<p>Thirty-three midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy and various Navy Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) units across the United States embarked aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) on May 31 to join the ship for Exercise Talisman Saber 07, a U.S. and Australian led joint task force operation. </p>
<p>During their three-week stay on board, each midshipman, depending on what year of college they're currently in, is paired with a running mate who is either a division officer or a hard-charging petty officer.</p>
<p>The job of the running mate is to show their midshipmen as much of daily shipboard life as possible in the short time they have on board. This includes attending general quarters training, standing watches on the bridge or in damage control central, and touring the ship's engine room. The midshipmen took to the skies as well, going up in one of the ship's two SH-60F class helicopters during routine training operations.</p>
<p>The ship's disbursing and sales officer Ensign Justin Devoe organized this year's midshipman summer cruise and believes that integrating the midshipmen with the crew is vital.</p>
<p>"This is a very important part of a midshipman's curriculum," said Devoe. "Reading how a ship works is one thing, but actually standing the watches and carrying out orders given are essential in becoming a good officer."</p>
<p>For the midshipmen, the experience of living and working on board a naval vessel is an exciting one. Midshipman 3rd Class Chris Murray said he planned to gain a lot from his time on Blue Ridge.</p>
<p>"This is my first time on a ship and I've already learned and absorbed a lot of information," said Murray. "The few weeks that I'm spending on board is giving me a better idea of what I want to be as an officer."</p>
<p>The running mates also expressed excitement in having an effective part in a future naval officer's training. Ship's Serviceman 1st Class (SW/AW) Derrek Robinson sees his role as a running mate as a chance to help someone who could someday be his division officer.</p>
<p>"I've been showing him the kind of things that a division officer would do," Robinson said. "The maintenance procedures, reviewing spot checks for preventive maintenance, finding different instructions concerning daily ship life are things that he will have to be taking care of someday."</p>
<p>Blue Ridge is commanded by Capt. David A. Lausman and serves under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7/Task Force 76, the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force. Blue Ridge is the flagship for Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.</p>
<p>The U.S. Navy issued the following press release:
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Hewitt
USS Blue Ridge Public Affairs</p>
<p>Copyright 2007 HT Media Ltd.
All Rights Reserved
US Fed News
June 13, 2007 Wednesday 1:09 AM EST</p>