Forty-nine Royal Canadian Air Cadets (RCAC) with the 180th Mosquito Squadron, Toronto, Ontario, visited Officer Training Command, March 16, for an orientation at the damage control (DC) training facilities at Naval Station (NAVSTA) Newport.

The cadet group, led by Maj. Amanda Hanniford, commanding officer, RCAC, visited the southern New England area and NAVSTA Newport during the school vacation period. The trip for the cadets, ranging in ages 12 to 18 years, serves as an annual education, citizenship, and cultural exchange experience.

"We teach leadership, citizenship, and physical fitness to the cadet community to help them become positive role models," Hanniford said. "We emphasize other areas that are relevant to the air cadet community."

Hanniford said of the trip to a military installation, "we're trying to develop an interest in the military profession, how military professionals train."

"When you show them, the cadets become more engaged and enthusiastic to join one of our military forces," she said.

"This visit gave me another perspective of the U.S. Navy," said cadet corporal Anastasia Gerzhevich, 14.

Gerzhevich, a Russian citizen, but a permanent Canadian resident with Canadian citizenship pending, said, "I was able to see so much more about the U.S. Navy than what is in the movies or described in the media."

Cadets visited the Fire Fighter School (FFS) and learned about basic firefighting equipment and the skills used aboard ship to combat a fire.

"A ship is like a giant floating furnace," Damage Controlman 1st Class Christopher Tillman told the cadets during a classroom orientation.

Tillman displayed basic firefighting equipment worn by ship personnel.

During their FFS tour, cadets had an opportunity to observe the "wild hose" training station.

DC instructors Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Traci Pope and Chief Damage Controlman Kenneth Recio demonstrated how to a bring the hose under control and use an active water hose to control a "weapons fire."

The cadets visited other FFS training areas where various types of fire extinguishers were used to bring under control fires in a simulated ship's galley, laundry, and boiler space.

"We wanted to reduce their fear of fire," Recio said.

The cadets next learned about damage control techniques and the equipment used to save a ship from sinking at the Buttercup Damage Control Trainer.

"The goal of damage control is to control damage," said Chief Damage Controlman Nathan Williams.

Williams explained the importance of remaining calm and realizing the mission at hand.

"We train our ship crews to survive using team work and communication," Williams said.

"It was interesting to learn about damage control and what the ship's crew has to do to plug leaks," said cadet platoon sergeant Alexander Martins, 15, who has been with the unit four years.

The group also visited the Naval War College Museum.

"I saw that the U.S. Navy has a very historic past and is a branch of the service that is full of pride," cadet Martins said.

"It's more important that we show the cadets what military professionals do in their actual environment," Hanniford said.


For more news from Naval Station Newport, visit www.navy.mil/.