Six Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) midshipmen from several universities, due for graduation this spring, joined the guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) and her crew for a 10-day experience of what it takes to be deployed at the open seas.
The visit took place from 13 to 23 of December, amid course of which the midshipmen got to experience live gunfire exercises, anti-submarine warfare scenarios, air-defense exercises, damage control training, and shiphandling evolutions.
What was particularly interesting for the midshipmen was observing a replenishment at sea with the USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO-187).
According to Midshipmen First Class Nicholas Gonsalves from Oregon State University: “It was motivating to get to experience life at sea and seeing all of the evolutions that I will be a part of after I commission.”
As explained by Stewart Bateshansky, Sterett’s commanding officer: “By experiencing our daily routine and operational tempo, the midshipmen are well-prepared to enter the fleet as surface warfare officers in the spring.”
Sterett, homeported at Naval Base San Diego, forms part of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9. USS Sterett returned from her second deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility in July 2012.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, December 30, 2013; Image: Wikimedia