Photo Courtesy U.S. Naval Academy (USNA)
Annapolis, MD - U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) midshipmen from the Class of 2026 assigned as Surface Warfare Officers (SWO) selected the first ship they will serve on after graduation and commissioning during Ship Selection in Alumni Hall, Feb. 5.
Ship Selection is the culmination of the service assignment process for midshipmen assigned to serve as SWOs upon graduation and commissioning. As SWOs, these midshipmen will be in charge of any number of shipboard operations while at sea, and are trained extensively to maintain and operate Navy ships and their systems, and lead divisions of their crew.
Before the ceremony, the midshipmen heard from speakers that included Adm. James Kilby, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, and Lt. Gen. Michael Borgschulte, USNA 66th Superintendent.
“As we celebrate our newly selected surface warfare officers tonight, it should bring you great pride in knowing that we are, at our core, a sailing service,” said Borgschulte. “Our Naval Academy was founded on the deckplates of a warship.”
Kilby added “If you’re like me, you’re going to fall in love with the sea, and you’re going to fall in love with leading Sailors. I am absolutely certain that every single one of you is more capable than you may now believe.”
Photo Courtesy U.S. Naval Academy (USNA)
After selecting their ship, each midshipman was greeted by Vice Adm. Brendan McLane, Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic, Naval Surface Force, Pacific Fleet, Rear Adm. Joseph Cahill, Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic, and Rear Adm. Derek Trinque, Director, Surface Warfare Division, N96, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
Midshipmen select their ships based on order of merit, and are only permitted to choose from the ships still available at the time their name is called.
The Class of 2026 first selection went to Midshipman (MIDN) 1st Class (senior) Jackson Smits, an Operations Research major from Shawano, Wisconsin.
Ship placards with a white background are conventional only. Red placards are nuclear only, green placards are for the engineering community only, and purple represent international options. Yellow placards represent SWO option officers, which includes intelligence, information professional, cryptologic warfare, and oceanography. Blue placards, known as “blue chips”, are available to midshipmen, who based on performance during their summer cruise, were awarded a reserved spot on that specific ship by the commanding officer. If the blue chipped midshipmen don’t choose their reserved spot, the ship is replaced with a white placard that becomes available to other midshipmen who have not yet chosen.
“Our mission has remained steadfast and the same, which is to maintain, train, and equip combat-ready naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas,” said Borgschulte. “Tonight, you aren't just picking a ship, you are stepping into your place in naval history. The horizon is yours, surface warriors, now go take the con.”
As the premier undergraduate college of our country’s naval service, the Naval Academy prepares young men and women to become professional officers of competence, character, and compassion in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
