Summer Training
During the summer, midshipmen have the unique opportunity to visit the various branches of the Navy and get a first-hand look at what lies ahead in their future as Naval officers. On the summer training cruises, you could find yourself conning a Navy warship, or getting "stick time" in one of the various Navy planes or helicopters. There is also an opportunity to glide quietly beneath the seas in one of the Navy's nuclear submarines.
Summer training cruise is also a time to travel. Your ports of call may include any coastal cities in the world. Specifically, there are cruises which take you to the Mediterranean Sea, the Western Pacific, South America, and the North Atlantic. On summer cruises, midshipmen have the opportunity to travel and fully integrate into the Navy-Marine Corps team while receiving active duty pay. Training periods are normally four to eight weeks in duration.
Navy options
Rising sophomores: CORTRAMID
Beginning the summer prior to the sophomore year, four- year scholarship midshipmen participate in the Career Orientation and Training for Midshipmen (CORTRAMID). This is a four-week training program where midshipmen are indoctrinated in each of the warfare communities in the Naval service. Midshipmen will spend a week with a Naval Flight Squadron where they will get the chance to fly one on one with an instructor. A week is spent on board a surface ship. Another week will be spent on board a nuclear submarine, underway at sea. The final week of CORTRAMID, Midshipmen are brought to either Camp Lejune or Camp Pendleton where they spend a week learning about the United States Marine Corps.
Rising juniors: Second-class cruise
In the summers prior to the junior and senior year, all Navy option midshipmen participate in either Surface Warfare, Submarine, Aviation, Special Operations, or Foreign Exchange summer training cruises. The second-class cruise is also known as the "enlisted cruise," receiving enlisted crew as running mates and performing shipboard jobs with them.
Surface warfare cruise: Get hands-on experience in some of the most high-tech and sophisticated warships in the world. Midshipmen train on board the ships of the U.S. fleet for up to 6 weeks, learning and practicing the art of surface warfare. Midshipmen can be assigned to any department from Navigation to Engineering, but observe and experience almost every aspect of life aboard a ship. Any ship around the world is eligible and all travel expenses are covered by the Navy. Port calls in almost any foreign country are certainly experienced and Midshipmen are given liberty to leave the boat with the rest of the crew to experience the hospitality of the locals.
Submarine warfare cruise: Summer training opportunities in the 'silent service' include cruises on both ballistic missile (SSBN) and fast attack (SSN) submarines. Midshipmen are afforded an excellent opportunity to train with the exciting and highly technical nuclear Navy. Submarine cruises may be based out of Hawaii, Washington, Virginia, or many other foreign ports.
Rising seniors: First-class cruise
Rising seniors receive a Junior Officer as running mate, and begin the experience of leading men and running the ship. First-class cruises options incude those offered on the second-class cruise (see above) as well as those listed below:
Aviation cruise: In summer aviation training, midshipmen are attached either to land-based squadrons or deployed aboard aircraft carriers. They receive in-depth simulator training as well as actual flight time aboard naval aircraft.
Special Operations cruise: Midshipmen with an interest in Special Warfare and the highest physical test scores may participate in summer training with the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) community or Naval Special Warfare (NSW - SEAL Teams). These physically demanding training evolutions involve specialized dive training, weapons training, small boat operations, PT, PT, and more PT.
Foreign Exchange (FOREX) cruise: See the world on a foreign exchange cruise. Visit one of the numerous NATO countries and see how they operate their ships. A guaranteed way to visit some of the most interesting ports in the world.
Marine options
Rising sophomores: CORTRAMID
Both Navy and Marine options attend CORTRAMID during the summer before sophomore year (see above for more information).
Rising juniors: Mountain Warfare
Midshipmen who have selected the Marine Option course in NROTC attend Mountain Warfare School in Bridgeport, CA. This is a 10-15 day program covering techniques for surviving in the wilderness, fitness regimens, and other important information for midshipmen planning to attend the "Bulldog" OCS the following summer. This program offers unparalleled interation with Marine NCOs.
Rising seniors: Officer Candidate School (OCS)
In place of the summer training cruise that Navy option midshipmen take before their senior year, Marine Option midshipmen participate in OCS at Quantico, VA. This six week course challenges the Marine Option midshipmen to lead and tests their physical ability to its fullest. At the end of this program each MO is ranked in his/her year group. The rank is determined by his/her leadership performance at Bulldog (50% of total grade), academic record (25%), and performance during fitness testing (25%).
Midshipmen undergoing damage control training on summer cruise.