Norwich University Midshipmen Spend a Day Learning About the Submarine Force

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By Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg, Commander, Submarine Group Two Public Affairs

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Thirty four midshipmen from Norwich University, in Northfield, Vermont, traded a day in the classroom for a day at Naval Submarine Base New London, Conn., Oct. 7.

Rear Adm. Rick Breckenridge, commander, Submarine Group Two, met with the visiting midshipmen during their visit to briefly discuss the submarine force.

"Opportunities to meet with the next generation of naval officers from universities such as Norwich is a sense of pride for me, especially those who plan to pursue the submarine force upon their commissioning," said Breckenridge.

Breckenridge shared his path into the U.S. Navy with the midshipmen. "As a lobsterman son from Massachusetts, my big break was acceptance into the U.S. Naval Academy," said Breckenridge.

Breckenridge, who received a degree in Aerospace Engineering, shared his selection into the nuclear power pipeline and the importance of being one of the final midshipmen interviewed by Adm. Hyman Rickover to currently serving as commander of Group Two.

"Who we are and what we do as an undersea force is invaluable to the country and will only grow in its importance as you join the fleet," said Breckenridge. "This is an important moment in history for all of us who serve our nation."

During their visit to the submarine base, the midshipmen visited the Naval Submarine School's Damage Control Trainer, visited the Ship Control Operations Trainer and toured the Virginia-class submarine USS New Hampshire (SSN 778).

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Lawrence Oliver, commanding officer of the Norwich University Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) unit, participated in the base tour and highlighted the importance of these types of visits.

"Norwich University NROTC unit actively seeks out opportunities to expose our midshipmen to life in the naval services, both Navy and Marine Corps. This exposure is a combination of centrally mandated academic year instruction, highlighted by summer training evolutions, as well as less formal events and training venues organized by individual NROTC units. Our trip to Submarine Group Two is an example of the latter," said Oliver.

Prior to his present assignment, Oliver was assigned as the Marine tactical air force analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Cost Assessment and Program Analysis from June 2009 to June 2011. Oliver added that visits to Naval Submarine Base New London will directly impact their Midshipmen's decision regarding service selection and career path.

"It is visits like this that allow our midshipmen the opportunity to have 'hands on' experience with actual training equipment and systems. These type of venues, along with more formal NROTC events, afford the young midshipmen a unique perspective that will facilitate their follow-on service," said Oliver. "Additionally, given the nascent nature of our midshipmen, a positive experience, such as Groton, goes a long-way in peaking interest and motivation in their pursuit of a commission."

Lt. Mike Piazza, USS Alexandria (SSN 757) and Lt. j.g. Mark Czynski, USS Pittsburgh (SSN 720), both midshipman training officers assisted with the tour.

"I attended Norwich University before being accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy, and my participation with the NROTC students today is to convey the best of our submarine force has to offer because of its tight-knit crew," said Piazza.

Czynski highlighted the inherent capability of our undersea forces. "I always appreciate the opportunity to share how talented and motivated our submariners are because it helps us attract the kind of leaders we need in the submarine force."

Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Capt. Alden Partridge, as the first private military college in the United States and the birthplace of the nation's ROTC program.

USS New Hampshire Sailors Present Flags to Governor Prior to Speedway Race

By Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg, Commander, Submarine Group Two Public Affairs

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Twenty Sailors from USS New Hampshire (SSN 778) attended the New Hampshire Motor Speedway race in Loudon, N.H., Sept. 25, during one of many Navy community outreach events planned for New England Navy Week 2011.

Navy weeks feature engagements with corporate, civic, government, education and community service organizations and are conducted primarily to show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy.

"Attending this week's race in Loudon is a great opportunity for our Sailors to continue their great relationship with their namesake state of New Hampshire and proudly represent both," said Cmdr. John McGunnigle, commanding officer, USS New Hampshire.

Prior to the call to start their engines and with tens of thousands NASCAR fans watching, McGunnigle presented New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch with an American flag and state flag, both of which were flown on USS New Hampshire in the Arctic during Ice Exercise 2011.

"USS New Hampshire has a great connection with its namesake state. This week, five of my Sailors will participate in various New England Navy Week engagements to expand the awareness of our Navy, and in particular our submarine forces," said McGunnigle.

New Hampshire was commissioned at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, Oct. 25, 2008. She is the fourth ship to be named for the state of New Hampshire.

New England Navy Week 2011, gives area residents an opportunity to meet some of the Navy's Sailors and learn about the Navy's critical missions and its broad ranging capabilities.

New England Navy week runs Sept. 24-Oct. 2. The U.S. Navy conducts approximately 20 Navy Weeks each year. During a Navy Week celebration, the Navy concentrates a variety of outreach events in a metropolitan area for a week, sharing the Navy story with as many people as possible.

Connecticut Completes Deployment, Returns Home After Arctic Exercise

By Lt. Ed Early, Commander, Submarine Group 9 Public Affairs

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- Seawolf-class, fast-attack submarine USS Connecticut (SSN 22) returned to its homeport of Naval Base Kitsap, Wash., April 27, concluding a 58-day deployment highlighted by its participation in Ice Exercise (ICEX) 2011.

"We were excited to have the chance to practice and develop techniques while operating in a very challenging environment," said Cmdr. Michael Varney, Connecticut's commanding officer. "Out of 140 Sailors, only 11 of us had been to the Arctic, so this was a unique opportunity."

After departing Bremerton March 1, Connecticut proceeded north to a point more than 150 miles north of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, where a tracking station and small ice station had been established.

From March 15 to April 2, Connecticut and Virginia-class, fast-attack submarine USS New Hampshire (SSN 778) participated in ICEX, an exercise designed to increase the Navy's operational experience in the region and advance understanding of the Arctic environment.

During the exercise, crews from both submarines, along with British and Canadian sailors and researchers from the Navy's Arctic Submarine Laboratory and the University of Washington's Applied Physics Laboratory, tested new equipment and trained together to operate under the ice.

Connecticut played a large part in testing new undersea technologies during ICEX, including high-frequency sonar for safe Arctic operations and the Raytheon Deep Siren acoustic communications system.

"Science played a large part in our operations in the Arctic, especially how best to measure the environment we were in," said Varney.

The submarine also demonstrated the ability of the Seawolf-class to surface and submerge through the Arctic ice pack multiple times.

Connecticut hosted Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Congressional visitors, as well as several members of the media during the exercise.

U.S. submarines must continue to train in the Arctic environment to refine and validate procedures and required equipment, as the Arctic Ocean serves as a route for submarines to transit between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The U.S. Submarine Force conducts these exercises in the Arctic in order to ensure continued access to this unique region.

Navy submarines have conducted under-ice operations in the Arctic regions in support of inter-fleet transit, training, cooperative allied engagements and operations for more than 50 years. USS Nautilus (SSN 571) made the first transit in 1958.

Connecticut is the second of the Navy's three Seawolf-class submarines, all of which are homeported in the Pacific Northwest.