Atlantic Ocean. (April 11, 2024): Most parents are fearful when their teenager drives the family car, let alone a multi-billion-dollar warship at sea. In this photo by MC2 Jesse Turner, Seaman Aleeke Johnson and Seaman Ijiah Corbett, assigned to the amphibious transport dock USS New York, participate in helmsman training on the ship's bridge. Sailors like these are given the remarkable role of guiding their ship’s course and speed as young as nineteen. They are responsible for steering and adjusting the ship’s course while applying their expertise to navigate ever-changing inshore waters. The crew depends on the helmsman to guarantee the ship will stay on course no matter the weather conditions.

Sailors receive hundreds of hours of hands-on bridge training guided by a veteran helmsman with years’ experience before they can take the helm. Candidates for Master Helmsman are required to “take the wheel” during multiple “evolutions” or deployments to their area of responsibility. During these voyages, these young people learn to maneuver in tricky waters and under the unique scenarios they would encounter in combat.

So, the next time your teenager asks for the keys…