Sea training tour a success for Howell man

Midshipman David J. Brienza of Howell recently returned to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy after completing his sea training tour aboard three U.S. merchant and military vessels. Cadets at the academy, in Kings Point, N.Y., are required to serve two tours totaling 300 days as marine engineers or 360 days as deck officers.

Brienza is a marine engineer and candidate and had served four months at sea during his first training tour in 2006 and completed his remaining training requirements this year from April to November.

Brienza's first ship was the diesel-powered U.S. merchant vessel APL President Truman, where he sailed from Seattle, Wash., to ports in Canada, Japan, Singapore and Thailand.

He sailed next on the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS La Jolla. He completed his sea training on the steam-powered U.S. merchant vessel Horizon Producer, where he made multiple cycles to the seaport in Elizabeth, Jacksonville, Fla., and Puerto Rico.

Brienza is scheduled to graduate from the academy in 2009 with a degree in marine engineering and a license as a third assistant marine engineer.

After graduating, he intends to sail aboard U.S. merchant vessels. He is also in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

A graduate of the Marine Academy of Science and Technology High School at Sandy Hook, Brienza was nominated to attend the academy by Congressman Christopher H. Smith and Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg.

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is federal service institution operated by the Maritime Administration of the United States Department of Transportation.