Eighteen midshipmen left the classrooms of the Naval Academy to venture underway with the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), June 9-13.
The midshipmen visited the ship as part of their professional training development; a hands-on requirement of the Naval Academy that helps students decide on a career path on the Navy.
“It’s a chance to introduce them to the different communities in the Navy,” said Cmdr. Michael Meredith, commanding officer of Jason Dunham. “They spend a week with the Marines, they spend a week with aviation, they spend a week with surface warfare and they spend a week with submarines.”
While classroom training has long been a necessary requirement for future Navy leaders, the hands-on aspect of visits like these help midshipmen fully appreciate life as a Sailor.
During their stay, the midshipmen had the opportunity to conn the ship during a replenishment-at-sea, participate in small boat operations, handle lines and fire small arms.
[mappress] Press Release, June 17, 2014; Image: US Navy