Throughout the summer, Patrol Squadron (VP) 46 hosted several Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) and Naval Academy Midshipmen on their summer cruise training. This experience is designed to expose midshipmen to various warfare communities so they can make an informed career decision. 

These future officers come from universities around the country and can choose to do their summer training with a surface, subsurface, aviation, or Marine Corps unit. 

While attached to VP-46, the Midshipmen experienced many facets of naval aviation.

“Our overall goal is to expose the Midshipmen to not only life in a patrol squadron, but to all the various aviation communities here at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island,” said Lt. Marcus Anthony, VP-46 Midshipman training officer.

The Midshipmen had the opportunity to fly in a P-3C Orion on tactical training missions. They were shown how to inspect their survival gear, how to pre-flight the plane, and even got a chance to sit in the pilot seat and follow along on the controls.

Each Midshipman also had a chance to takeoff, fly, and land in the fully visual P-3 flight simulator. 

“Getting to fly in the simulator was a wonderful experience and a lot of fun,” said Midshipman Dave Garcia, who will be a senior at the Naval Academy.

To help round out their experience, each Midshipman was offered an opportunity to fly with other commands aboard Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI). 

Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131 took the midshipmen flying in the EA-6B Prowler, providing a valuable insight into the electronic attack community. They also had the opportunity to fly in a MH-60S helicopter with the NAS Whidbey Search and Rescue team. 

“From the moment we got here, all the officers took us in and showed us what it means to be an officer and a naval aviator,” said Midshipman Mike O’Connor, who will be a senior at the University of Colorado this fall. O’Connor is planning on selecting aviation for his naval career. 

Upon the completion of their summer cruise training with VP-46, each Midshipman returned for their fall semester with many unique experiences to share and a greater understanding of what a career in naval aviation involves.