(MILLINGTON, Tenn.) – Navy Midshipman Kayla Reddish from Jacksonville, Florida, 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.“My NROTC program has benefited me in so many ways personally and professionally that has helped me shine brighter in other organizations and places of employment,” said Reddish. “This program has definitely pushed me to places that I never thought I could go mentally and physically. The people around me have definitely instilled their belief in me that I will be a great officer.”
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.
“I’m looking forward to meeting new people, learning so many things, and being a sponge at my new ship,” said Reddish. “I’m excited to learn the ropes of my divisions and being the best officer I know how to be.”
Reddish, a 2014 Edward H. White High School graduate, has selected to serve aboard USS Makin Island. Reddish is majoring in business management while attending Savannah State University. Upon graduation, Reddish will receive a commission as a Navy Ensign and report aboard the Makin Island as a surface warfare officer.
Commissioned in 2009, Makin Island is home ported in San Diego and is the first U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship to be equipped with both gas turbines and an auxiliary propulsion system instead of steam boilers. Makin Island is a Wasp-class LHD, which are currently the largest amphibious ships in the world.
“I feel like I can bring a good laugh and some humility to my new ship,” said Reddish.
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 is important because it is an important first step in the right direction to becoming an officer,” added Reddish. “It is one of the first and biggest decisions that you will make because it will make or break your first tour as an officer. It means that my time has come and it’s so exciting to be taking these final steps to finally be an officer in the United States Navy.”