Lt. Thomas Belchik trains Midn. 1/C Elizabeth Byers, a Dolphin Club member, on a Los Angeles-class submarine crew trainer during a visit Nov. 6 to the Naval Submarine School in Groton, Conn.
Midshipmen at the Naval Academy have many opportunities to learn about the different communities they will become a part of upon their graduation. Those interested in submarine warfare have the luxury of joining the Dolphin Club, allowing them to take part in activities that reveal more about the community and share those experiences with like-minded Mids.
‘‘It's strictly voluntary,”said Lt. Thomas Belchik, the Dolphin Club’s officer representative. ‘‘We cater to Midshipmen who are interested in the submarine fleet, and we try to give them more than what you would get out of the classroom.”
The club meets two to three times a semester, with special trips to Naval Submarine Base New London near Groton, Conn., and Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia to see actual submarine operations. According to Belchik, these trips offer much information to the Midshipmen and help them dispel any preconceptions they might have.
‘‘A lot of people don't understand the submarine community,” said Belchik. ‘‘The Dolphin Club is a tight-knit group of Midshipmen, and what we try to instill in them are the close relationships submariners develop.”
While visiting Groton in November, the Midshipmen went to the Naval Submarine School to participate in simulations on the Los Angeles-class submarine crew trainer and had lunch with Submarine Group 2 Chief of Staff Capt. Frank Lowery.
The club also works in conjunction with the Naval Submarine League, whose members include American, British and Russian submarine officers, both active duty and retired. The Mids have lunch with them as well, further developing their knowledge and understanding of the sub community.
‘‘Dolphin Club has provided me some of the most memorable and rewarding experiences I've had thus far as a Midshipman,” said Midn. 2⁄C Jonathan Bottler. ‘‘It has allowed me to immerse myself in a service community that I feel more comfortable with as I learn about life as a future submarine officer.”
The club plans to continue its visits to Groton and Norfolk and Belchik hopes to introduce the Mids to a new state-of-the-art submarine escape trainer. For Bottler, he hopes to be selected for the submarine community next year, but is eager to serve regardless of his community assignment.
‘‘Although a career as an officer in the submarine community is extremely important to me, service to my country wherever the Navy or Marine Corps needs me is what it's all about; it's why we're all here,” said Bottler. ‘‘I will gladly answer that call to service in whatever warfare community I am needed.”
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