(MILLINGTON, Tenn.) – Navy Midshipman Ernest Leysath from Augusta, Georgia, participated in the 2018 winter Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) ship selection draft as a future member of the Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) community.
More than 40 midshipmen from NROTC units around the country chose to serve as surface warfare officers. Each selecting midshipmen are ranked according to their grade point average, aptitude scores and physical fitness.“NROTC has given me an open eye to the world,” said Leysath. “It has upgraded my skills that I have obtained from NJROTC in high school, and professionally driven me into becoming a better leader and mentor to others. It has given me the opportunity to be able to hold my head up high on my campus, knowing that I am going into a different world from others that is confided and conjoined with many races, backgrounds, cultures, traits, and personalities. This program is a stepping stone in my life, that has given me the ability to see things from a much different perspective from my colleagues.”
According to their rankings, each midshipman provided a preference of ship or homeport to the junior officer detailer at the Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee. If these preferences were available, they were assigned as requested.
“When I get to my ship I am looking forward to training, training, and more training,” said Leysath. “I have no experience so I expect to be able to learn as much as possible as a young junior officer.”
Leysath, a 2014 Cross Creek High School graduate, has selected to serve aboard USS John Finn. Leysath is majoring in homeland security and emergency management while attending Savannah State University. Upon graduation, Leysath will receive a commission as a Navy Ensign and report aboard John Finn as a surface warfare officer.
Commissioned in 2017, John Finn is home ported at Naval Base San Diego. John Finn is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer that provides multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities. Destroyers can operate independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, expeditionary strike groups, and missile defense action groups.
“I am going to bring mentorship, followership, and leadership to my first ship, said Leysath. “I am not perfect, but I am able to make the best of a situation, learn from it, and move forward on in life.”
The midshipmen’s ship selection is not only a major personal milestone but also an important day for the ships in the fleet. Not only do the midshipmen choose where they are going to start their Navy career, but the ship they choose will also gain a motivated, eager, young officer to help lead and improve an already great team, according to Navy officials.
"NROTC units across the country instill essential warfighting fundamentals, professional core competencies, and ethics required in a Navy or Marine Corps officer," said Rear Adm. Mike Bernacchi, Commander, Naval Service Training Command, which includes the NROTC Program. "I am enormously proud of our graduating midshipman for completing this demanding program, and look forward to them joining the fleet."
"The SWO ship selection process means I am about to bombard on a different path then those who chose another route,” said Leysath. “I am about to be a leader of some of the most elite and professional sailors that have signed and raised their right hand to join the illustrious branch known as the Navy. I am given the opportunity to protect the seas, and I am given the task to help those sleep at night while I protect them during the day and morning.”