U.S. Naval Institute Establishes Warfighter Series for Midshipmen In Partnership with Navy Federal to Deliver Key Training about Warfare Specialty Options
ANNAPOLIS, MD–April 18, 2022– The inaugural season of the Warfighter's Forum has concluded and been deemed a success, the U.S. Naval Institute announced today. Officially sanctioned by the training department of the U.S. Naval Academy as part of the plebes’ professional knowledge curriculum, the Warfighter’s Forum is a lecture series designed to educate fourth class midshipmen at the Naval Academy about their warfare specialty options at graduation, but to do so in a way that is also entertaining. During the '21-'22 academic year, over 900 plebes participated in the program held at the Jack C. Taylor Conference Center in Annapolis.
The Naval Institute thanks Navy Federal Credit Union for generously sponsoring the Warfighter’s Forum.
“The Warfighter's Forum is an excellent opportunity to add additional context at the tactical level to the Brigade's professional development curriculum throughout the academic year,” Captain Greta Densham, U.S. Naval Academy Training Officer, said. “The speakers' stories and experience bring to life the professions to which the midshipmen will soon enter.”
Warfighter’s Forum allows fleet representatives to present high-energy lectures using JCTCC’s LED Wall and state-of-the-art sound system. Each lecture is given to two battalions at a time – more than 400 plebes – capacity that was impossible at the Naval Institute before the Jack C. Taylor Conference Center was built. With casual dress, the midshipmen are welcomed to the Warfighter event with pizza and an informal atmosphere to engage with the speakers and other warfare specialists stationed at the Naval Academy thanks to a sponsorship agreement with Navy Federal Credit Union.”.
“Development, both personally and professionally, is a hallmark of all successful leaders. We never stop learning,” said Dietrich Kuhlmann, chief operating officer at Navy Federal Credit Union and USNA class of ’83 graduate. “We’re proud to partner with the U.S. Naval Institute on this critical endeavor in support of the next generation of officers as we rise collectively to meet the challenges ahead.”
Topics this season have included details about the career path of a carrier aviator (including a look at what Top Gun really does), Marine Corps history and heritage, Marine Corps mission areas and weapons, and naval intelligence with an eye toward current events and their impacts on the Sea Services.
"Passing what I've learned to the next generation of leaders is one of the most rewarding and important things I get to do as a naval officer, so it was a joy and an honor to engage with the midshipmen at Warfighter’s Forum," Marine Corps Major Brian Kerg said following the second lecture in the series this academic year.
Officially opened in September 2021, the Jack C. Taylor Conference Center is a world-class venue designed to engage and educate our next generation of naval leaders.
“The Naval Institute is pleased to provide this lecture series in a way that future naval officers actually enjoy,” retired Vice Admiral Pete Daly, Naval Institute CEO, said. “And the midshipmen’s overwhelmingly positive response to the lectures has validated the concept. This year’s Warfighter’s Forum series has been everything we hoped it would be and more.”
Founded in 1873, the Naval Institute is the premier forum for the best and hardest-edged thinking about the future of the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard. Open. Independent. Nonpartisan. Nonprofit.
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