Career Orientation and Training for Midshipmen (CORTRAMID): for midshipmen on scholarship, typically between their freshman and sophomore years of college (for those who pick up a three-year scholarship, between their sophomore and junior years). A “Navy sampler” during which a week is spent with the aviation community, a week with the surface community, a week with the submarine community, and a week with the Marines. Two opportunites are offered: east coast (Norfolk, VA) during approximately June, and west coast (San Diego, CA) during approximately August.
2/C Cruise: for midshipmen on scholarship, between their sophomore and junior years of college. An enlisted “running mate” will be assigned to the midshipman to allow them to see the Navy from the enlisted point-of-view. Options include:
- Surface (big deck, small deck, or nuclear)
- Sub (SSN or SSBN)
1/C Cruise: for all midshipmen, between their junior and senior years of college. A junior officer will be assigned as their “running mate” in order to allow them to see the Navy from the position that, in a short time, the midshipman will be in. Many options are available:
- SPECOPS
- Foreign Exchange (FOREX) Cruise
- Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Cruise
- Aviation (ashore or afloat, approx. 4 weeks)
Summer Cruise Experiences
MIDN Dittberner
MIDN Dittberner visited the USS Arizona Memorial and the battleship USS Missouri. each year, over a million people pay their respects to the 1100 sailors and officers who died when the Arizona sank as a result of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. The Missouri, now a museum, is equally famous. It hosted the Japanese surrender ending WWII.
MIDN Riley
This is MIDN Riley onboard a US submarine at a classified location, somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. Riley is posing in a berthing space and is flanked by the curtains of other people’s bunks. He is wearing a set of Navy Coveralls, a modern version of the submarine “Poppy suit.” To the left is a picture of the submarines as it was when MIDN Riley boarded her, already at sea. Visible on “the sail” is the Officer of the Deck (an officer only 3 years after graduating from college) as he commands the submarine’s movements.
Aggie Midshipman
An Aggie Midshipman returning to Pearl Harbor after several days at sea on board a destroyer (DDG-60). This picture was taken from the port bridgewing during sea and anchor detail.
MIDN 1/C Laney
MIDN 1/C Laney in Hawaii at Diamond Head State Park. Diamond Head is a crater with a peak around its edge that can be reached by a hiking trail- this picture was taken at the top. In the background you can see Waikiki and Honolulu. Admission is around $5 per car, and the park is about an hour and a half from the Navy base at Pearl Harbor.
MIDN 1/C Riley
This is MIDN 1/c Riley (TAMU class ’05) flying in a SH-60B Sea Hawks Helicopter above Jacksonville, FL. For 4 weeks, MIDN Riley was assigned to Helo squadron HSL- 48, stationed in Mayport, FL. While he was there, he was treated as a full member of the squadron and learned about Navy Helicopters and the pilots that fly them. MIDN Riley says “the high point of my cruise was hanging out with the pilots. They were really cool.”
MIDN Dean
Midshipman Dean (TAMU class of ’06) poses in front of Singapore’s Parliament building. He spent about a week in Singapore. Before this cruise, MIDN Dean had never left the U.S. Now, he’s a world traveler.
MIDN Dean
Not all your adventures will be ashore. Here, Midshipman Dean ’06 stands ‘topside” at sunset. In the background are two US Navy Destroyers. Sunsets and sunrises at sea are a breathtaking sight, known only to those who’ve been there. Many people pay for the experience, but by joining NROTC at TAMU, it’s all free.
MIDN Seward
Midshipman (MIDN) Seward ’04 handles an M-43 machine gun. Each Naval Vessel is well armed and most Midshipmen get to fire weapons that are regularly featured on Cable TV. It may be a dream to some people, but in the Navy, it’s a common experience. Join NROTC and try it for yourself.