Sailors assigned to USS Constitution traveled to Maine Maritime Academy from March 23 to March 24, 2018 to teach teamwork and leadership to New England JROTC students during Maine Maritime's Leadership Challenge Weekend.

Constitution Sailors taught the JROTC students teamwork and leadership through participation in 1812-era gunnery and pike drills.

"The gun and pike drills show the students where Sailors came from," said Ship's Serviceman 2nd Class Jeremy Lusk, assigned to USS Constitution. "The drills show them that Sailors didn't always have the latest technology like missiles and radars. The drills show the students that we as Sailors are still able to get things accomplished and that we had an effective means of doing it back in the 18th and 19th centuries."

Beginning at 9 a.m., Constitution Sailors showed the JROTC students how to perform gunnery drills by teaching them each individual part of the process that it would take to load and fire an 1812-era 24-pound long gun. Nine to fourteen Sailors manned each gun and would spend time every day practicing the firing procedures for their assigned positions.

Constitution Sailors also taught the JROTC students how to properly perform 1812-era pike drills. During the intense naval combat of the 18th and 19th centuries, Sailors defended their ships from enemy combatants using boarding pikes.

"The gun and pike drills get everyone working together," said Lusk. "The drills give the students a set of instructions to follow and helps them learn that it takes more than one person to do it. If everyone works together they can get the job done. A single person can't pull a cannon by himself or herself. A single person can't be the whole pike team. The students have to work together to complete these tasks."

Maine Maritime Academy has hosted Leadership Challenge Weekend for the past three years to give JROTC as well as ROTC students exposure to military life and leadership challenges.

"This weekend has three very distinct purposes, all of which work well together." said Capt. Timothy M. Cooper, Maine Maritime Academy NROTC Unit Commanding Officer and Maine Maritime Academy's Professor of Naval Science. Cooper was also USS Constitution's 71st Commanding Officer. "Maine Maritime invites all these JROTC programs from around the region to come to the school so that the high school students get exposure to this institution and all the things they can learn here should they choose to pursue a career in any maritime military branch of the United States armed forces."

Cooper said the impact for the students will be great and the event gives everyone more exposure than they have gotten before.

"My ROTC students are not anywhere near a naval installation," said Cooper. "These future officers, my midshipmen, don't get an opportunity to interact with enlisted service members. I have one enlisted service member on my staff but he's only one person. He can only provide one perspective. Having a chance for them to meet even briefly more Sailors is something that can only benefit them."

USS Constitution, America's Ship of State, actively defended sea lanes against global threats from 1797 to 1855. The World's Oldest Commissioned Warship Afloat, Constitution embodies 220 years of maritime heritage and unwavering service to her country. Now a featured destination on Boston's Freedom Trail, Constitution and her crew of active-duty U.S. Navy Sailors offer community outreach and education about the ship's history and the importance of naval sea power to more than 500,000 visitors each year. Constitution is berthed at Pier One in Charlestown Navy Yard.

For more news and information on USS Constitution, visit: www.history.navy.mil/ussconstitution or www.facebook.com/ussconstitutionofficial

For more news from USS Constitution, visit www.navy.mil/.