Eleven Naval Reserve Officer Candidate Corps and civilian students from UNC recently visited the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial in Wilmington for a behind-the-scenes tour of the engineering spaces of the giant ship.
The expedition, led by NROTC staff, gave students an opportunity for a hands-on learning experience to better understand the purpose behind the complex equipment and how all of the machinery works in tandem to accomplish a common goal.
Midshipman First Class Alexander Walden, an astrophysics major who will graduate in May 2016 and has been assigned to become a Naval Flight Officer, said “being able to look at the internal components was phenomenal. It gave me a better understanding of the machinery, and I’m looking forward to working on similar equipment when I fly with the Navy.”
Joe Biernacki, a civilian business administration major enrolled in NAVS 301, said “not being in NROTC, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. I hadn’t considered how all of the different jobs on board a ship fit together and how everyone has to be focused on their job to support all the different missions a ship can perform. It was really eye-opening.”
The Department of Naval Science was able to offer the experience, part of its “Strategic Initiatives for Leadership and Education,” due to support from the College of Arts and Sciences.
Submitted by Lt. James Barfoot
