Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Gwendelyn Ohrazda | Newly commissioned officers stand during the playing of "Anchors Aweigh" at a...... read more read more
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SEATTLE (June 10, 2022) - Sunny skies marked an uncommonly dry Seattle day at the University of Washington, June 10, 2022. Today was a day years in the making. Crowds of white uniforms surrounded the Center for Urban Horticulture near Husky Stadium. Inside, 20 midshipmen each donned their gold ensign rank for the first time during a time-honored commissioning ceremony.
This group of newly commissioned Navy and Marine Corps officers reflected the wide diversity of the Navy. Men and women of different backgrounds stood together having graduated from the University of Washington Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program. While important to those in attendance, the commissioning of new officers is arguably more important to the U.S. Navy as a whole. After all, these new additions to the fleet have their own passions, goals, and styles of leadership that will contribute to the Navy for years to come.
Among the newly commissioned, stood Ensign Taylor Adams and Ensign Jacob Castro. The two were born the same year, completed bachelor’s degrees at the University of Washington, and graduated the same NROTC program. On paper, however, this is where their similarities end.
Ensign Adams grew up in Camas, Washington. He doesn’t come from a military family. His main motivation to apply for NROTC came in the form of his youth group leader who is a retired naval officer.
“I always loved hearing about the life of adventure he lived while he was a naval officer and I figured I wanted that for myself,” Adams said.
“Inwardly, I want to experience what the world has to offer and become a better person through those experiences while being surrounded by great people,” said Adams. “Outwardly, I want to be a great officer and leader who pushes others to do more than they think they can and to help them become better people in the process.”
Leaving the University of Washington, Adams will report to Navy flight school in Pensacola, Florida, to begin training as a naval aviator.
Castro was born in Virginia but has also lived in California, Guam, and Japan. Both of his parents served in the military. His father spent time in the Army and his mother is an active duty Sailor. Castro credits his mother being the main influence in him joining both the Navy and the Nurse Corps.
“As a naval midwife, she helps service members and their families while leading her Sailors with compassion and courage,” Castro said. “She is truly one of my real-life heroes.”
Now, Castro will report to Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia as a Navy Nurse Corps officer.
Both Adams and Castro have already started to develop leadership skills in their time as midshipmen. Even with different backgrounds, experiences, and career goals, both of them share a common priority: their future enlisted Sailors.
“I’ve had the opportunity to talk to numerous enlisted corpsman who desired respect and communication from their leaders,” said Castro. “I plan to treat my peers and Sailors with the utmost respect, and I strive to be as transparent and open as possible, encouraging communication up and down the chain of command. I want to contribute to a positive command climate.”
Midshipmen are often given advice from experienced leaders to help them in the future. Adm. John M. Richardson, chief of naval operations at the time, was one of these mentors. Richardson visited the University of Washington in spring 2019. One of his messages is remembered by Adams years later.
“He said, ‘whatever feeling you have as an officer, your Sailors have that feeling times ten,’” recalled Adams. “If I’m hungry, tired, or worn down, my Sailors are ten times more hungry, tired, or worn down.”
“I try to keep this at the front of my mind,” added Adams “I believe it makes me more empathetic and supportive to those I lead.”
Conversations surrounding mental health and morale have been discussed across all military branches for years, and will continue with these new leaders into the future.
“Command climate is contagious,” said Adams. “A good command climate makes Sailors feel genuinely taken care of and looked out for. It benefits everyone.”
“Unit cohesion and teamwork are important when it comes to completing the mission,” Castro said. “Leaders put a lot of trust in their people and vice versa. Everyone is negatively impacted when there is no trust.”
As the Navy adapts and changes, so does the next generation of personnel. No matter a person’s background, Sailors are continually expected to meet the demands of the military to effectively serve the United States and its allies. Adams and Castro are among the tens of thousands of people who join the Navy every year from different places and for different reasons, yet they share a unifying factor as they proudly wear matching uniforms and represent the same class of the Navy’s newest officers.
| Date Taken: | 06.10.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 06.15.2022 13:00 |
| Story ID: | 422969 |
| Location: | SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 167 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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