ALEXANDRIA, VA- Navy Midshipman Kendall Sapp, from Alexandria, Virginia, participated in the 2019 spring Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) ship selection draft as a future member of the Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) community.“NROTC allowed me to develop my leadership skills and learn to work with different types of individuals to complete a common goal,” said Sapp.
According to their rankings, each midshipman provided a preference of ship or homeport to the junior officer detailer at the Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee. If these preferences were available, they were assigned as requested.
“This is an important stepping stone in my career that will allow me to get where I want to go,” said Sapp.
Sapp, a 2014 Annandale High School graduate, has selected to serve aboard USS New York. Sapp is majoring in computer science at Hampton University. Upon graduation, Sapp will receive a commission as a Navy Ensign and report aboard New York as a surface warfare officer.
Commissioned in 2009, New York is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock homeported at Naval Station Mayport. Amphibious transport dock ships are warships that embark, transport and land elements of a landing force for a variety of expeditionary warfare missions.
“I am really looking forward to reporting to my ship to find out what the Navy is truly like,” said Sapp.
The midshipmen’s ship selection is not only a major personal milestone but also an important day for the ships in the fleet. Not only do the midshipmen choose where they are going to start their Navy career, but the ship they choose will also gain a motivated, eager, young officer to help lead and improve an already great team, according to Navy officials.
“NROTC units across the country instill essential warfighting fundamentals, professional core competencies, and ethics required in a Navy or Marine Corps officer,” said Rear Adm. Mike Bernacchi, Commander, Naval Service Training Command, which includes the NROTC Program. “I am enormously proud of our graduating midshipman for completing this demanding program, and look forward to them joining the fleet.”
“I hope I bring a great work ethic and the determination to get the job done,” added Sapp.
