CORTRAMID is a four-week summer program for Midshipmen, aimed at familiarizing them with the mission, tasks and equipment of the four largest naval warfare areas: Aviation, Surface, Sub-surface and Marine Corps. CORTRAMID helps Midshipmen decide their career path and gives them first-hand knowledge of the Navy’s varied platforms.

‘‘We will have 1,100 Midshipmen on the East Coast this summer, and while the submarine community is not for everyone, we want to give the Midshipmen maximum exposure,” said Lt. Frank Conlow, one of the program coordinators for Commander, Submarine Force. ‘‘Even the Midshipmen who are not qualified for or taking the required classes to enter submarine service go, because they are our future leaders and need to see the Navy as a whole to understand what each community contributes.”

Groups of approximately 150 Midshipmen arrive each week to the base. While in Kings Bay, the Midshipmen go through the simulators at the Trident Training Facility. They experience the control room of a submarine in the dive trainer, work under pressure to repair damaged pipes and stop flooding in the wet trainer, and receive small arms training with the Fire Arms Training System.

‘‘They are shown all of the skills they will need as a junior officer on a submarine,” said Chief Petty Officer John Rector, Trident Training Facility. ‘‘They also get a good perspective of life on a ballistic missile (SSBN) submarine vs. life on a fast attack (SSN) submarine, so they can make an informed career choice.”

The ultimate experience comes when the Midshipmen depart for an overnight on a deployed submarine. One of the submarines to host Midshipmen this year was the Los Angeles-class submarine, USS Newport News (SSN-750), homeported in Norfolk, Va.

Commissioned in 1989, Newport News is 362 ft. in length, armed with Tomahawk missiles as well as MK-48 torpedoes and carries a crew of approximately 12 officers and 110 enlisted.

‘‘Midshipmen operations are a wonderful opportunity. Many Midshipmen stay up all night enjoying the experience,” said Newport News’ Commanding Officer Cmdr. David Alldridge. ‘‘We want them to have a great, great time and give them the flavor of submarine operations in a tactical situation. It’s also an opportunity for us to hone our own basic skills and show future officers what a good submarine looks like.”

The cruise is a hands-on event that starts with Midshipmen receiving instruction and practicing as the Conning Officer during simulated man overboard drills. The Conning Officer gives changes in direction and speed to the control room from the bridge, so the simulated man overboard can be retrieved. Midshipmen also take turns as the helmsmen, listening to the ocean in sonar, helping in the galley, and touring the engine room.

‘‘It is really a good opportunity,” said Electronics Technician Second Class Brandon Markseay, Newport News crew member. ‘‘They can be involved, ask questions and hang around.”

The Midshipmen had free reign of the boat. They visited all of the work centers and spoke to the crew members about operations, deployments and day-to-day life. Midn. 3⁄C Steven Holdcroft, a student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has been considering submarine service and found the cruise really informative. ‘‘It has given me a lot more insight. We’ve talked about long deployments and duty. I am a little nervous about committing to submarines, but I definitely have a lot more respect for the submarine service and especially for the crews of the SSNs,” Holdcroft said.

Chief of the Boat Master Chief John Woolbright explained what he considered the benefits of submarine duty.

‘‘The submarine community is for people who really want to serve and do hard jobs that need to be done. It’s a great opportunity. It’s challenging, there is good promotion and we are highly respected,” said Woolbright. ‘‘It is also very personal. You know everyone onboard and the names of their wives and children. You help each other personally and professionally,” Woolbright said.