Imperial Beach and Coronado residents can expect some extra air traffic this summer as possible Navy officers train with the Navy and Marine Corps for the Career Orientation and Training, Midshipmen program.
As part of the four week program, midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy and ROTC programs from more than 70 universities around the country come to Naval Base Coronado to experience a week with aviation, submarine, surface and sea forces.
The purpose of the program is to help potential officers make informed decisions about where they want to find themselves in the Navy.
"If they aren't sure if they want to go into naval aviation, and halfway through they decide they don't want to do that, then that wasn't a really good use of our training dollars," said Commander Bennet Goff, who oversees the program.
The same program, which began Memorial Day weekend and will continue through mid-August is also being held in Norfolk, VA.
Naval Base Coronado receives about 100 people a week for the program for the program. Attendees will spend a week at Camp Pendleton for the surface force portion of the program.
Midshipmen will fly with helicopters squadrons training at Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach and also get flights in the T-34, a Navy training aircraft.
"Part of the route does take them south to IB and out to East County provided the weather's good enough," Goff said.
Flights can also go north to Point Loma and the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
Aviation week also means learning survival training, briefings on flight physiology and possible aviation career paths.
Any noise complaints can be directed to 619-545-8233. All other questions can be directed to the Naval Base Coronado Public Affairs Office at 619-545-8167.
