ROTC challenges college students, high school cadets

Midshipmen 3/C Sam Murphy aboard USS San Jacinto CG-56.

While many area high school and college students are working summer jobs or soaking up rays, college midshipmen and area cadets have been challenged mentally and physically at summer programs.

Navy ROTC scholarship recipients are required to complete a summer NROTC CORTRAMID (Career Orientation and Training of Midshipmen). One week is devoted to exposure to the surface warfare, another to aviation, another to submarines, and the last spent with the Marine Corps.

Midshipmen 3/C Sam Murphy spent the first month of his break from studying engineering at FSU on his NROTC CORTRAMID summer cruise out of Norfolk, VA. His first week was spent at SUB BASE Kings Bay, in Georgia, where he spent the night submerged on the USS Minneapolis-St. Paul (SSN 708). He was allowed to drive the boat as a helmsman under the watch of a qualified sailor and observe normal routines of the crew and officers. The USS Minneapolis-St. Paul has been at the forefront of submarine operations and training since being commissioned in 1984.

Murphy was then moved back to Norfolk to board the USS San Jacinto CG-56 he spent 4 days at sea participating in Helicopter Operations, Refueling at Sea, Repelling Boarders and allowed the opportunity to take the Con and guide the ship under supervision of the Officer of the Deck. USS San Jacinto CG-56 is named after the Battle of San Jacinto which helped to establish 'The Republic of Texas;' the San Jacinto is the tenth AEGIS cruiser of the 27 ships in the TICONDEROGA Class.

AFJROTC cadets (not in order) Bruce Cooke, Eric Gallup, Lindsey Hunnicutt, Elizabeth Lawlis, Benjamin McCrary and Carl McDaris participated in the summer program.

Upon leaving the San Jacinto he was then sent to French Creek, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for a week with the Marine Corps where he ran the obstacle course, learned basic marine martial arts combat and fired M16's and large caliber weapons at the Firing Range. He also viewed an M1 Abrams main battle tank which is the principal combat tank of the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps, rode in the Marine Core amphibious vehicles and participated in mount training exercises 'urban combat warfare.'

Midshipmen 3/C Scott Murphy, above in protective gear, is currently finishing his third week of CORTRAMID aboard the USS CURTS FFG-38 in San Diego. The USS CURTS is an Oliver Hazard Perry Class guided Missile frigate. There were a total of 55 ships built (four for the Royal Australian Navy), making it the largest single class of warship built by a Western Navy since World War II.

Sam's final week was spent back in Norfolk where he was able to fly a T34 Training plane under supervision and got time in the Helicopter simulators used by the Navy.

Twin brother Scott is currently finishing his third week of his CORTRAMID in San Diego. Both brothers are employees of the local Tiger Point Sonic Drive-Inn, where Sam is a shift manager. He and Scott will work there for the rest of the summer.

On the high school level, six cadets from Gulf Breeze High School's AFJROTC group FL-932 traveled to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi to participate in a Summer Leadership School hosted by AFJROTC group MS-781 of Biloxi High School.

Cadets Bruce Cooke, Eric Gallup, Lindsey Hunnicutt, Elizabeth Lawlis, Benjamin McCrary, and Carl McDaris, along with 100 other AFJROTC cadets from high schools in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, processed into the camp Sunday, July 22.

Training began immediately, with Cadet Training Advisors indoctrinating cadets on how to conduct themselves during the weeklong training.

The weeklong training included physical training, (led by a Keesler Air Force Base Noncommissioned Officer Academy instructor), uniform wear, team building, leadership classes (conducted by Keesler Air Force Base Noncommissioned Officer Academy instructors), drill practice/competition, and interaction with cadets from other AFJROTC groups.

A typical day began with physical training at 5:00 a.m., and included classroom instruction; drill/parade practice and room/uniform inspections.

During the graduation ceremony after the pass-in-review, Cadet Lawlis was recognized as a Distinguished Graduate, an award achieved by only the top 10 percent of each class. Additionally, Cadet Lawlis' flight was recognized as the school's "Honor Flight" and she was selected as one of the four members for the pass-in-review's color guard section. Cadet's Cooke and Hunnicutt were recognized as the best in their flight's as drill commanders.

Gulf Breeze Rotary, Optimist and Sertomas Clubs donated $1,000 each in support of the NJROTC program.