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AT SEA (1/20/2013) - Four midshipmen are experiencing life at sea
aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN
74) Jan. 5–23 as part of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC)
winter cruise program.
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January 22, 2013 - Cmdr. Mark Henderson, safety officer, right, explains to midshipmen replenishment personnel roles in hangar bay two aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) during a replenishment-at-sea. John C. Stennis is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions for Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kenneth Abbate)
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The goal of the midshipmen cruise program is to integrate
the midshipmen with the crew and learn directly from
officers and enlisted sailors about Navy operations and life
at sea.
The senior-level midshipmen will be aboard
for two weeks and will experience operations in several
departments.
“This is a great group of
midshipmen,” said Lt. Cmdr. Christy Sibley, Stennis'
training officer. “They'll have a lot of one on one time and
really get a great experience aboard Stennis.”
To
help facilitate the experience, each midshipman is assigned
a running mate who will mentor the midshipmen and guide them
throughout their experience.
“It's a great
opportunity for them to see the challenges facing them when
they become division officers,” said Lt. j.g. Andrew Miller,
division officer for Auxiliaries Division and one of the
running mates for the midshipmen.
While they are
busy learning day-to-day operations, attending meetings and
being mentored by forward-deployed sailors, the midshipmen
are also completing Personnel Qualification Standard (PQS).
“The purpose of the PQS is to give the midshipmen an
overview of the different departments on the ship,” said
Miller. “They will be going to each department to receive
training and to have their PQS signed.”
Midshipman
1st Class Adrienne Penacik, a senior studying international
relations at Boston University, said she is getting a chance
to see how the ship operates and is looking forward to
entering the surface warfare officer program.
This is
the first aircraft carrier visit for the group of young
midshipmen.
“It's a little intimidating at first,”
said Midshipman 1st Class Bertha Farele-John, a senior at
University of St. Thomas. “Having a good running mate to
show you around definitely helps.”
“It's eye opening
for me,” said Midshipman 1st Class Nathan Harding, a senior
at Boston University. “It's amazing to witness this
[shipboard operations].”
While aboard Stennis, the
midshipmen observed flight operations and two
replenishments-at-sea. They will also visit deck, supply,
intelligence, medical, engineering, weapons, and command
religious ministries departments. In addition the midshipmen
are scheduled to take a helicopter from Stennis to the USS
Mobile Bay (CG 53) for four days to experience operations
aboard a guided-missile cruiser.
The John C. Stennis
Carrier Strike Group (JCSCSG), consisting of Stennis,
Carrier Air Wing 9, Destroyer Squadron 21, and Mobile Bay
are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility to
strengthen regional partnerships, sustain maritime security,
and support combatant commander requirements for assets in
the area.
By Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Charlotte Oliver
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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