More than 200 Sea Cadets from the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps (USNSCC) graduated from basic training during a ceremony held July 2, at Recruit Training Command.

Families from the United States and Canada congratulated their sons and daughters after the recruits completed their one-week basic training experience allowing advancement from recruit, E-1, to their designated fields within the Sea Cadets, Seaman or Airman, E-2 ranking.

Cadets new to the organization in the 13- to 17-year-old age bracket participated in the one-week Sea Cadets "boot camp" designed to teach recruits basic seamanship, Navy history and tradition, marching and other skill sets taught to U.S. Navy recruits attending the Navy's only eight-week boot camp.

The cadets learned life skills and participated in boot camp training tasks to include dynamic material inspections on their bunks, personal uniform inspections and military marching.

"What this means for the kids is that they have an opportunity to experience discipline, hard work, and team building," said Lt. Allyson McCormack, USNSCC commanding officer, Twin Cities Squadron, 097-TWN. "The training is more memorable because of the outstanding presence of the Recruit Division Commanders at Great Lakes enhancing the whole experience."

Hands-on naval training ranged from basic seamanship to advanced training evolutions including Small Arms Simulated Training, firefighting, and combat pool training for water survival skills. Cadets and volunteer staff members also helped with the training.

"I think there's great hands-on training that you can get nowhere else in the USNSCC," said Staff Cadet Petty Officer 3rd Class Sophia Lieske, 16, of Rockville, Maryland. "There's a lot of discipline and self-confidence built during the week experience. It's worth the early mornings."

The training cadets receive, modeled after RTC's curriculum, compresses the major training evolutions into five training days. Each event is taught by the same naval instructors that would train Navy recruits in boot camp. An average day of training started at 5 a.m. and ended at 9 p.m.

"These cadets are professionally beyond what I imagined them to be," said Chief Gas Turbine Systems Technician Electrical Joshua E. Meadows, RDC. "They are showing pure determination and extreme effort every time they are confronted with a challenge in training."

Meadows is one of the 16 RDCs who volunteered to provide a realistic training event for the Sea Cadets ensuring the occurrence of their "boot camp" was executed safely, while experiencing this life changing occasion, with a realistic feeling similar to the transformation of a recruit into a U.S. Navy Sailor.

"The kids grasped the training quicker than expected and they loved it while participating," said Meadows. "It has truly been an honor to train and mentor these aspiring Sailors. Their level of maturity, passion to serve, as well as how quickly they are able to learn is truly amazing. They will all one day be a great addition to the United States Navy!"

Lt. Cmdr. Brian Kuebler, chief of staff, Region 9, USCSCC, emphasized that cadets receive safe and quality training.

"I am awed and humbled each year by the tremendous support we receive each year from RTC," said Kuebler. "Cadet recruits choose Sea Cadet Recruit Training Illinois above all others because they want to be trained by the very best the Navy has to offer - the Recruit Division Commanders. The effort to assist in our training each year speaks volumes about the passion for training, mentoring, and motivating, and we are deeply in debt to RTC."

Kuebler explained they provide a drug- and gang-free program for the cadets; however, they are not a recruiting agency.

"We strive to allow kids decide their futures and utilize the USNSCC to teach confidence, discipline, and self-realization of their full potential. While some cadets ultimately decide to join the Navy, others opt not to follow a military career. Either way, they can use their Sea Cadet training throughout life. If they enlist, they may go in as an E-3 or join Reserve Officers' Training Corps," said Kuebler, emphasizing that roughly 12 percent of Naval Academy cadets were once Sea Cadets.

"I wanted to be a part of something greater than myself," said Seaman Recruit Savannah Nix, 16, Denver, Colorado. "I wanted to be known as the kind of person that would lay down my life for the safety of others. I felt the Sea Cadets was the stepping stone towards the right directions."

For RTC staff who volunteers to assist with this annual event, the opportunity to do so has been quite fulfilling.

"It is our pleasure to host the Sea Cadets at RTC for their annual summer training. It is motivating to see young men and women carve some time out of their summer vacations to learn life lessons about initiative, accountability, toughness, and integrity," said Lt Eric Leis, RTC Sea Cadet coordinator, RTC. "Our relationship with the Sea Cadets benefits both parties. The Cadets get to learn from the best instructors that the Navy has to offer, and the Navy gets a jump-start on training our future sailors. I am looking forward to hosting a new group of cadets next summer."

Leis added the event would not be successful without the help of the volunteers. This year's volunteers include: CSC Frank Rice, GSEC Joshua Meadows, MMC Moises Velez, ICC Joseph Christensen, EO1 Joseph Sperry, AE1 Jesse Sabol, AS1 Chad Grinnel, AM1 Jescel Valderueda, AO1 James Wilburn, AO1 Elisha Lang, AZ1 Jarrett Holcomb, SH1 Walter Malone, SH2 Amplias Countey, ABF2 Tasha Cruz, ABH1 Gregory Nelson, and SH1Alberto Martinez.

Boot camp is approximately eight weeks and all enlistees into the U.S. Navy begin their careers at the command. Training includes physical fitness, seamanship, firearms, firefighting and shipboard damage control along with lessons in Navy heritage and core values, teamwork and discipline. About 30,000 to 40,000 recruits graduate annually from RTC and begin their Navy careers.


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For more news from Recruit Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/.