Summer Cruise

What will I do on summer training cruises?

There are three different cruises. The first summer cruise, after the freshman year, gives all scholarship students the chance to learn about the four basic “line officer” specialties. The students spend one week at each of four locations to receive indoctrination in aviation, submarine, surface ships, and Marine Corps amphibious operations. The second summer cruise, which all scholarship students take after the sophomore year, is aboard either a surface ship or submarine (student’s choice) and is geared toward experiencing the Navy from an enlisted viewpoint. The summer cruise after the junior year provides junior officer training aboard ships, submarines or with an aircraft squadron for the Navy students, and at the Marine Corps Base at Quantico, Virginia for the Marine Corps students. College Program students complete one summer training cruise; their cruise is the same as their scholarship student counterparts’ after the junior year.

Where do we go during summer cruise, and who pays for our transportation?

Our students travel all over the world on cruises. The Navy pays for travel expenses from school or your home to the cruise site and your return to home each summer. Our juniors have many options available to them. They can request Aircraft Carrier or Patrol Squadron cruises and special training with Navy Seals. They may also request a foreign exchange cruise for their final summer. Each year, several of our students take summer cruises aboard ships of a foreign Navy. Last summer students had the opportunity to visit Norfolk, VA, Mayport, FL, Pensacola, FL, King’s Bay, GA, San Diego, CA, Everett, WA, Pearl Harbor, HI, Yokosuka, Japan, Guam, Saipan, Singapore, and Panama.

THIRD CLASS CRUISE (FOR ALL MIDSHIPMEN)

Career Orientation and Training for Midshipmen (CORTRAMID)

During the summer between their freshman and sophomore year, scholarship midshipmen participate in a month-long active-duty program of CORTRAMID in either Norfolk, VA or San Diego, CA. The program is designed to give midshipmen an exposure to all major communities of naval service and help them understand how the many moving parts interact and how they function to form one fighting force.

The first week consists of orientation within the aviation community where midshipmen gain experience with an active duty squadron and complete training for backseat qualifications in various naval aircraft. Many midshipmen are given the opportunity to spend time in various simulators, while qualified midshipmen are often given flights in naval aircraft.

The second week consists of training and orientation relating to the submarine community. This includes time underway on afloat units where midshipmen gain experience in submarine operations. An overnight stay aboard a submarine at sea is included and midshipmen are introduced to submarine and torpedo attack simulators.

The third week provides insight into the surface warfare community. Midshipmen are given training in ship handling, navigation, and surface ship operations. They are also exposed to actual time underway onboard a surface unit and training simulators to experience many shipboard operations.

The final week is Marine Week, a physically and mentally challenging week where midshipmen learn to carry out the primary function of the Marine Corps, projection of power ashore. This week is packed with exhibitions of firepower and development of small unit teams and intense physical training.

This experience will help midshipmen determine their future community of service.

NAVY OPTION CRUISES

Second Class - Enlisted Cruise

During the summer between the sophomore and junior year, scholarship midshipmen go on an active-duty enlisted cruise and experience life as an enlisted member of naval units. This experience familiarizes the midshipmen with ship operations and gives them appreciation for the enlisted men and women that they will eventually lead as commissioned officers. Midshipmen live and work alongside an enlisted running mate that will show them what life is like aboard afloat units. These cruises can be on any type of surface ship or submarine in any part of the world.

First Class Cruise - Officer Cruise

During the summer between their junior and senior year, scholarship and advanced standing Navy midshipmen are assigned to active-duty Navy units. Assignments are available on either a surface ships, a submarine, an aviation squadron, a Special Warfare unit, or possibly onboard vessels of foreign allied navies. The midshipman serves in the capacity of a junior officer with all of the rights and responsibilities thereof. They interact closely and live with the officers of their unit. This includes training, watch-standing, ship-handling, flight planning and operations, and many other learning opportunities. Many midshipmen use this cruise to make their final decision about service selection.

MARINE OPTION CRUISES

Second Class Cruise - Mountain Warfare Training

Marine Option midshipmen on scholarship will go to the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Pickel Meadow, California. Here they will participate in a two week terrain appreciation course. During this time, midshipmen will perform hikes and tactical exercises. The experience at Mountain Warfare is designed to prepare you for Officer Candidate School.

First Class Cruise - Officer Candidate School

Between their junior and senior year, Marine Option midshipmen will attend the 6-week long Bulldog course at Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA where everything they have prepared for will be put to the test.. Excellence in physical fitness, leadership and academics is required from anyone looking to become a future Marine.