Monday, February 20, 2017

Jacksonville, Fla. Native participates in NROTC Ship Selection Draft

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Theodore Quintana, Navy Office of Community Outreach

(MILLINGTON, Tenn.) – Navy Midshipman Breanna Emmons from Jacksonville, Florida, 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.

“The NROTC program has taught me the leadership and organizational traits to work within a professional environment and work alongside with various components inside a chain of command,” said Emmons. “The NROTC program has also provided me with the opportunity to obtain a bachelor’s degree of my choosing and a future within the United States Navy.”

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.

“The SWO ship selection is an important milestone to those who have completed and gained their bachelor’s degree,” said Emmons. “It is the stepping stone towards a future serving within the United States and having the ability to serve on a ship of my choosing.”

Emmons, a 2013 Robert E. Lee High School graduate, has selected to serve aboard USS Kearsarge. Emmons is attending Savannah State University. Upon graduation, Emmons will receive a commission as a Navy Ensign and report aboard Kearsarge as a surface warfare officer.

Kearsarge is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship home-ported in Norfolk, Virginia. According to Navy officials, modern amphibious assault ships project power and maintain presence by serving as the cornerstone of the amphibious ready group and expeditionary strike group.

“When I arrive to my ship, I am looking forward to beginning my process as a Junior Officer,” said Emmons. “I am eager to learning and qualifying to be a SWO and working with various individuals from diverse backgrounds.”

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.

Personal and leadership traits that I will be able to provide to my ship is that I am a very honest person with a high level of accountability,” said Emmons. “I am also work-driven, enthusiastic and creative.”