by Kayla Good,
Navy Office of Community Outreach
(MILLINGTON, Tenn.) – Navy Midshipman Emma Gray from Bainbridge
Island, Washington, participated in the 2017 spring Navy Reserve Officer
Training Corps (NROTC) ship selection draft as a future member of the U.S.
Navy’s Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) community.
More than 280 midshipmen at Navy Reserve Officer Training
Corps (NROTC) units around the country have selected to serve in the Navy as
surface warfare officers. Each selecting midshipman is ranked according to his
or her grade point average, aptitude scores, and physical fitness.
“On a personal level, NROTC helped me become not only a
better leader but also a better person in general,” said Gray. “I could have
done a lot of other things in college that would have offered less challenge,
less hard work and more instant gratification, but I stuck with NROTC because I
knew it would push me to improve myself.”
According to their
rankings, each midshipman provided their 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 am grateful for
the opportunity to select my first ship and homeport,” said Gray. “The process
has allowed me to reflect on my personal and professional goals as I plan for
the rest of my career.”
Gray, a 2013 Bainbrdige High School graduate, has selected
to serve aboard USS Michael Murphy. She is majoring in computer science while attending Rice
University. Upon graduation, Gray will receive a commission as a Navy Ensign
and report aboard Murphy as a surface warfare officer.
Murphy is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer home-ported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Destroyers
are warships that provide multi-mission offensive and defensive
capabilities. Destroyers can operate independently or as part of
carrier strike groups, surface action groups, amphibious ready groups
and underway replenishment groups.
“Overall, I am excited about the opportunity to learn and to
prove myself in the fleet,” said Gray. “I enjoy traveling, so I am also excited
to live in a new place and see a little bit more of the world.”
The midshipmen’s selection of their ship is not only a
milestone for them but also an important day for the ships in the fleet. Not
only do the midshipmen choose where they are going to start their Naval career,
but the ship they choose will also gain a motivated, eager, young officer to
help lead and improve an already great team.
While NROTC units are spread out
across the country and vary in size, they all teach midshipmen the values,
standards, abilities and responsibility that it takes to become a Navy officers
and lead this nations sons and daughters in protecting freedom on the seven
seas.
“As a leader, I believe I serve not only the higher mission
but also my followers,” added Gray. “I try to emphasize both accomplishment and
compassion – getting the job done right is paramount, but every action should
be weighed against the personal cost to those who attempt it. I pay close
attention to the needs and concerns of my followers and want to help them
develop into leaders in their own right.”