<p>During a two-week underway for training, USS Germantown (LSD 42) hosted nearly 80 Naval Academy midshipmen and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps students from universities across the country to introduce them to surface Navy life, July 16-19. </p>
<p>As part of the Navy's Career Orientation Training for Midshipmen program, midshipmen had the opportunity to experience what it was like to work and live aboard a ship in order to assist them in choosing a future career path.</p>
<p>During their time aboard the dock landing ship, midshipmen toured spaces such as the engineering and deck departments, and Combat Information Center (CIC).</p>
<p>"We really want them to understand some of the things we do and the excitement we feel when we do them," said Germantown's Command Master Chief (SS) Jerome E. Weisen.</p>
<p>"We showed them what it's like to sleep and live on a surface ship and they got a chance to talk to both officers and the enlisted community to get a feel of what their future could be if they became a surface warfare officer," said Weisen.</p>
<p>Germantown's electronics maintenance officer, Lt. j.g. Jaime Gonzalez, helped to define his job as a division officer to the midshipmen and introduce them to the different divisions.</p>
<p>"This job is hard but it is fun and I think they are excited to be here and learn about it. They have open minds and are motivated," said Gonzalez.</p>
<p>Fire Controlman 3rd Class Jarom Hunter, a member of the ship's Visit Board Search and Seizure team, described his impression of the Navy's future leaders.</p>
<p>"I think they all want to be educated in what they are going to be and were pretty interested in what we were teaching them while underway," said Hunter.</p>
<p>During a question and answer session in the ship's Chief's Mess, Weisen stressed the importance of team-work and education.</p>
<p>"Wherever you go, whether it's a ship, a Marine unit, an air squadron, wherever, the khaki leadership, the wardroom and the Chief's Mess have to work as a unit. Always be open to learning more. We will succeed or fail as a team," said Weisen.</p>
<p>"I am truly amazed," Weisen said about the future officers. "Our college youth are so energetic and excited about a possible career in the Navy and some of the things that they want to do when they get here."</p>
<p>Germantown is currently conducting various training exercises while homeported in San Diego.</p>
<p>BYLINE: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stephanie Tigner, Fleet Public Affairs Center Pacific
Copyright 2007 Federal Information and News Dispatch, Inc.
Defense Department Documents and Publications
July 23, 2007</p>