(MILLINGTON, Tenn.) – Navy Midshipman Sherman Grant, from Montgomery, Alabama, participated in the 2019 spring Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) ship selection draft as a future member of the Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) community.
“NROTC has benefited me personally and professionally in numerous ways,” said Grant. “Personally, it has taught me to push myself to do the best. I have learned that in order to be the best, you have to train like the best.”
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.
“The SWO Ship Selection process to me means that the decision you make on your first ship is going to be the stepping stone becoming the great SWO that I want to be in life,” said Grant. “Personally, I really believe that the process is a honor that we get to choose where we want to serve our country.”
Grant, a 2015 Montgomery Catholic Preparatory High School graduate, has selected to serve aboard USS America. Grant is majoring in international studies at Hampton University. Upon graduation, he will receive a commission as a Navy Ensign and report aboard America as a surface warfare officer.
Commissioned in 2014, America is an amphibious assault ship homeported in San Diego. The America-class LHAs provide the Marine Corps with a means of ship-to-shore movement by helicopter in addition to movement by landing craft. LHAs have been participants in major humanitarian-assistance, occupation and combat operations in which the United States has been involved.
“On my first ship, I am mostly looking forward to managing my first task as an Ensign on a U.S. naval ship,” said Grant. “I understand that there are millions of people in this country that would love to do that very thing.”
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."
“I will bring personal and leadership traits to the ship,” added Grant. “The personal traits that I will bring to the ship include being cooperative, self-motivated and intuitive. The leadership traits that I will bring to the ship are my decision-making capabilities, accountability and my innovation skills.”