Despite the immense responsibility of steering a massive warship, the post of master helmsman is one that any sailor, whether they are on their first tour or have decades of salt, can take on ...

But the conning officer had called out to be prepared — and after stepping up for the training to be certified as a master helmsman, the 20-year-old Michigander with less than a year in the Navy ...

He is learning to be a qualified helmsman for Navy vessels. “With this qualification by the master helmsman of (USS) Germantown, I’ll be able to pilot most types of Navy ships,” said Burkhart.