Navy Recruiting and Training Records Another Triple-play at Annual White Sox Navy Night

CHICAGO (NNS) -- The Navy and Chicago White Sox came together again as 85 Chicago-area, Indiana and Wisconsin young men were sworn into the Navy at the 28th annual Chicago White Sox Navy Night at U.S. Cellular Field, June 11.

The swearing-in triple play, usually bad to some teams, was good for everyone as it continued a strong 28-year partnership between the Major League Baseball American League Club, Navy recruiting and Navy training.

Capt. Robert Fink, chief of staff, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), swore in the division before hundreds of White Sox and Navy fans before the White Sox took the field against the Toronto Blue Jays.

"This was a wonderful opportunity to be able to participate in this," said Fink. "There is such a tradition here with the White Sox and it is really special when you can raise your hand and take and give the oath on the field. To be asked to take part in the ceremony and swear-in these area young men has been an excellent experience and the White Sox have been a very gracious host."

Fink's wife, Cmdr. Nancy Fink, commanding officer, Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Chicago, directed the recruiting of the area young men to make up this year's White Sox division.

The Finks were busy during the pre-game ceremonies. They were getting the soon-to-be new recruits to the ball park, enlisting the new recruits into the Navy, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch (Capt. Fink) prior to the game, and meeting with family members of the new recruits, Chicago-area Navy Leaguers, United States Naval Academy alums, Navy for Moms members, the Recruiting District Assistance Council (RDAC) for NRD Chicago and city and White Sox officials at a pregame meal held by the team.

"Being part of this and recruiting these young men to be members of the White Sox Division makes me proud beyond belief," said Cmdr. Fink. "When we see the group of individuals that we have and the quality that they are and what they've overcome in some of the environments they are from, and the decision that they've made to serve their country, it gives me a lot of hope for the future. One thing we've found out is that the White Sox divisions seem to do better because they have more of a commonality amongst them. They're coming for the same geographic area and they really bond much quicker helping them do better in boot camp."

Both Finks spoke with the dinner guests about Navy successes and about current operations around the world. They shared with the audience how the new White Sox Division recruits will soon be joining these operations after graduating from RTC.

Capt. Fink was also interviewed by Ed Farmer and Darren Jackson, the White Sox radio broadcasting team in the radio booth during the second inning. He shared his enthusiasm for the new Navy affiliates and his wife also shared those sentiments.

"I'm so impressed with these young men," said Cmdr Nancy Fink. "I won't say it's easy because it takes a lot of work to find them, but there is no shortage of people who want to serve their country from the Chicago, Indiana and Wisconsin area. It's a very patriotic community and it's a very military supportive community."

The Finks thanked RDAC for yearly supporting the White Sox recruit division and assisting in the recruitment of the Chicago-land recruiting district residents who are transformed from civilians into Sailors in eight weeks at RTC.

The 85 new recruits were the special guests during the pregame festivities and entered the field to a standing ovation from the White Sox faithful. They were introduced by Cmdr. Fink and enlisted into the Navy by Capt. Fink on the field behind home plate before the White Sox took on the Blue Jays.

"I think it was a great honor we were chosen for this division," said Nicolls Nunnenkamp, 17, Romeoville, Ill. "I think it's a great thing the White Sox do for the Navy."

"We've already gotten to know each and that should help in the long run when it comes to communicating and teamwork," said Drew Trotter, 22, Stockton, Ill.

Many of the new recruits were inspired to be members of the White Sox recruit division and felt it would carry them through boot camp.

"It really motivates all of us to serve our country and it's a crucial and wonderful to have the White Sox support up and show how much they care about the military," said Justin Rivera, 22, from Homer Glen, Ill. "I'm a little nervous about what's ahead, but being part of the White Sox division should give all of us an extra boost of confidence that will stay with us throughout boot camp."

NSTC, commanded by Rear Adm. Dee L. Mewbourne, oversee 98 percent of the officer and enlisted accessions training for the Navy. That includes the Navy's only boot camp, Recruit Training Command (RTC), located at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill.

Recruit Training Command trains more than 35,000 volunteers annually transforming civilians into basically trained Sailors.

Learn more at http://bootcamp.navy.mil of find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NavyRecruitTrainingCommand/ .

For more information about NSTC, visit http://www.netc.navy.mil/nstc/ or visit the NSTC Facebook pages at https://www.facebook.com/NavalServiceTraining/ .

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy .

For more news from Naval Service Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/greatlakes/ .