Everett NJROTC Cadets Test Drive SeaPerch Submersibles

EVERETT, Wash., (NNS) -- Everett High School Navy Junior Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) cadets participated in a naval engineering project, May 31.

The cadets spent eight weeks completing an Introduction to Naval Engineering that culminated in the building and operation of a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) submersible, known as SeaPerch.

SeaPerch is an innovative underwater robotics program that equips teachers and students with the resources they need to build an underwater ROV in an in-school or out-of-school setting.

Students build the ROV from a kit comprised of low-cost, easily accessible parts, following a curriculum that teaches basic engineering and science concepts with a marine engineering theme. The SeaPerch Program provides students with the opportunity to learn about robotics, engineering, science, and mathematics while building an underwater ROV through a hands-on experience. Throughout the project, students learn engineering concepts, problem solving, teamwork, and technical applications.

"SeaPerch is by far the coolest and most fun project I have ever done," said Everett NJROTC cadet Petty Officer 3rd Class Jacob Moore. "It taught me a lot about team work and naval engineering. I got to know other cadets in my class better and I learned new skills while doing this, like soldering. I'd recommend this project to anyone."

The Everett NJROTC cadets involved in the SeaPerch curriculum are first and second year cadets, usually freshmen and sophomores with a few juniors. They are also known as Naval Science 1 cadets and include cross-town students from Cascade and Jackson high schools in the Everett School District. According to naval science instructor and retired U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Dan Boudreau, using SeaPerch in the Naval Science 1 curriculum entices the new cadets to join and be part of the NJROTC unit.

"I wanted to get the cadets to realize that the NJROTC program is more than uniforms, close order drill and naval customs and courtesies," said Boudreau.

"Certainly these areas are important; discipline on the drill field or parade square forms the bedrock of their development as good citizens," he said. "SeaPerch allows cadets to apply the self-discipline and team work they learn to think critically and solve problems individually or as a SeaPerch crewmember. The slightly technical nature of SeaPerch helps to whet their appetite for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) with the introduction of the engineering disciplines that SeaPerch provides."

By the end of the eight week SeaPerch curriculum, the Naval Science 1 cadets have been placed into 3-to-4 cadet SeaPerch crews making up 13 teams. They had learned engineering concepts, applied those concepts to robotics, gathered the necessary materials and constructed their submersible ROVs. The next step was to gather at the Everett YMCA of Snohomish County pool to test their submersibles in watery action. Many of the cadets called it the most highly anticipated part of the curriculum.

"Building the SeaPerch was an awesome experience," said Cadet Seaman Apprentice Glenn Lawhon. "We had arguments about how to do some of the steps, but our 'crew' worked together to solve problems we had. It was great when SeaPerch 'Crew 13' got to dive our SeaPerch that we had built."

With the help and support of the Naval Station Everett Fleet Diving Detachment, Boudreau said the SeaPerch cadet crews put their ROVs "to sea" for pool trials.

"Three blasts of a submarine diving claxon sounded, heralded the start of the operational test dives," said Boudreau. "Cadets conducted function checks at the first station which gave each cadet in a SeaPerch crew a chance at the operational controls."

Boudreau said in the second stage cadets conducted drag races against another SeaPerch ROV, both on and below the surface, to learn about the different operating characteristics of each ROV.

"It's really cool to see during the ballast and trim testing phase that our work paid off and the ROV did what it was designed and built to do," said Cadet Seaman Tristan Schweigert. "The best part is we, our SeaPerch Crew, did it."

Boudreau said that like on a real submarine the chance of an engineering casualty is always a possibility.

"During sustained operations at speed and 'on step,' three engineering casualties developed," he said. "One SeaPerch starboard engine failed while the other two engines kept functioning. This caused consternation and critical thinking among the crew. The two other casualties were from two separate SeaPerch ROVs, which each lost a propeller. Luckily, the Navy divers were able to salvage the propellers and lock nuts that had held the propellers in place, so those crews were able to resume and complete the operational test dives."

Boudreau noted that the cadet learning experience is made possible by the SeaPerch Program which is sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and managed by the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Foundation. He also said the NJROTC Booster Club provided support for the activity, which included some funding.

Striving for more STEM courses, numerous schools around the U.S. are adding to SeaPerch to their unit curriculum this school year. Boudreau said Everett High School and the NJROTC unit plans to continue the SeaPerch program curriculum for Naval Science 1 cadets.

"SeaPerch is a good introductory method for the introduction of STEM and naval engineering especially for Naval Science 1 Cadets. We are planning to possibly expand and build upon the idea of SeaPerch by adding components such as cameras, articulated arms and underwater sampling devices perhaps," Boudreau said. "Also, a year or so after completing a SeaPerch we will have these same cadets as Naval Science 2 or 3 cadets build a SeaFox ROV in accordance with plans from 'Build Your Own Underwater Robot and Other Wet Projects' by Harry Bohm and Vickie Jensen. Indeed, we could keep going and there is no reason to not consider using the MATE (Marine Advanced Technology Education center) published text 'Underwater Robotics: Science, Design and Fabrication' by Dr. Steven W. Moore, Harry Bohm and Vickie Jensen for more advanced submersible ROVs that are already being built by high school students nationally."

According to the Office of Naval Research's (ONR), "Building a SeaPerch ROV teaches basic skills in ship and submarine design and encourages students to explore naval architecture and marine and ocean engineering principles. It also teaches basic science and engineering concepts and tool safety and technical procedures. Students learn important engineering and design skills and are exposed to all the exciting careers that are possible in naval architecture and naval, ocean, and marine engineering."

Or as Cadet Petty Officer 3rd Class Shane Mack said, "Building and working with everyone in my SeaPerch crew was very exciting. Once we got down to the YMCA pool we couldn't wait to get our SeaPerch in the water and try it out. Now, I am saving my money and I want to buy one to build on my own!"

The NJROTC program is a citizenship and leadership development program with an impact that reaches beyond the NJROTC classroom and into the communities where NJROTC units are located. NJROTC seeks to instill in participating U.S. high school students the values of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment. NJROTC cadets stand out among their peers as ethical, confident, physically fit, academically dedicated young men and women. NJROTC seeks to instill a strong foundation of citizenship in America's future leaders. It is not a recruiting program, but a citizenship program. Schools that have NJROTC programs benefit from the program's stellar reputation and the cadets' community service.

The NJROTC program is currently overseen by Commander, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), Rear Adm. Dee L. Mewbourne, headquartered at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill. NSTC oversees 98 percent initial officer and enlisted accessions training for the Navy. This training includes the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program at more than 150 colleges and universities that either host NROTC units or have cross-town enrollment agreements with a host university. NSTC also oversees Officer Training Command (OTC) in Newport, R.I., Recruit Training Command (RTC) at NSGL, as well as NJROTC.

NSTC's NJROTC program is divided into 11 areas across the United States that also includes units in Italy, Spain, Japan and Guam. There are more than 86,000 student cadets in the more than 580 units. Area 13 covers the most ground starting in Papillion, Neb., and stretching across the Pacific Ocean to Yokosuka, Japan. There are 13 Northwest states in Area 13 including Hawaii, Guam and Japan, totaling 6,086.9 miles. Texas and Florida are their own areas with 68 units in Florida (Area 4) and 55 units in Texas (Area 10). Area 6 in North Carolina and South Carolina high schools host 67 units while Area 11 in Southern California and Arizona have more than 50 units. Other areas encompass the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Plains States and Southwest. The Everett High School NJROTC unit is in Area 13.

More information on the Everett High School NJROTC unit, a video and photos of the construction of the SeaPerch ROVs and May 31 YMCA dive tests can be found by logging on to https://sites.google.com/a/navyjrotc.us/everett-njrotc-seagull-company/in-the-news/ .

For more information about NJROTC, visit https://www.njrotc.navy.mil .

For more news from Naval Service Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/greatlakes/ .