Seven Naval Academy Midshipmen returned to Naval Station Norfolk, Friday, following the completion of Professional Training for Midshipmen (PROTRAMID) during surface week aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61).
PROTRAMID, a four-week summer training period for both Naval Academy and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Midshipmen, is held upon the completion of a midshipman’s sophomore year of college and consists of surface week, aviation week, submarine week and Marine week.
During surface week aboard Ramage, the midshipmen were able to experience many of the duties and responsibilities of a surface warfare officer.
“This was truly a great week for material demonstrations and training evolutions aboard the ship,” said Cmdr. Dave Stoner, Ramage’s commanding officer. “From a full-power run, to gun shoots, flight quarters, boat exercises and the initial Mk-59 demonstrations, I feel as though each midshipman got a great look into the life of a surface warfare officer.”
Through a myriad of training scenarios, such as the initial testing of the Mk-59 decoy launch system, live-fire weapons demonstrations and learning proper watch-standing procedures, the crew aboard Ramage made efforts to provide an accurate portrayal of daily operations aboard a Navy surface ship.
[mappress] Press Release, June 17, 2014; Image: US Navy