Naval Academy Midshipmen sharpen their marksmanship skills under the supervision of a Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) instructor. Seventeen Mids spent two weeks training at the UPDF Military Academy in Kabamba, Uganda, as part of their summer training. Photo courtesy of Midn. 1/C Joshua Jordan.

The two-week trip was spent visiting places such as the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti, the military academy in Uganda and various other towns in Africa. Jordan and his classmates witnessed the every day lives of members of Africa’s militaries and participated in training at the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) Military Academy in Kabamba, Uganda.

While at the academy, Jordan and the other Midshipmen slept in the same barracks as the Ugandan cadets and participated in various field training exercises in 130 degree weather.

Along with sleeping in the barracks, the Midshipmen wore the same uniforms as the academy cadets. They were also on the same schedule as the cadets, often waking up at 3 a.m. in the morning for training.

‘‘We asked them why they wake up so early every morning, and they said it’s because it’s usually the time they get attacked,” Jordan said.

Some of the training included assembling and disassembling an AK-47, learning how to fire the weapon from different firing positions, and participating in a range exercise. They were also allowed to complete an obstacle course. While undergoing this training, Jordan got to observe how the U.S. assists in the development and aiding of the African military.

‘‘We talked about the ‘three D’s’ we’re trying to do down there – defense, diplomacy and development,” said Jordan.

Among the training that the Mids received, they also had the opportunity to train the Ugandans as well.

‘‘Part of the experience at the UPDF Military Ac-ademy was briefing the cadets about the United States Naval Academy and the U.S. military,” said Jordan in his after-action report. ‘‘On our last day, we participated in a symbolic tree planting ceremony. This ceremony was symbolic of the alliance between Uganda and the U.S.”

In his after action report, Jordan also des-cribed his time at the academy as an eye-opening experience, showing him how the U.S. aids impoverished countries.

‘‘I’m confident that the U.S. military presence in Africa is essential to improving conditions throughout the continent,” said Jordan. ‘‘Along with that, I feel very privileged to live in a country such as the U.S. after this trip. The poverty there was unlike anything I have ever seen and has made me much more appreciative for what I have.”

Jordan also said that the experience really opened his eyes to the bigger picture of the Navy and some of the roles he could be filling as a junior officer in the Fleet.

‘‘I feel like I’ll be a much better officer with the knowledge and appreciation I have attained after the trip,” he said.