Catching up with Joe Brown
Since graduating last June, life has been hectic on just about every front for Joe Brown. He enjoyed a superb four years at Huntington High School and now he’s off to a fast start at SUNY Maritime College in Throggs Neck, studying, playing football and participating in the Navy ROTC program there.
“I have been very busy this semester at Maritime,” said Mr. Brown during a recent interview. “Balancing classes, regiment lifestyle, Navy ROTC and college football has been quite a challenge, but one that I hoped for.”
At Huntington, Mr. Brown was a member of the Nathan Hale chapter of the National Honor Society. He played on the football, winter track and lacrosse squads and was the male recipient of the Booster Club’s Sportsmanship Award.
The 5’9, 207 lb. Huntington grad wears uniform No. 61 for Martime’s football team. “I play defensive tackle for the Privateers,” he said. “We are coming towards the end of a very successful season and are set on winning the ECFC championship game. I owe a lot to the coaching staff at Huntington for preparing me for an easy transition into college football. Although it takes up a lot of time through practice, meetings, film, and workouts, I am thoroughly enjoying college football.”
At one time or another, Mr. Brown won MVP, Offensive and Defensive Lineman Awards with the Blue Devil football squad. His coaches loved his gritty style of play and he also served as a team captain. But, life at Maritime isn’t just wrapped up in classes and sports.
“I recently completed my 7-week indoctrination period for Navy ROTC and was sworn in as a Navy midshipman,” he said. “As a midshipman in ROTC, I take naval sciences courses, participate in morning PT, attend lectures from a variety of Navy personnel, and attend a naval training lab once a week. Upon graduation I will be commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy and owe a minimum of five years to the Navy.”
At Maritime, Mr. Brown is participating in the “regiment,” a military structured lifestyle that is helps prepare cadets for life as an officer aboard a merchant ship in the maritime industry.
“I am currently a deck-option cadet working towards a 3rd mate’s deck license and majoring in marine operations,” he said. Being in the regiment involves pretty much all the elements of a military academy including uniforms, formations, and inspections. I am currently a ‘mug,’ which is the term for freshman cadets in the regiment. As a mug, we are to follow a stricter set of rules then upper-class cadets. This includes things such as following the ‘mug-path’ around campus, squaring all corners, ‘double timing’ in certain areas of campus, greeting upper classmen, PT, and many other tedious requirements that will be done after mug year.”
Next summer will be another busy one for the Huntington alum as he will be participating in the first of three required summer sea terms. “This is a 45-day cruise aboard Maritime's training ship, the Empire State VI,” explained Mr. Brown. “So far it has been announced that we will have port calls in New Orleans, Greece, and Turkey. This will be a great learning experience and an awesome way to see the world.”
As if he doesn’t already have plenty to occupy his time, Mr. Brown has even been given an opportunity to continue one of his favorite activities, playing the bagpipes. He’s a member of the New York Maritime Pipe and Drum Corps, a student-run club at the school. The group meets several times each week to prep for local parades and ceremonies.
“I owe a lot to the staff at Huntington for making the transition into college very smooth,” Mr. Brown. “In particular, I cannot thank coach Ron Wilson enough for everything he has done over the years. He has been an excellent mentor for me and many other Huntington alumni.”
Huntington’s coaches and teachers were very enthusiastic about Mr. Brown and his “can-do” attitude and they genuinely miss him around the school this fall. He misses them, too, but he’s equally excited about the new world he has stepped into.
“I look forward to taking advantage of all the opportunities and experiences Maritime has to offer,” Mr. Brown said.
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