Navy Midshipman David Medrano from Savannah, Georgia, participated in the 2018 winter Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) ship selection draft as a future member of the Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) community.
More than 40 midshipmen from NROTC units around the country chose to serve as surface warfare officers. Each selecting midshipmen are ranked according to their grade point average, aptitude scores and physical fitness.“NROTC has taught me discipline in many facets of everyday life, from the way I manage my schedule to the way I treat other people,” said Medrano. 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.“I am really looking forward to meeting the sailors I get to work with in my division,” said Medrano. “I also cannot wait to learn the ropes of being on a ship.”Medrano, a 2014 Savannah Arts Academy graduate, has selected to serve aboard USS Dewey.
Medrano is majoring in nuclear and radiological engineering and Korean while attending Georgia Institute of Technology. Upon graduation, Medrano will receive a commission as a Navy Ensign and report aboard Dewey as a surface warfare officer. Commissioned in 2010, Dewey is home ported at Naval Base San Diego. Dewey is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer that provides multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities. Destroyers can operate independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, expeditionary strike groups, and missile defense action groups.“When I report to the ship, I hope to bring an optimistic and positive mindset along with an understanding and ability to empathize with those around me,” said Medrano. 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."“This process has meant picking a future area and command that I will be a part of for the next few years,” added Medrano. “This is the start of my Naval career and I am really looking forward to it.”