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YOKOSUKA, Japan - During the months of July and August, eight
Midshipmen from the United States Naval Academy embarked Arleigh
Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) for their
summer training program.
The Midshipmen were immersed in
naval operations including helicopter, small boat, damage control,
anti-submarine warfare and navigation while underway. Lassen went
underway weekly in preparation for an upcoming inspection, which
exposed the Midshipmen to the ship's rigorous schedule.
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The guided missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) underway at an
undisclosed location and date. (U.S. Navy courtesy photo)
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“I appreciated the crew's willingness to work long hours
in preparation for a major material inspection conducted on
surface ships ever four to five years, while still taking
time to educate and work with the Midshipmen,” said
Midshipman 1st Class Andrew Garcia, from South Pasadena,
California.
The goal of the cruise was for each
Midshipman to become familiar with the lives of their
running mates, sponsors assigned to each midshipmen during
their embark aboard the ship. 1st class midshipmen were
assigned to junior officers, while 3rd Class were partnered
with enlisted Sailors
“I learned a lot about the
enlisted perspective in the Navy and how important their
jobs are to the mission,” said Midshipman 3rd Class Dylan
Thompson-Sevcik, from Toms River, New Jersey.
Moving
forward, the 1st class midshipmen will make their final
decision as to what warfare community they will choose after
they graduate in the coming year.
“For me, this
experience really reaffirmed my desire to be a surface
warfare officer,” said Garcia. Seeing what they do really
made me want to get out to the fleet and lead my first
division.”
In their time aboard Lassen, the
midshipmen experienced forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF)
life and the rigors involved with being an officer aboard a
Navy warship.
“I liked being able to see surface
warfare life on a destroyer in Japan,” said Midshipman 1st
Class William Gurzynski, from Walker, Louisiana. “It gave me
an appreciation for what it takes to keep the Navy engaged
and on top of international involvement in a forward scene.”
Lassen, assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, is
forward-deployed to the 7th Fleet area of operations
supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific
region.
By U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Lauren Chatmas
USS Lassen Public Affairs
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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