Norwich Naval ROTC midshipmen
visit naval base in Conn.

By William Knox
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

On Thursday, Oct. 26, 21 midshipmen from the Norwich University NROTC unit traveled to the Naval base at Groton, Conn. to tour the submarine force facilities there.

The trip included visits to the SSN Nautilus, the Navy Sub School, the Electric Boat shipyard, and the SSN Alexandria.

MIDN 3/c Edward Brancato, 19, an electrical engineering major from Brick Township, N.J., said he was glad he went on the trip.

"We got the down low on a lot of exciting new technology that's going to be coming out," Brancato said. "Everyone in the Navy should get a look at the role the subs play."

Navy Lt. Gregory Cisz was one of two Naval officers from the Norwich NROTC unit who accompanied the group and was in charge of organizing the trip this year.

"The idea behind the trip is two-fold," Cisz said. "One is to create interest in the sub force and the nuclear power community. On that end, it is kind of a recruiting trip," he said.

According to Cisz, the Navy needs officers, on both its subs and its aircraft carriers, who have been trained to operate the vessels' nuclear reactors.

"If we get people interested in nuclear power or submarines, maybe they'll want to do that," he said.

However, Cisz indicated that the trip was equally valuable to the Navy if some of the midshipmen were actually discouraged from joining the submarine force.

"In the big scheme of things, we want what our midshipmen want," Cisz said. "If I take some guy down there who is thinking about subs and sees that, 'Whoa, is this cramped. I can't do this.' Then it's also good [for the Navy]."

The value to the Navy is in the motivation of its officers to perform well in their position once they get out to the fleet.

"The last thing we want to do," Cisz said, "is send someone out into the fleet who winds up in their chosen profession and hates it. The whole idea here is to have students make the most informed choice possible."

Michael J Brown, 19, a mechanical engineering major from Groton, N.Y., said his goal of being a submariner was reinforced by going on the trip.

"I enjoyed everything we did," Brown said. "Watching the Seawolf class [submarine] being built was awesome. I hope next year we can go in the wet trainer."

Cisz also believes there was an educational benefit in the trip even for those who went and are not interested in the submarine or nuclear communities.

"Over half the midshipmen on the trip were Marine Corps Options who obviously aren't going to do nuclear power or submarines," Cisz said. "The idea was to give them some exposure to what their comrades in the naval service are doing in the submarine force and in the nuclear world."

The first stop on the tour was an early morning walk-trough of the SSN Nautilus, the US Navy's first nuclear powered submarine, which is permanently moored in the channel near the sub base. This was a great way to start the trip, Brancato said.

"My favorite part of the trip was getting on the Nautilus. I was really excited because it was my first time being on her," Brancato said.

After a quick tour of the boat, the group was led by Petty Officer Price, on a tour of the submariner school, where naval personnel receive the education that qualifies them for service aboard America's submarines.

MIDN 2/c Tori Marie Stitt, 20, a biology major originally from Tampa, Fla, was pleased with the opportunity to visit the school.

"This year was better than last year," Stitt said, "because I got to see some of the classes that the officers and enlisted go through. I got a better idea what goes on in training."

The highlight of the trip for many of the midshipmen came after lunch when the group paid a visit to Electric Boat, the subsidiary of General Dynamics that is responsible for building the Navy's most sophisticated submarines, including the new Seawolf class.

The final stop was a brief tour of the SSN Alexandria, a nuclear-powered, Los Angeles class, fast-attack submarine which is currently active in the fleet.

According to Cisz, the group's tour went beyond the scope of the regular tour given to civilian visitors of the sub.

"Because we are a NROTC unit," Cisz said, "we could provide military clearances for our students and we got to see a lot more than the standard tour that they give to high school and college groups."

The group's general feeling after returning to Norwich was that the trip was worthwhile, informative, and fun. The one complaint voiced by some was a lack of time for seeing all that the base had to offer.

"Next year I'm going to look into us possibly spending a little more time there so that maybe the students can get a little more out of it," Cisz said. "It would have been more informative and enjoyable if we could have spread it out over two days."

As for MIDN 1/c Sehl, 21, a criminal justice major from Oakdale, Calif. who will be entering the fleet next year, said subs remain little more than a curiosity.

Sehl said he "liked the commissary more than I liked the submarines. Submarines don't interest me at all. They're fun to look at, but I wouldn't like serving on them."

However, Brancato has a new goal for his career in the Navy as a result of a visit to the construction yard of the Navy's newest sub, PCU Jimmy Carter.

"I want to be on the Jimmy Carter commissioning crew now," Brancato said.

Back to Guidon index