Thirty one Navy and Marine Corps midshipmen from various colleges embarked amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) May 29 to June 22 for a summer cruise.

The summer cruise is a vital educational evolution for midshipmen, providing practical firsthand experiences for Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) midshipmen. During their summer cruise, midshipmen receive training, instruction and insight from junior Sailors, Chief Petty Officers and commissioned Officers to expose them to the operational environment and capabilities of an amphibious assault ship, along with the roles and responsibilities they may experience in the future as commissioned officers.

"Like every summer cruise, these midshipmens' eyes were opened to the challenges of leading at sea and to the everyday life of our junior enlisted and junior officers. No Naval Academy or NROTC classroom can replicate the essence of being a Naval Officer and leading people," said Capt. Benjamin J. Allbritton, Boxer's commanding officer.

Midshipmen were assigned "running mates" from every department to learn how each department works together to achieve Boxer's mission. In this capacity they worked side by side with Boxer Sailors performing countless daily tasks.

"Planning was a little hectic, but once we got all the running mates established, everybody took charge and took their midshipmen under their wing to train them to the best of their ability," said Lt. j.g. Chloe Pina, Boxer's midshipman coordinator for this year's iteration of summer cruise.

The summer cruise is designed to complement classroom training to provide a well-rounded experience for midshipmen.

"We took a lot of academic classes," said Midshipman 2nd Class Daniel Vander Meer, a student at Point Loma Nazarene University. "There are classes on the Navy in general, like an introduction to the Navy, where we learned the different enlisted ratings, career fields and different Navy ships and their purposes."

A midshipman's rank is dependent on their year of schooling. Different ranks attend cruises for different purposes, 1st classes receive more direct training from officers, and 2nd classes and below learn from enlisted personnel.

"We ended up shadowing enlisted Sailors, and honestly, it was a great learning experience," said Midshipman 3rd Class Alex Flores, a student from the University of San Diego. "I didn't know much about what they did on ships or the different jobs and the role they play. It was a really interesting experience to see the daily lives of enlisted Sailors."

Pina said that she embarked both USS San Diego (LPD 22) and USS Peleliu (LHA 5) for summer cruises as a midshipman, and the experience made her want to return to an amphibious ship.

"The words of wisdom I have for our midshipmen are to try and get the most out of your summer cruise," said Pina. "It's the only time when you can explore the entire ship and familiarize yourself with how this floating city operates so smoothly while striving to accomplish the Navy's mission."

Summer cruises aim to give midshipmen training in a real-world setting and provide them shipboard experience. Upon completion of their cruise, the midshipmen will return to their respective colleges and continue toward their goal of becoming commissioned Naval Officers. A second group of midshipmen is scheduled to come aboard Boxer June 28.

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