For the longest time, Alex Werth of Hampton dreamed of someday becoming a military fighter pilot.

But when he discovered a love for chemistry while attending high school, he decided to take a path better suited to his talents — serving on a Navy nuclear submarine.

“My grandfather was in the Navy, so that’s how I first got introduced to it,” Werth said. “After learning about the Navy’s nuclear program, I decided that would be something for me to pursue in life.”

Werth is a 2014 Hampton Township High School graduate and earned a degree in chemistry with a minor in math from Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C. He is the son of Mark Werth and Cheryl Marshall.

If all goes as planned, Alex Werth, 24, will be commissioned as an ensign and serve on a Navy submarine when he graduates from the 13-week Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI.

“Our officer candidates represent the future of our Navy’s leadership,” said Cmdr. David Hecht, a Navy spokesman. “We are immensely proud of them and wanted a way to highlight their stories and achievements as they prepare to begin this incredible journey as naval officers.”

Werth recently shared his experiences during officer training.

“I’m proud to be here to serve my country and keep my loved ones at home safe,” Werth said during an interview via the Zoom app.

Before enlisting in early May, Werth spent about a year working out to physically prepare for the demands of boot camp.

“You have to be in shape when you get here because we’re training to become leaders, not to get fit,” he said. “I found some websites with recommended workouts and had some friends join me for weightlifting and to help out.”

Despite the preparation, Werth said the training is designed to push officer candidates beyond their expectations.

“It’s different when someone else is pushing you,” he said. “Their goal is to take you past what you think you can do so you can get better.”

And despite handling the rigors of college, Werth learned that the mental training needed to become a naval officer is a challenge.

“I came out of college with a chemistry degree and math minor, so I thought the information (in boot camp) shouldn’t be too much of a struggle,” he said. “But like they say down here, it’s like drinking from a fire hose. It has been much more of a challenge than I expected.”

Werth said meeting people from across the country has been one of the highlights of the officer training program.

“It’s been great sharing experiences with people who come from all different backgrounds,” he said. “There is a lot of camaraderie, and I really enjoy the friendships I’m building here that will last for a long time.”

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