by Kayla Good,
Navy Office of Community Outreach
(MILLINGTON, Tenn.) – Navy Midshipman Lauren Kearney from Morrison,
Colorado, 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 high standards and expectations have encouraged me to
always push for 100 percent effort and to not accept complacency, not only with
respect to NROTC activities, but in my academics, extra-curricular, and in
every challenge I face,” said Kearney. “It’s taught me how to find motivation
in difficult times, to take initiative always and seek opportunities for
improvement.”
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.
“Fundamentally,
the selection is exciting because it’s a culmination of all the effort put
forth in an NROTC career,” said Kearney. “It’s the last big celebration, so to
speak, before commissioning and it’s an excellent milestone that motivates you
to push through the last of your undergraduate classes. You’re not only
selecting a ship, but selecting an environment in which to build your
foundation as an officer and to qualify as a surface warfare officer.”
Kearney, a 2013 Mullen High School graduate, has selected to
serve aboard USS John S. McCain. Kearney is majoring in materials science and engineering
while attending Northwestern University. Upon graduation, she will receive a
commission as a Navy Ensign and report aboard McCain as a surface warfare
officer.
McCain is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer home-ported in Yokosuka, Japan. 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.
“I’m looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead:
getting qualified, running a division,” said Kearney. “I’m excited to be able
to hone the leadership and foundational skills I’ve learned through NROTC and
exercise them in a rigorous environment.”
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.
“I consider myself to be perseverant, committed, and
reliable, and I believe I bring enthusiasm for the job at hand as well,” added
Kearney. “I know I have a lot to learn, and am eager to learn and do my best in
every capacity possible.”