Summer Cruise

Summer cruise is an outstanding opportunity for Midshipmen to experience the real fleet while still in college and put into practice the skills they are learning inreturn Naval Science classes. Summer cruises are approximately 4 weeks long and are completely paid for by the Navy. Midshipmen can spend their cruises on board just about any platform in the fleet operating in a non-combat environment: surface ships including cruisers, destroyers, frigates, amphibious ships, and aircraft carriers; submarines including fast-attack Los Angeles class and Ohio class ballistic missile "boomers"; and aircraft including propellers, helicopters, and of course jets. These cruises can be East coast, West coast, Mediterranean, or even foreign exchange with an allied nation's Navy.

In order to be elligble for cruise, a Midshipmen must be on scholarship or achieve advanced standing while in the college program. There are three cruises available to Midshipmen; 3rd class, 2nd class, and 1st class. 

3rd class cruise occurs between the the freshman and sophomore year and is designed as an orientation cruise. At this point you may know you want to be in the Navy, but are not sure what you want to do when you get commissioned. The Navy therefore exposes you to all four of its communities. Midshipmen at Ohio State attend 3rd class cruise in San Diego, California and spend a week with each community. On surface week Midshipmen experience shipboard life, learn how to conn a ship, have weapons demonstrations by the U.S.Navy's Seals and much more. On submarine week Midshipmen spend a week onboard a nuclear submarine an experience all facets from the bridge and engineering to the sonar and torpedo rooms. During aviation week Midshipmen view static displays of naval aircraft, experience Naval Aviator training, and even get a couple of "hops!" And finally during Marine week, Midi's sleep in Marine baracks, learn to fire the M-16, and even conduct an amphibous assault launched from AAV's with Cobra helicopters overhead providing simulated cover fire!

2nd class cruise is known as the "blue jacket" cruise and orients you to the enlisted side of the fleet. Midshipmen are assigned a running mate, an enlisted petty officer, and experience everything they do. As a future officer, this gives you outstanding perspective as to how the enlisted live and work in the fleet.

1st class cruise is the officer orientation cruise. Usually by this point in your career as a Midshipman you have a good idea of what community you are interested in upon commissioning. This cruise attempts to pair you up with a junior officer in your desired community to learn what to expect upon commissioning and entrance into the active fleet.

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