3rd Company Commander: MIDN 1/C Jake Reissfelder

My name is Jake Reissfelder, and I will serve as Third Company’s Commander for the 2026-2027 academic year. I am from Dedham, Massachusetts, and I study Marine Engineering. With experience in both shipboard and facility operations, interning at an industrial-size power generation facility, and working aboard a 900-foot Alaskan slope crude oil tanker managing engine room and cargo operations, I have found that Massachusetts Maritime Academy has exposed me to opportunities no other collegiate education could provide. 

Last year, as an orientation squad leader, I took immense pride in developing the freshman class through their two-week indoctrination period. This year, I am proud to mentor the 10 squad leaders who will be guiding your Cadet Candidate, as I did last year. In preparation for these two weeks, each member of my staff has completed a rigorous interview process, including speaking and practical assessments, and has undergone a week of in-person training to be well equipped to turn your candidates into basically trained cadets. Rest assured, our team is well-prepared and excited to develop the future of Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

In addition to being 3rd Company’s Commander, Mr. Reissfelder will serve as Cadet First 1st Assistant Engineer on the NSMV Patriot State and Command Fitness Leader for his Navy ROTC Battalion. Upon graduation in June, Mr. Reissfelder will commission into the United States Navy Reserve as a Strategic Sealift Officer. 

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Orientation Day 1

Check-in—a day of culture shock, marching, and sir/ma’am sandwiches. Your cadet candidates spent the afternoon in the gym, learning facing movements, how to properly stand at attention, and collecting their uniform items from Ms. Fay. Ending the night with a United States Coast Guard medical brief and STCW (Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for seafarers) Firefighting lectures they have stepped head first into their future careers supporting the Merchant Marine. 

As an integral part of orientation, the cadet candidates began studying their “youngie” knowledge, learning the names of Academy and Cadet Leadership, the Mission of the Academy, and the Cadet Honor Code. 

With the conclusion of our week long Pre-Orientation, our 3rd Company Cadre was awarded the “Cadre Cup” for outstanding performance in drill, knowledge, discipline, and leadership skills. I have the upmost confidence in my teams potential to bring out the best in your 3rd Company Cadet Candidate. Hooyah.

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Orientation Day 2

Day 2 

Today our 3rd Company Cadet Candidates faced an exciting day of new challenges—firefighting. At 0800, our Cadet Candidates loaded the buses to Bridgewater Firefighting Academy, where they began their practical STCW firefighting training. Learning the basics of firefighting, the cadet candidates donned SCBAs (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus), tackled controlled type B fires with fire extinguishers, and manned fire hoses, gaining integral knowledge of how to protect their ship, their facilities, and themselves when dealing with fire. 

After departing Bridgewater at 1400, 3rd Company Cadre was waiting back at the Academy. They continued their “push-up party,” which they started at 0800 when sending off our youngies. Fresh off the buses, 3rd Co was rushed to the parade field where they continued to drill—perfecting their facing movements, parade rest, and salutes. In addition, the “quick-time march” (normal marching pace) movements “column right/left” were introduced. 

In addition to drill, 3rd Co finished the day with “Patio”—A verbal assessment of their Youngie knowledge, ability to work together, volume, and confidence. For their first attempt, our Cadre were ecstatic with their performance under the immense pressure Patio placed upon them. The evening ended with room prep, where their Cadre displayed proper grooming standards, including how to shave properly for the males and assisting the females in perfecting their military-style buns. 

The evening concluded with a conversation about “TAPS,” the ceremonial 24 notes of the bugle played in honor of all who have lost their lives in service, and your cadet candidates stood silent in remembrance of all who made the ultimate sacrifice while the 24 notes played throughout the academy

3rd Company Cadre with military affiliation:

• LT Winthrop Edwards, Company Officer, United States Air Force
• Jake Reissfelder, Company Commander, United States Navy
• Tyler Cardinal, Squad Leader, United States Navy
• Mikayla Horvath, Squad Leader, United States Army
• Justine Josupait, Squad Leader, United States Coast Guard
• Daniel Campbell, Squad Leader, United States Coast Guard
• Eva Warren, Squad Leader, United States Coast Guard

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Orientation Day 3

Today was a fun day full of 3rd Co’s three favorite things: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Drill, and PT. 

Starting the morning with the PT assessment, C/C  Rosas led the company in push-ups, C/C Gobeille in sit-ups, and C/C Carter finished first for 3rd Company and all of 1st Battalion. Hooyah.

After morning PT, 3rd Co set off to the parade field to continue Drill practice, where they perfected their columns and showed improved teamwork, coming together to proudly and confidently spout the knowledge they are tested on. After a lunch filled with plenty of PB&Js, they headed to the Maritime Conference Center where the Regimental Academic Operations Officer and the Head of Academic Advising met with 3rd Company for an Academic Planning meeting, learning about their majors and the academic resources provided. Later that afternoon, 3rd faced 5th Company in kickball, where we regrettably fell 2 games to none. To finish the evening, we continued room preparations with proper rack making and room standards. 

Another great day for 3rd. Hooyah.

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Orientation Day 4

3rd Co woke up quickly this morning and rushed to PT for a circuit workout, joined by the President of the Academy, Rear Admiral McDonald, for morning field exercises—working hard with the cadet candidates through planks, push-ups, burpees, and various core exercises. The day continued with uniform exchanges, ID photos, and their “Going Global” meeting with Mr. Nobrega, the Cuffe Center director, where 3rd Co was introduced to our world leaders from Panama and Turkey here to observe Mass Maritimes Orientation ‘26. 

Before lunch, 3rd Co had a less-than-remarkable patio performance, where our 03 Platoon Leader, Mr. Brock Fitzell, gave a motivational speech on the importance of teamwork, holding each shipmate accountable, and that they will fail if they remain individuals. Directly after, C/C Quinn Churchill was chosen as 3rd Company’s Guidon, an honor in which he will lead the platoon and bear the company insignia everywhere we go. This guidon is chosen for the Cadet Candidate who displays the utmost bearing, respect, consistency, and drill mastery thus far. It is a great honor to which we are proud to present him—a true model for his fellow cadet candidates. 

The evening was spent connecting 3rd Co to their “why.” After a beautiful speech from squad leader Paddy Callahan, he asked for volunteers to “post a fist” and spout their “why” to their fellow candidates. Hearing each other’s stories is essential to building our “family mentality,” which we preach so heavily, and it aligns with our shipmates’ credo: Shipmates Before Brothers, Brothers Before Others.

After this connection, our staff observed a major shift in mentality and attitude—3rd Co was no longer a group of individuals, but a team working together in pursuit of excellence. 

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Orientation Day 5

Beginning the day with a cadence run for morning PT, a brief from LT Edwards, and drill—it was another sunny, hot, and eventful day for 3rd Co. 

3rd got their first look inside the Training Ship NSMV Patriot State on their ship familiarization tour, led by me, Training Ship Commander MIDN 1/C Caden Beder, Cadet Chief Mate 1/C Julia Glotfelty, and Cadet Chief Engineer MIDN 1/C Craig Hill, the three top cadets in charge of the training ship. This tour took them through all important spaces: from the engine room, helicopter deck, and up to the bridge, learning all safety dos/don’ts, getting their first taste of what maritime life is all about. 

Continuing, 3rd suffered a devastating loss to 6th Company in Kickball, but recovered well on the evening patio, where they worked as a unit to spout Joseph P. Kennedy’s quote: “You can have a merchant marine with first class men, even if they sail second class ships. But second class men cannot be trusted with the finest ships afloat.” A truly proud moment for my Cadre, as this was the first time they came together with great confidence and volume. 

After dinner, we had our first marching competition practice, where we put individual drill practice to the test. 3rd Co came together and practiced the drill movements as a unit, practicing columns, to the rear, and flanks. 

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Orientation Day 6

Waking up with the rising sun, 3rd Co began the day with calisthenics at the stations and, shortly after breakfast, left for pond day. 

At pond day, 3rd Co took pleasure in learning about our crew and sailing teams. Spending time with our head sailing coach, they teamed up in groups of 4 to practice on Mass Maritimes boats, learn the basics, and have fun on the water. Continuing, they teamed up with our own LT Edwards, head crew coach, for head-to-head races on the monomoys.

After returning to campus, 3rd fell short once again to 5th Company in water polo, yet recovered at patio. 3rd finished the night with a Mini Cruise medical brief.

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Orientation Day 7

Starting with a morning cadence run, 3rd Co picked up the momentum and had their best day at orientation thus far—truly motivating.

After a motivating speech the night before from 1/C Aidan Callahan, 3rd Company’s Training and Retention Officer, about “burning the boats,” a message about putting aside your previous struggles and anxieties to fully form into the visions the cadet candidates have for themselves—3rd Co started the day attentive, loud, and disciplined. 

This motivation carried into morning drill practice and lunch patio, where 3rd Co “wowed” the regimental staff for the display of their knowledge, teamwork, volume, and pride. 

After lunch, 3rd Co met with the operations officer for their respective majors and got some of the first insights into available future career opportunities. The night followed with another amazing patio performance, which raised the 3rd’s spirits. Preparations started for Mini Cruise with berthing assignments, station bill familiarization, and a fire and emergency procedure walkthrough.

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Orientation Day 8

Coming Soon!

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