Navy and Marine Corps midshipmen from the University of Wisconsin Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program participated in summer training assignments across the globe during the summer break.

Thirty-nine midshipmen experienced life in the various communities of the Navy and Marine Corps, ranging from submarines to aviation squadrons to participation in Marine Corps Officer Candidates School (OCS).

Rising sophomores participated in Career Orientation and Training of Midshipmen (CORTRAMID) in San Diego. The four-week long program consists of exposure to surface ships, submarines, aviation, and the Marine Corps. The training is designed to help the midshipmen to shape their career goals and determine their service assignment preferences.

"My favorite experience was flying in the T-34 - it was incredible," said Midshipman 3rd Class Katelyn Huebner, from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. "In addition, Marine Corps week provided a lot of insight into the life of the infantry."

Rising juniors participated in multi-week cruises onboard U.S. Navy ships throughout the fleet. The intent of this cruise is to expose the midshipmen to the daily life of an enlisted Sailor. Each midshipman shadowed an enlisted 'running mate,' who showed them how to carry out daily duties, stand watch, and perform maintenance.

"The most memorable thing I observed is the importance of teamwork," said Midshipman 2nd Class Dominique Bowers, from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, who traveled to Bahrain and embarked onboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). "Even on a huge aircraft carrier, everyone, no matter what their rate, has an important role working with others."

The juniors who are pursuing Marine Corps commissions participated in Mountain Warfare Training in California. The 10-day course provides hands-on training in mountain and cold weather warfare. "My favorite memory was the final hike to Lost Canyon Peak at 11,000 feet," said Midshipman 2nd Class Justin Silvis, from McFarland, Wisconsin. "The best lesson I learned was when an infantry officer taught me to always 'explain the why' to your men. Then if you ever have to make a decision where there is no time to explain your thought process, they will have learned to trust your judgment."

This school year's seniors participated in summer training tailored to their intended service assignment. Prospective surface and submarine officers embarked on cruises similar to the second class cruise, this time shadowing an officer. Students pursuing assignments in Naval Aviation were sent to aviation squadrons throughout the nation and flew on Naval aircraft, to include the F/A-18C Hornet, the E-2C Hawkeye, the P-8A Poseidon, and the EA-18G Growler.

Midshipman 1st Class Kyle Burke, from Inver Grove, Minnesota, traveled to San Diego, to embark onboard the submarine USS San Francisco for a month-long cruise.

"I learned firsthand that good leadership within a division is essential to making it function," he said.

Marine option seniors participated in Marine Corps OCS, a six-week program held in Quantico, Virginia. During the challenging course, prospective Marines are evaluated on their moral, mental, and physical strength as well as their aptitude for leadership.

"The most valuable lesson I learned at OCS was that no matter how much you've accomplished, you can always work harder to make yourself a better leader. That's what you owe your Marines," said Midshipman 1st Class Daniel Tagliarini, from Madison, Connecticut, who successfully completed the training.

The NROTC midshipmen at the University of Wisconsin are among more than 4,000 students enrolled in the NROTC program at colleges and universities throughout the country. Upon graduation and completion of the NROTC program, the midshipmen will be commissioned as active duty officers in the Navy and Marine Corps.

The NROTC program, overseen by Rear Adm. Steven C. Evans, commander, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC) at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, was established to develop midshipmen mentally, morally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, loyalty and Navy core values in order to commission college graduates as Naval officers.

The officers will possess a basic professional background, are motivated toward careers in the Naval service and have a potential for future development in mind and character so as to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.

NSTC oversees 98 percent of initial officer and enlisted accessions training for the Navy, as well as the Navy's Citizenship Development program. NSTC includes Recruit Training Command (RTC), NROTC units at more than 160 colleges and universities, Officer Training Command (OTC) at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, and Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) and Navy National Defense Cadet Corps (NNDCC) citizenship development programs at more than 600 high schools worldwide.

For more information about NROTC, visit https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/. For more information about NSTC, visit http://www.netc.navy.mil/nstc/ or visit the NSTC Facebook pages at https://www.facebook.com/NavalServiceTraining/.

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