TRIDENT NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

January 19, 2001

People in the News

The Yard Patrol Squadron change of command ceremony will be held Jan. 30 at 4 p.m. in Memorial Hall.

Midn. 1/C Jason Sebastian, who served as vice commodore last semester, will move up to commodore, relieving Midn. 1/C Jake Dulle. Midn. 1/C Alberto Chinique will relieve Sebastian as vice commodore.

Midns. 2/C Gary Ross and Jeremy Crestetto will take over as pennant 2 and pennant 3 commanding officers, relieving Midns. 1/C Bennett Christman and Peter McMorrow respectively.

Midn. 2/C Gary Ross will also receive a letter designating him as yard patrol craft commanding officer.

February 2, 2001

People in the News

Midn. 2/C Gary Ross took over as pennant 2 commanding officer and received a letter designating him as Yard Patrol Craft commanding officer during a ceremony Tuesday. He also received a craftmaster pin. During the turnover ceremony he presented Midn. 1/C Bennett Christman, the outgoing commander of Pennant 2 with a pennant from the crew.

Also during the Yard Patrol Squadron change of command ceremony Midn. 1/C Jason Sebastian, who served as vice commodore last semester, moved up to commodore, relieving Midn. 1/C Jake Dulle. Midn. 1/C Alberto Chinique relieved Sebastian as vice commodore. Sebastian also received a craftmaster pin.

Midns. 2/C Jeremy Crestetto took over as pennant 3 commanding officer, relieving Midn. 1/C Peter McMorrow. Capt. Robert Wells, director of the division of professional development, pinned the new craftmasters.

April 27, 2001

Mids in the News

The Yard Patrol Squadron held a change of command Monday in Memorial Hall. Midns. 2/C Gary Ross and Jeremy Crestetto took over as commodore and vice commodore from Midns. 1/C Jason Sebastian and Al Chinique respectively.

Midns. 2/C Katie Abdallah and Jarrod Trant andMidn. 3/C Brian Sofen became the midshipmen commanding officers of Pennants 1, 2 and 3, relieving Midn. 1/C Mackalynn Harmon and Ross and Crestetto respectively.

May 4, 2001

Three outstanding companies in shiphandling competition

by Martha Thorn
Trident Feature Editor

It was a heartbreaker for 24th and 25th Companies and a time of rejoicing for 10th Company when the Yard Patrol Color Company Competition winner was declared. Only a few atoms and molecules separated the winner from the runners-up.

Defending champion from the 1999 - 2000 academic year, 25th Company beat out 24th Company, last semester's champion, by only two points in the semi-finals.

Edging out 25th Company in the semi-finals by one point, 10th Company held a score of 96.5 to 25th Company's 95.5 going into the finals.

In the finals 10th Company pulled ahead of 25th Company to win by a mere two points. Last semester 10th Company had also been in the running, placing second behind 24th Company. "It was very close," says Lt. Harold Blackmon, a seamanship and navigation instructor and coordinator of the competition that pitted the academy's 30 companies against each other in the at sea competition.

Capt. Robert Wells, director, division of professional development, commended all the teams for their professionalism and their improvement.

"Teamwork is what gave 10th Company the edge," Blackmon said. "It was a well put together team with a lot of involvement by the company officer and company chief. They had a good sense of team spirit. They navigated and communicated well and were very professional.

"The navigator, officer of the deck and conning officer all worked well together." Team leader Midn. 1/C Scott Wilbur pulled the eight-member crew into winners, and Lt. Dave Richardson, company officer, and BMC(SEAL) Mark Christenson supported the effort. However, Blackmon's eyes kept going to 10th Company's conning officer, Midn. 2/C Gary Ross, who recently became commodore of the Yard Patrol Squadron.

"Ross stood out in my mind," Blackmon said. "He got the YP underway and he brought it back in. His ship handling skills are well developed and he knows how to deal with the forces that affect ships. He'll go far if he chooses surface warfare."

Blackmon was also impressed by 25th Company's team leader, Midn. 1/C Peter McMorrow. "Both teams were impressive," Blackmon said, "They were both organized and motivated, but 10th Company just appeared a little more smooth and polished in the way they worked together."

The Destroyer Escort Commanding Officers Bowl was presented to 10th Company Wednesday during the noon meal announcements in King Hall. The crystal bowl is presented each year to the overall winner of the YP Color Competition.

October 26, 2001

Afloat day offers faculty underway experience

by Midn. 1/C Gary Ross
YP Power Squadron

The midshipmen yard patrol power squadron held the first Faculty Afloat Day of the 2001-2002 school year Oct. 18.

At 4 p.m. the sound of a ship's whistle filled the air and the deck plates of the yard patrol craft began to vibrate softly as they got underway. Standing officer of the deck, commonly called OOD, on "Pennant 2," named for the flags used to identify each ship in the squadron, was Pennant 2's captain, Midn. 1/C Jarrod Trant.

The conning officer, who safely maneuvers the YP along its navigational track, was Midn. 2/C Jaris McClain.

The YP power squadron, an extracurricular activity at the academy, is run by midshipmen. A safety officer on each boat offers advice to the mids as they learn the art of ship handling. Lt. John Schofield was Pennant 2's safety officer.

"I'm always happy when I'm underway," said Schofield. "It's comforting."

"I think the best part is getting an opportunity to go out on the water and take the family out," said Assistant Professor Virginia Lunsford-Poe from the history department. "It's nice to see what my midshipmen train on."

"We like to do all these activities. My kids are having a wonderful time."

Lunsford-Poe's daughter, Beatrice, 4, agreed.

"It's so pretty out here," she said. "I love being on the water."

The YPs steamed in a precision formation. Once in open water, the YPs began synchronized maneuvers to change courses.

"Coordination of ship movement is essential both in order to prevent mishaps with other traffic and in preparing midshipmen for similar ship tactics and movements for larger vessels and battle groups once we join our shipmates in the fleet," said Trant.

The squadron commodore grades the captain of each YP during underway periods. The grading is done on a point scale, with the best boat being awarded a "Battle E" type award, including a special flag and plaque in Luce Hall. The grading during Faculty Afloat Day focused on communications over the radio, station keeping (staying directly behind the boat in front), and safety.

The mids then performed a simultaneous man overboard drill. All three YPs threw a life-ring into the water on the port side. The race was on as each YP conning officer evaluated the winds, current, and local sailboat traffic, and maneuvered as quickly as possible to be the first YP to recover their "man."

"It's good to see all the watch-standers work together in accomplishing a task like a man overboard drill," said Midn. 1/C Jeremy Crestetto, squadron vice commodore. "It shows their teamwork and experience."

Faculty members and their guests enjoyed their experience onboard the YP.

"It's a thrill," said Sharron Dickson, whose cousin, Tom Hendricks, teaches in the computer science department. "This country means so much to me, and to think it's under such a threat ... I'm from California, so getting to come out here and do this is very exciting."

"I've only been here since August," said Assistant Professor Bill Stephen, who teaches chemistry. "And I haven't seen much. This is my first chance to get out and see things."

"I just like being on the water and seeing how things work at the Naval Academy," said Kathy Stephen.

Editor's note: The YP squadron meets Tuesdays and Thursdays during the school year to practice seamanship and navigation.

The squadron usually goes on three movement orders a semester. The YPs plan to make a port call to Alexandria, Va., Saturday through Sunday and to the Army-Navy game in Philadelphia Nov. 30 - Dec. 2. For more information, visit the web at: prodevweb.prodev.usna.edu/ypsquadron/index.htm/

JO2 Jennifer L. Wuest, Trident News Editor, contributed to this report.

April 19, 2002

People in the News

Congratulations to Midn. 1/C Gary Ross, YP power squadron commodore, as he received the Admiral deGrasse Award from the French government April 12.

The award is given to a midshipman who displays a great dedication and interest in navigation as well as leadership and professionalism in his or her contribution to yard patrol craft operations.

May 3, 2002

Companies battle for sea superiority

by Martha Thorn
Trident Feature Editor

Two companies demonstrated their ship handling talents before an audience that included the commandant of midshipmen, the director of the division of professional development, and the chairman and associate chairman of the seamanship and navigation department.

"That put a lot of pressure on the midshipmen," said Lt. Adam Schnitzer, coordinator of the Yard Patrol Color Company competition, "but they all did an outstanding job."

The 10th Company with conning officer Midn. 1/C Gary Ross and 29th Company with Midn. 3/C Sam Harris as conning officer emerged as the finalists in this year's YP Color Company competition.

Schnitzer said that 10th Company won with a "nearly flawless" performance and 29th committed only "a few minor errors."

"It was pretty close," Schnitzer said. "There was no real consensus as to which company was the best until Cmdr. (Richard) Pethybridge (associate chairman of seamanship and navigation department) initiated some 'casualties.' Those were the deciding factor. Mr. Ross had a little more experience at handling those types of situations."

The casualties included loss of a gyroscope and loss of the global positioning system. Maneuvering was made even more difficult when the YPs were asked to bring their stern facing the wind while trying to tie up to the pier.

"This is not a normal procedure," Schnitzer says, "and it's very difficult." Both boats responded well to the difficulties they encountered, but 10th Company was a little bit more prepared and just a little better, according to Schnitzer.

"Mr. Ross has a lot of organizational skill and is able to make his team work as a team," Schnitzer says.

This marks the second year in a row that 10th Company has emerged victorious. Both times its YP was conned by Midn. 1/C Gary Ross. The commodore of the YP Power Squadron, Ross just recently received the Admiral deGrasse Award.

This award from the French government is given to the midshipman who displays a great dedication and interest in navigation as well as leadership and professionalism in his or her contribution to yard patrol craft operations.

On the opposing team, Harris is also a member of the YP Power Squadron. He is working on his craftmaster qualification.

"This is unusual for a third class," Schnitzer says. "It's usually only second class that are able to qualify, but Mr. Harris is very close. He has all his signatures, and now he just needs to go in front of a board."

While the midshipmen demonstrated their navigational, teamwork and leadership skills on the water, a part of their success may have been due to the support they received from their company officers.

"Their company officers were definitely involved," Schnitzer said. "They paid a lot of attention to what was going on." Lt. David Richardson was 10th Company officer both last year and this year. Lt. Jeff Grant is 29th Company officer.

This year the competition was conducted somewhat differently from previous years with only 12 boats competing on the water. These companies were determined by the knowledge their eight-member teams displayed on a 50 question, multiple-choice test.

"The whole point was to put the best and most motivated on the water," Schnitzer says, a goal he achieved so well that only with some surprising dynamic exercises were they able to determine a winner.

"The point is that any company can win with the right preparation," Schnitzer says. "You just need to solidify your team and take advantage of the training available in Luce Hall."

Editor's note: Seamanship and navigation officers help the YP crews prepare for the competition in two training sessions before the semi-finals. The Destroyer Escort Commanding Officer's Bowl was presented to 10th Company Monday during the noon meal announcements in King Hall. The crystal bowl, a gift from the Royal Navy, is presented each year to the overall winner of the YP Color Competition.

May 17, 2002

Class of '02 raises the bar of excellence

by Martha Thorn
Trident Feature Editor

As graduation and commissioning nears, the accomplishments of the Class of '02 merit recognition. Whether the endeavor be academic or professional, the class's efforts have been outstanding.

The academic excellence of the Class of '02 shone when four midshipmen were named members of the USA TODAY All-USA Academic Third Team. Midns. 1/C Amy Jones, Emmy Spencer, Ben Heineike and Benjamin Drew shared the honor of being a part of this elite group of top students in the country.

Spencer was also selected as a Rhodes Scholar, and Heineike as a Marshall Scholar. Both Drew and Heineike received the honor of being Trident Scholars.

The class also boasts Gates, Jack Kent Cooke, FitzGerald and Pownall scholars.

Three graduates will go to Oxford and four to Cambridge. Other scholarships will be taken to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Johns Hopkins University.

There are 28 immediate civilian scholarship recipients; 17 students who will enter the Immediate Graduate Education Program at the Naval Postgraduate School; and 20 Voluntary Graduate Education Program participants. Fourteen '02 graduates did significant research as Trident Scholars.

In addition to academic excellence, leadership is also a forte of the class.

In the wake of the tragic events of Sept. 11, Jones, as brigade commander, orchestrated the role of the midshipmen as the academy went on high alert. To assist with the heightened security, the midshipmen ran security patrols on the grounds.

A political science forum was organized by Spencer to help others better understand the issues surrounding the events.

Midns. 1/C Allison Rogde, president of the Midshipman Action Group, and Jennifer Moore, president of the Campus Scouts, led the midshipmen in community service.

The Midshipman Action Group alone averages about 20,000 volunteer hours a year locally and nationally.

The Class of '02 excelled professionally as well. As commodore of the Yard Patrol Power Squadron and conning officer of the YP Color Company competition winner for two years, Midn. 1/C Gary Ross raised the bar of excellence in seamanship and navigation.

Midn. 1/C Jason Chen helped West Point celebrate its bicentennial by designing a bronze plaque as a gift from the Naval Academy to its sister service academy rival. He also designed the Class of 2002 crest.

A collaborative effort was made by the class in organizing a new challenge for the Class of '05 at the end of Plebe Summer.

Called "Brigade Trials," it served as the summer's culminating event that combined physical activities and team building exercises.

On many fronts, the Class of '02 has demonstrated its excellence. The time has come for them to bring this excellence to the fleet.

© 2003- Gary Ross. All rights reserved.