I was flying out of the country. I felt as if my life had changed so much in so little time.

I was very nervous, and did not know what to expect once I reported to my ship. All I could think about was all of the terrible SWO stories I had heard, and pictured myself on the negative end.  I was flown over to my ship in which I was surprisingly greeted by smiling faces. To top off the hospitality and encouraging nature of the crew, I soon realized that the great command climate was a direct reflection of my inspiring Captain.

After meeting Captain Cooper and expressing my goals and aspirations, a plan was put in place to obtain my SWO pin, and it was time to put in the necessary work. The academy helped me quickly adjust to my ship’s schedule, from early reveille to standing watch throughout the night. The biggest difference was the fact that I was no longer reading my general orders and protecting the p-way of 8-0 in 26^th Company. Instead, I was conning a 9,600-ton U.S. warship.

As an example of the responsibility you will quickly assume, on just my third night standing watch, I was ordered to position our ship at 3,000 yards and 170 degrees relative to an aircraft carrier for HRU (Horizon Reference Unit).

I have seen, experienced, or have been a part of almost every surface evolution the Navy has to offer in such a short period of time. I am grateful to have had this opportunity. I stayed the course and studied hard day in and day out until I received my SWO pin in a remarkable eight months, two of which were in Norfolk at the Basic Division Officer Course (BDOC).  

Although I have my pin, I am still learning everyday. Listed below are a few qualities that helped me on my long road to becoming a SWO:

ATTITUDE: Having a positive attitude is very essential to getting through the day aboard a ship. With so much going on, people being away from their families, and conflicting interest amongst peers, a positive attitude is the only way to avoid frustration. If you start the day off with a bad attitude, I can assure you it will carry you throughout the day. Having a negative attitude forces you to lose focus and limits your ability to act coherently and lead.

HUMILITY: You will not know all the answers, and it necessary to ask questions if you are ever in doubt. In most cases you will be leading Sailors that have been doing their job for several years, and it is completely fine to ask, “What is going on?”  Leaders, as well as subordinates, gain more respect and trust for you if you ask a question as opposed to assuming that you know -- when in reality, you don’t. It shows that you are interested and eager to learn what is going on. Having humility early on will definitely help you in the long run. Embarrassing moments will come as a SWO. Handling humiliation will only make you stronger. Humility builds character.

SELFLESSNESS: Realize that we joined the armed services for a greater purpose. Family, the ship and the well-being of our Sailors are far more important than you. Keeping this in mind and instilling this mindset throughout your day will encourage you to be a noble person and, more importantly, an encouraging leader. 

TEAMWORK: In most cases you will join your ship with several other ensigns, and it is important that you all work together. If you acquire information, it is imperative that you share this information with your peers, and you should expect the same from them. This will only make you as well as them better. You will gain their trust and build sustainable relationships throughout the command. Your teamwork will transfer over to important evolutions and watch standing and eventually become a true friendship.

COMPETITOR: Along with being a team player, a competitive edge is also important. Being a competitive person, I want to be better than the next guy. You must set yourself apart from the others and aspire to be the best.

REFERENCES: It is good to be a technical expert in a certain area or for a particular system, but it is more important to know where to reference. In many cases I don’t have all the answers, but I do know what pub or reference to use. Utilize Rules of the Road and know your CO’s Standing Orders (“they are written in blood.”) Also, sometimes, it’s just good to know which person to talk to.

RESPECT: Treat everyone as you would want to be treated. Despite rank or status you should treat everyone with respect, and in turn they will reciprocate. In addition, you have to respect the process and realize you are only facing what others have met.

GOALS: It sounds so cliché, but set short term, intermediate, and long term goals. You will never accomplish anything if you don’t challenge yourself let alone finish a race if you don’t know where you’re going.

ACCOUNTABILITY: Hold yourself as well as your Sailors accountable for their actions. We are all grown and should act as such. Unlike USNA, you will not receive a slap on the wrist for committing an offense. You will be charged in accordance with the UCMJ. The MIDSYSTEM no longer exists, and you will be held responsible.

ORGANIZATION: With so much going on within the Plan of the Day and the ship’s long term schedule, it is necessary to purchase a calendar planner and keep track of daily, monthly, and even yearly events. Do not allow events or tasking to sneak up on you. Be on top of everything. Know your limitations and capabilities, as well as utilizing your personnel to accomplish goals.

HARD WORK: Some may feel this is self-explanatory, but it is not. Hard work is the foundation of every successful person I know. Many feel like they are working hard, but there is always someone working harder. I measure hard work based upon my peers, and whatever they are doing, I try to be two steps ahead. No one can coach, train, or teach hard work. It is about you looking within yourself to put in extra time and ethic to accomplish specific tasks or goals.

I hope my experience has put things in perspective or given you guidance to help you excel as an officer in the near future. Before I got to my ship, I was convinced that my time aboard Gettysburg (now a recipient of the Carrier Strike Group 10 Battle ‘E’ and 2013 Battenburg Cup for “Best Ship in the Fleet”) would suck – but it has been the complete opposite.

With that being said, it is tough, but anything worthwhile requires perseverance. I’ve had my ups-and-downs as a SWO, but overall it has been a great experience – words or feelings I believed I would never personally express. After reflecting on the last few years of my life and career, if I could go back in time, this is what a letter to myself would have said.

Midshipmen Spend Summer Training Cruise On Board USS Bataan During Deployment

Post by MC3 Mark Hays, USS Bataan Public Affairs

Fifteen Midshipmen from the United States Naval Academy became the second group to embark the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) for summer training from June 23- July 18.

During the summer, these Midshipmen are assigned to various units throughout the Navy for training intended to give them first-hand experience in the fleet. This training is designed to assist them later when they request which areas of the Navy or Marine Corps they would like to serve.

Midshipmen prepare to hoist flags during a training evolution on board USS Bataan.
Photo by MC3 Chase Hawley, USS Bataan Public Affairs

The group of Midshipmen were paired up with junior officers and enlisted, known as running mates, who helped with preparing the future officers for shipboard life. Running mates were instrumental for training and preparing Midshipman for their future in the Navy. During the stay, they provided important information based on personal experiences and professional knowledge.

"This was my first time being a running mate,” said Personnel Specialist 2nd Class DeeAnn Cabrera, from Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. “It was an eye opening experience to show a future officer around the ship, which helps them make their decision on their future job.”

While aboard Bataan, the Midshipmen spent their time observing in work spaces such as engineering, supply, personnel, and deck which are designed to broaden their prospective as future leaders.

Mids wait to board a landing craft air cushion (LCAC) on board USS Bataan.
Photo by MC1 Julie Matyascik, USS Bataan Public Affairs

"I got to spend a lot of time in deck department,” said Midshipman Morgan Jung from Tenstrike, Minn. “During the RAS (Replenishment at Sea) I helped the Deck Department Sailors who maintain the Phone and Distance line which was a really neat experience.”

During their cruise Midshipmen saw firsthand an amphibious assault ship’s capabilities by riding in a Landing Craft Air Cushion, CH-53 Super Stallion, touring the inside of a tank, and helping Bataan’s Landing Signal Enlisted Sailor direct aircraft onto the flight deck.

"I think I want to be a pilot,” said Midshipman Meghan Moloney, from Springfield, Va. “After directing in Helo’s with the LSE’s, I was sold on pursuing my future as a pilot. I want to experience that everyday.”

During their three week stay, Bataan’s leadership provided hands on training that Midshipmen cannot get at the Naval Academy.

Mids learn how to set up plates for welding in the metal shop on board USS Bataan.
Photo by MC1 RJ Stratchko, USS Bataan Public Affairs

“What better way to train our future officers than onboard the Bataan,” said Capt. George J. Vassilakis, Commanding Officer, USS Bataan (LHD 5). “Being on deployment, doing real world missions is something the academy just cannot offer in a classroom. The future of the Navy is bright with Sailors like these preparing to lead it.”

Bataan is the flagship for the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.