A Midn. 4/C Phillip A. Giammanco prepares signal flags on board a Yard Patrol (YP) craft. 75 Mids deployed on the YPs to Norfolk, Va., for shipboard training Nov. 6-8. USNA photo by Midn. 4/C Dominic Montez.

Along with their academic and physical responsibilities, Mid-shipmen have to focus on their military training as well. YP training is part of that process and allows the Mids to experience firsthand what it’s like to operate at sea.

‘‘We already go out twice a week on the YPs, but this gives them an extended opportunity to learn,” said Midn. 1⁄C Eric Stromme, Midshipman commanding officer of the YP Squadron.

Traveling 14 hours each way to Virginia and back, the Midshipmen practiced various squadron movements and formation drills, while the enlisted crewmembers acquainted the lower class Midshipmen with the workings of the bridge.

‘‘I think it gives people a good opportunity to do something directly applicable to the Fleet,” said Stromme. ‘‘A lot of times here we’re just doing things in the classroom, but this is more like the Navy.”

Most of the transit took place at night, something the Mids don’t normally have the chance to do. The training focused on conducting drills in a more challenging environment and applying what they have learned about shipboard navigational lighting.

Upon arrival to Norfolk, they were granted liberty to get acquainted with the Norfolk area before leaving in the evening on Nov. 8. The trip gave the Mids a good chance to get a feel of how being on a ship underway works, and the different shipboard roles of enlisted and officers.

The enlisted crew of the YP craft, including a senior enlisted craftmaster, accompanied the Midshipmen to assist in their training and provide a unique hands-on experience that they won’t get in the class room.

‘‘We worked with engineering a lot,” said Stromme. ‘‘The engineer and the craftmaster have a lot of good experience.”

According to Stromme, interaction with the enlisted crewmembers is focused on the Plebes as they have the least experience so far working with the junior enlisted and understanding the dynamic between junior officers and their Chiefs.

For Stromme, his experience with coordinating a large trip such as this came with a lot of responsibilities and some unforeseen challenges.

‘‘A big surprise was that there are a lot the admin things you don’t really see,” said Stromme. ‘‘Dealing with the senior officers, making sure everything is done and turned in – you don’t really realize how much work goes into this.”

Working in conjunction with the rest of their activities, the YP training gives Midshipmen one more piece of experience on their path to becoming a junior officer in the Fleet.