CORTRAMID 2009 just kicked off yesterday, and if you'll indulge me, I'd like to ask a few favors:
For those already wearing the Wings of Gold:
1. Please take the time to show these kids all you can to help them make an informed decision regarding which community they might be interested in.
2. Light hearted kidding between communities or designators is expected, but be professional and don't go out of your way to bash others. Some of the finest officers I know don't wear wings, or even a Navy uniform, for that matter.
3. Invite a couple of them to the house for dinner or a cookout on the weekend.
4. Go to the Norfolk galley for breakfast and sit down with some of them. They'll ask a million questions, just like you wanted to when you were their age.
5. Arrange to take some of them up into the tower, or to the Bomb Farm @ FASO, or the sims, or to the boat, or any number of places.
6. If you get the good deal and are selected to fly some of them, realize the Skipper has placed a lot of confidence in your professional abilities to do all the thinking in a two seat airplane that day.
7. Don't go out of your way to make a guy sick just to say you did it. Most won't need any help getting there on their own.
8. I don't know what the SOP is for such stuff these days, but (within reason) let them do as much as they can. In my Dad's day, he used to let them actually rotate on takeoff and get as much stick time as possible. (Of course back then they used to wreck planes daily in the training Command, too.) Offer to let them try to taxi or talk on the radios. Obviously take the extra time in the brief to walk them through some of that stuff.
9. Take them to the Club for lunch or after work. Even if they can't drink, they can still get a feel for the place.
10. Make sure someone takes a few photos of them (before flight). It may be the only time some of them ever get to wear the cool kit, and it's a nice souvenir.
11. Remember you are a role model and recruiter, and we need talented young men and women.
If you are a Midshipman:
1. Ask lots of questions.
2. Take pictures.
3. Volunteer. Seriously. It's the only time in your Navy career when volunteering usually is a good deal.
4. Be on time.
5. When walking from Penn Hall to the Chow Hall look like you know how to walk in a group.
6. That catchy tune blaring over the loudspeaker at 0800? That's the National Anthem. You're supposed to stop what you're doing and salute.
7. Don't act too cool for school by copping an attitude. You don't know Jack.
8. Strive to hang out with people other than your classmates from school. Some of my best friends I met during CORTRAMID over 25 years ago.
9. Get out of your room and do something, even if it's to go to the gym, or the golf course.
10. Use the time to get / stay in shape before Marine Week.
11. Have fun.
12. If you happen to be in CORTRAMID @ Norfolk / Oceana, feel free to PM me if you want to see something but don't know who to ask. I'll do my best to help you out.
Thank you.
If you see son-of-a6intruder out there, tell him I said 'hi."
For those already wearing the Wings of Gold:
1. Please take the time to show these kids all you can to help them make an informed decision regarding which community they might be interested in.
2. Light hearted kidding between communities or designators is expected, but be professional and don't go out of your way to bash others. Some of the finest officers I know don't wear wings, or even a Navy uniform, for that matter.
3. Invite a couple of them to the house for dinner or a cookout on the weekend.
4. Go to the Norfolk galley for breakfast and sit down with some of them. They'll ask a million questions, just like you wanted to when you were their age.
5. Arrange to take some of them up into the tower, or to the Bomb Farm @ FASO, or the sims, or to the boat, or any number of places.
6. If you get the good deal and are selected to fly some of them, realize the Skipper has placed a lot of confidence in your professional abilities to do all the thinking in a two seat airplane that day.
7. Don't go out of your way to make a guy sick just to say you did it. Most won't need any help getting there on their own.
8. I don't know what the SOP is for such stuff these days, but (within reason) let them do as much as they can. In my Dad's day, he used to let them actually rotate on takeoff and get as much stick time as possible. (Of course back then they used to wreck planes daily in the training Command, too.) Offer to let them try to taxi or talk on the radios. Obviously take the extra time in the brief to walk them through some of that stuff.
9. Take them to the Club for lunch or after work. Even if they can't drink, they can still get a feel for the place.
10. Make sure someone takes a few photos of them (before flight). It may be the only time some of them ever get to wear the cool kit, and it's a nice souvenir.
11. Remember you are a role model and recruiter, and we need talented young men and women.
If you are a Midshipman:
1. Ask lots of questions.
2. Take pictures.
3. Volunteer. Seriously. It's the only time in your Navy career when volunteering usually is a good deal.
4. Be on time.
5. When walking from Penn Hall to the Chow Hall look like you know how to walk in a group.
6. That catchy tune blaring over the loudspeaker at 0800? That's the National Anthem. You're supposed to stop what you're doing and salute.
7. Don't act too cool for school by copping an attitude. You don't know Jack.
8. Strive to hang out with people other than your classmates from school. Some of my best friends I met during CORTRAMID over 25 years ago.
9. Get out of your room and do something, even if it's to go to the gym, or the golf course.
10. Use the time to get / stay in shape before Marine Week.
11. Have fun.
12. If you happen to be in CORTRAMID @ Norfolk / Oceana, feel free to PM me if you want to see something but don't know who to ask. I'll do my best to help you out.
Thank you.
If you see son-of-a6intruder out there, tell him I said 'hi."
), showed me, then let me try, some acrobatics in a T-34C (including him showing me what -2 and +4 Gs felt like), and I also got some stick time in an SH-60. Fun stuff, probably what sold me on aviation...
