SAN DIEGO – Ensign Samantha Moon, a native of Colleyville, Texas, was inspired by the encouragement of family members to join the Navy.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown |
“Both of my parents did ROTC in college,” she said, “My brother also went to the Air Force Academy.”
Moon, a 2015 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, is training to become a surface warfare officer, and getting her leadership training at the Basic Division Officer Course (BDOC), part of Surface Warfare Officers School San Diego.
She credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Colleyville.
“My father worked for the military for many years," said Moon. "So the lessons he taught me have carried over, having integrity, standing up for yourself, putting your all into your work, and having a presence.”
Moon, a 2015 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, is training to become a surface warfare officer, and getting her leadership training at the Basic Division Officer Course (BDOC), part of Surface Warfare Officers School San Diego.
She credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Colleyville.
“My father worked for the military for many years," said Moon. "So the lessons he taught me have carried over, having integrity, standing up for yourself, putting your all into your work, and having a presence.”
BDOC is an intensive, nine week course of instruction designed to provide foundational classroom training to prospective surface warfare officers.
“I enjoy working with the virtual trainer to learn how to drive a ship, that's huge," said Moon. "The professors are highly knowledgeable and enthusiastic about teaching new ensigns.”
The course places emphasis on classroom instruction and Conning Officer Virtual Environment (COVE) simulators, which simulate every class of ship in the U.S. Navy and all their homeports, in addition to many routine ports of call around the world. COVE reinforces concepts in navigation, seamanship, and shiphandling. BDOC also provides instruction on maritime warfare, divisional officer fundamentals, engineering, leadership and damage control.
The mission of Surface Warfare Officers School is to ready sea-bound warriors to serve on surface combatants as officers, enlisted engineers and enlisted navigation professionals to fulfill the Navy's mission maintaining global maritime superiority.
Once service members finish training they are deployed around the world putting their skill set to work aboard Navy ships, such as aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, amphibious warfare ships, mine warfare ships and littoral combat ships.
“I'll be going to USS Blue Ridge in Yokosuka," said Moon. "I look forward to leading the sailors and getting to drive the ship.”
There are many sacrifices and goals one must achieve to be selected as a surface warfare officer and Moon is most proud of earning her commission as a naval officer and getting her first choice ship.
“There was one slot left for Blue Ridge and I went out and took it,” said Moon. “I minored in Japanese in college so going to Japan was a dream for me early on. Also, the legacy of Blue Ridge is unmatched.”
Surface warfare has been a part of world history for more than 3,000 years, and the United States has its stamp on that history with actions ranging from the American Revolution to modern day operations at sea around the world.
America is a maritime nation, and the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.
“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”
As Moon and other surface warriors continue to train, they take pride serving their country in the United States Navy.
“I definitely think serving in the Navy is about putting others before yourself," said Moon. "We talk a lot about servant leadership and I'm excited to develop that out in the fleet.”
Surface warfare has been a part of world history for more than 3,000 years, and the United States has its stamp on that history with actions ranging from the American Revolution to modern day operations at sea around the world.
America is a maritime nation, and the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.
“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”
As Moon and other surface warriors continue to train, they take pride serving their country in the United States Navy.
“I definitely think serving in the Navy is about putting others before yourself," said Moon. "We talk a lot about servant leadership and I'm excited to develop that out in the fleet.”