Each summer, midshipmen from Tulane NROTC and units across the country participate in summer cruises designed to provide firsthand experience in the Fleet. These cruises offer midshipmen the opportunity to experience life at sea, gain exposure to the diverse communities of the Navy and Marine Corps, and participate in hands-on training and professional development opportunities. Explore the highlights below for a glimpse into the recent summer cruise experiences of Tulane midshipmen.
New Student Indoctrination (NSI):
Every NROTC journey begins at New Student Indoctrination (NSI), a 2.5-week summer training program held aboard Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois. All incoming Midshipmen Candidates complete NSI before beginning their first semester of college. The program establishes a common foundation in basic military instruction while introducing candidates to essential skills such as seamanship, firefighting, weapons handling, and other aspects of life in the Navy and Marine Corps.
Throughout NSI, candidates are challenged to develop the physical fitness, discipline, and resilience expected of future Navy and Marine Corps officers. They also learn military customs and courtesies, develop foundational leadership skills, and build the ability to work as a team. NSI also fosters lasting friendships and camaraderie among incoming midshipmen from across the country. By the time they arrive on campus in the fall, they have already developed a strong foundation of military knowledge, a sense of belonging within the NROTC community, and a network of peers ready to support them throughout their college experience.
Career Orientation and Training for Midshipmen (CORTRAMID):
The summer following their freshman year, midshipmen attend Career Orientation and Training for Midshipmen (CORTRAMID), a month-long program held in either San Diego, California (CORTRAMID West), or Norfolk, Virginia (CORTRAMID East). CORTRAMID introduces midshipmen to the diverse career opportunities available to them as future Navy and Marine Corps officers. Throughout the program, midshipmen rotate through each of the four major warfare communities: aviation, surface warfare, submarines, and the Marine Corps. Training opportunities include flying in naval aircraft, going underway aboard ships and submarines, participating in Marine Corps field training, and much more.
At each stop, midshipmen interact directly with the officers and Sailors who serve in these communities, gaining firsthand insight into their missions, responsibilities, and day-to-day experiences in the Fleet. By the time they return to campus in the fall, midshipmen have a broader understanding of the opportunities available throughout the Naval Service and are better prepared to make informed decisions about the career paths they hope to pursue.
Fleet Marine Force (FMF):
Between their sophomore and junior years, Marine-option midshipmen attend Fleet Marine Force (FMF) training, a roughly four-week program conducted at either Camp Pendleton, California, or Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. During this experience, midshipmen live and train alongside Marines in the operating forces, gaining firsthand exposure to the Marine Corps and its mission. The program introduces them to each element of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF), including ground combat, aviation, and logistics, through field exercises, hikes, tactical training, small arms instruction, and other hands-on experiences.
Equally valuable is the opportunity to work alongside Marines and junior officers, observe their daily responsibilities, and gain insight into the expectations placed on a Marine Corps lieutenant. FMF provides midshipmen with a better understanding of the wide range of career opportunities within the Marine Corps while helping them prepare for the physical and professional demands of Officer Candidates School (OCS) the following summer. It also serves as an important opportunity to experience the operating forces firsthand before commissioning and reporting to The Basic School (TBS).
"The FMF-West Summer Cruise was a major highlight for our 2/C Marine Options. Throughout the month, we gained experience with nearly every community in the United States Marine Corps. In addition to this hands-on exposure, we participated in two field exercises: one at the Infantry Immersion Trainer and another at a demolition range with Combat Engineers. We also completed multiple weapons ranges, including a Table 5 rifle qualification and a crew-served weapons range. To close out each week, we had liberty in the San Diego area, which I spent with approximately 15 midshipmen visiting Carlsbad, Mission Viejo, and San Diego for a Padres game. This experience gave us a great appreciation for everything Camp Pendleton has to offer and solidified my interest in being stationed there after commissioning." - MIDN 2/C Sorge, Marine Option
Second Class Navy Cruise:
The summer following their sophomore year, Navy-option midshipmen report to the Fleet for their Second Class Cruise, serving aboard a surface ship or submarine stationed at a U.S. or overseas port. During the cruise, each midshipman is paired with an enlisted Sailor, known as a "running mate," who provides firsthand guidance on shipboard life and daily operations. Midshipmen gain practical experience standing watches, working in engineering spaces, participating in drills and underway evolutions, and experiencing the day-to-day demands of life at sea. Cruise locations include Mayport, Florida, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Rota, Spain, Yokosuka, Japan, and numerous other Fleet locations around the world.
Experiencing the Fleet alongside enlisted Sailors provides midshipmen with an invaluable perspective on the people they will one day lead and the missions they will be responsible for carrying out. They return to campus with a deeper understanding of shipboard operations, the responsibilities of enlisted personnel, and the demands of life at sea. This experience also establishes a foundation of practical knowledge and familiarity with watchstanding and shipboard routines that prepares them for the officer-focused First Class Cruise the following summer.
"During my Second Class Cruise, I had the unique opportunity to participate in Sail250 activities as a midshipman temporarily assigned to USS Farragut (DDG-99), homeported in Mayport, Florida. Although my cruise lasted three weeks, we spent approximately one week in the heart of New York City. While there, we explored the city and participated in various events organized for the Sailors aboard Farragut. On the Fourth of July, we took part in an International Fleet Review and had the opportunity to visit the top of the Empire State Building. We were also hosted by several organizations, including the Freemasons at the Grand Lodge of the State of New York and the Staten Island District Attorney's Office. Outside of our official activities, I had the opportunity to see Stranger Things on Broadway and meet the cast afterward, which was an unforgettable experience. One of the most memorable aspects of Sail250 was meeting Sailors from navies around the world. I toured a Norwegian Coast Guard vessel, visited a German warship, and interacted with Sailors from Spain, Chile, and several other countries. With the FIFA World Cup taking place at the same time, New York City offered an incredible opportunity to experience different cultures and connect with Sailors from across the globe." - MIDN 2/C Hawthorne, Navy Option
"Over the summer, I completed an internship with the Undersea Warfighting Development Center (UWDC), where I supported emerging technology initiatives and gained a better understanding of the organization's mission and the many disciplines involved in undersea warfighting development. I also spent three days underway aboard USS Texas (SSN 775), which provided firsthand exposure to submarine operations and life in the Fleet. Outside of my daily responsibilities, I visited MIT Lincoln Laboratory to learn about advanced technologies and defense challenges and toured General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut, where I saw the scale, complexity, and teamwork involved in submarine construction. This experience demonstrated how technical research, operational requirements, and engineering come together to transform new ideas into real-world capabilities at sea. I look forward to applying these lessons to my Finance studies and future career in technology, defense, and public service." - MIDN 2/C Wood, Navy Option
"This summer, I spent three weeks aboard USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) during RIMPAC, the world's largest international maritime exercise. I was paired with the ship's Strike Officer, who is responsible for the destroyer's long-range strike capabilities, including its Vertical Launching System (VLS), missile inventory, and Tomahawk land-attack mission. By shadowing him, I gained firsthand insight into the work required to maintain these capabilities and ensure the ship is ready to execute its mission. This included tracking missile inventory, coordinating with the Weapons Department, and ensuring the launch system remained ready for employment.
I also worked alongside the Gunner's Mates responsible for maintaining the launcher and the Fire Controlmen who maintain the systems that support it. I assisted with troubleshooting issues to help ensure the system remained fully mission-capable. This experience demonstrated that a warship's combat capabilities depend on skilled Sailors performing detailed work every day. It also showed me the importance of a division officer understanding that work, supporting the Sailors responsible for it, and maintaining high standards across the division.
While in port, I toured ships from several partner nations and gained insight into how Sailors from different navies live and operate. We then spent a week underway, where I stood watches and participated in the crew's daily routine. Toward the end of the cruise, I had the opportunity to fly by MH-60R helicopter from the destroyer to USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), where I spent a night aboard the aircraft carrier before flying home aboard a CV-22 Osprey. Experiencing the Fleet from a destroyer, helicopter, aircraft carrier, and tiltrotor aircraft in just three weeks gave me a unique appreciation for the capabilities of the Navy-Marine Corps team and reinforced why the training we conduct at Tulane NROTC matters." - MIDN 2/C Martin, Navy Option
First Class Navy Cruise:
The summer before their senior year, Navy-option midshipmen complete their First Class Cruise, their final Fleet experience before commissioning. Midshipmen have the opportunity to participate in specialized cruises across a variety of Navy communities, including surface warfare, submarines, aviation, Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL), Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), and Information Warfare.
Unlike the Second Class Cruise, which focuses on experiencing life in the Fleet from an enlisted perspective, the First Class Cruise places midshipmen in an officer-focused training environment. Each midshipman is paired with a junior officer sponsor at their host command, providing the opportunity to stand watches, participate in training and operations, and observe firsthand how division officers lead Sailors, manage teams, and carry out their responsibilities. This experience offers valuable insight into the community they hope to join and helps prepare them to make informed service selection decisions just months before commissioning.
Tulane NROTC midshipmen have also had the opportunity to attend the SEAL Officer Assessment Course (SOAC), with multiple midshipmen earning selection for follow-on training. From traditional warfare communities to some of the Navy's most specialized career paths, the opportunities available to Tulane midshipmen are extensive.
"During my summer cruise aboard USS Lassen (DDG 82), we were sent out as a support vessel for the pre-commissioning shock trial of USS Ted Stevens (DDG 128), a test in which the Navy detonates large explosive charges near a new ship to prove it can survive combat damage. From a few nautical miles away, we watched a huge explosion go off right next to the Ted Stevens and felt the blast even from that distance. When she appeared to come through the trial in good shape, Lassen turned back toward port. Our trip home didn’t last long. At about 2200, we got a call that Ted Stevens was dead in the water, with no propulsion and no power. We turned around and stayed up all night preparing to tow her all the way back to port, and in the middle of the night our small boats made runs to deliver water to her crew. At 0300, just before we were set to throw lines from our stern to her bow, her engineers got a generator running and brought one shaft back online. The tow was no longer needed, and we escorted her at 7 knots the rest of the way home." - MIDN 1/C Thompson, SWO(N) Select
Marine Officer Candidates School (OCS):
Unlike their Navy-option counterparts, Marine-option first-class midshipmen spend the summer before their senior year at Officer Candidates School (OCS) in Quantico, Virginia, completing the six-week Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) Seniors course. OCS is designed to evaluate and develop future Marine Corps officers through a demanding program that tests leadership, physical fitness, military knowledge, and the ability to perform under pressure. Candidates are continuously challenged through rigorous physical training, leadership evaluations, tactical instruction, and field exercises.
Unlike their Navy-option counterparts, Marine-option first-class midshipmen spend the summer before their senior year at Officer Candidates School (OCS) in Quantico, Virginia, completing the six-week Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) Seniors course. OCS is designed to evaluate and develop future Marine Corps officers through a demanding program that tests leadership, physical fitness, military knowledge, and the ability to perform under pressure. Candidates are continuously challenged through rigorous physical training, leadership evaluations, tactical instruction, and field exercises.
The knowledge, discipline, and leadership skills developed through Fleet Marine Force (FMF) training and three years of preparation with the battalion are put to the test at Quantico. Midshipmen who successfully complete OCS return to campus with a significant milestone behind them, having demonstrated their potential to lead Marines. They are one step closer to earning their commissions as Marine Corps second lieutenants upon graduation.
