REPORT OF THE NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT FOR YOUTH

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1 May REPORT OF THE NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT FOR YOUTH OVERVIEW President Mike McGrath has Youth Activities as one of his goals for the year, and needless to say I agree. What are our Youth Activities? Well, let s take a look at what our Operations Manual has to say (OPS Manual pp 78): The Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC), was established by the Navy League in 1958, and federally chartered on September 10, 1963, and is the premier youth development program of the Navy League of the United States. Although he NSCC is a separate 501C corporation from the NLUS, it is our major educational tool. A program designed for youths 13 through 17 years of age to develop an interest in skill in seamanship and seagoing subjects, and to develop an appreciation for our Navy s history, customs, traditions, and it s role in national defense. To help develop positive qualities of patriotism, courage, selfreliance, confidence, and pride in our nation. Under the umbrella of the Sea Cadets the Navy League Cadet Corps (NLCC) was established for youths 11 through 13 years of age and is sponsored by and belongs to the Navy League, with administration by the Sea Cadet Corps. Together these programs are in our NLUS budget for the coming year for $527,000, in direct support and $124,331, for indirect support of rent and network support. Funds which our used by the NSCC to assist in the administration of these two programs. The budget for the NSCC/NLCC for 2008 is $3,055,700. I highlight the above because they are OUR NLUS programs, but as part of our Youth Activities the Navy League also has an Adopt-a-Unit Program for the NJROTC. Many Councils support several NJROTC units because of the very limited cost of support and because the involvement does not require an extensive commitment. Should any of your Councils desire to Adopt a unit they are supposed to complete an adoption form and return it to the Director of Youth Programs. Although the DOD finances the NJROTC Program, the Navy League provides Trophies and Plaques ($8,000) for the NJROTC National Field Day Competition held annually in Florida. Our NLUS Youth Committee Sub Chair, Joe Daignault, continues his efforts to insure the NLUS is recognized for their increasing support of these programs. At the March 17, meeting of the NLUS Steering Committee the question was raised on whether the Navy League should be doing more in support of the NJROTC units. The consensus among the members was that they are satisfied with the support currently provided in this area. 1

2 From the above it is easy to see that the bulk of our activities and support is devoted to the Sea and League Cadet Programs so now I would like to give you a brief overview of their activities since our last meeting. PROGRAM STRENGTH There are 367 units with an enrollment of Down 112 members from April 2007, but hopefully things are looking up because this April was our best of the past three years. We are now working to provide a military program for three charter schools that are interested in a middle school level program, and currently have schools in New Mexico, Texas, and California, which are in various stages of starting a NLCC unit. Already established are NLCC units in schools in Florida, Virginia and Kentucky. THINGS IN THE WORKS An NSCC ALUMNI ASSOCIATION has been established. They have their incorporation papers and are waiting for a determination on their 501C3 program from the IRS. This could be a very useful tool in membership recruiting for the Navy League. Their web address is: Mike Campbell, NSCC National Development Director, serves as Liaison between the NSCC National Headquarters/Board of Directors and is an ex-officio member of the Board. The NSCC Scholarship Board is scheduled to meet on 6 June to review and select this years winners of 16 scholarships with an approximate value of $41,000, which will be provided from restricted funds of the NSCC Foundation. Resolution of a long standing lawsuit (Kolesa) has been made after several years. Final settlement by our insurance company was for $800,000, with legal fees in the $250,000 range. Federal funding is on track again for This is very important because without it we would not survive is being worked and looks like a go for our requested amount. Enrollment by former Sea Cadets at USNA continues to be superb with over 10% of the Naval Academy brigade coming from the Sea Cadet ranks. We have been invited and are now a permanent attendee at the annual Public Relations Scheduling Conference in Memphis for improved visibility and coordination with NAVY community events. 2

3 We have been invited to attend and brief the USN recruiters at their Quarterly Recruiter Brief given to all new USN recruiter in Pensacola, so they know and better understand the NSCC NSCC is closely coordinating with and participating in Naval Academy sponsored events to include their new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) program and their First Annual Black History Month Quiz Bowl event to be held in February These are both part of the Naval Academy s outreach and USNA familiarization/education project. FUN THINGS (NEAT TRAINING) Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC will find several units of Sea Cadets participating in the May 26, Parade. There will be approximately Cadets from the DC area. Coordinated by the CO of the Corsairs Squadron out of Andrews AFB. Fleet Week, NYC, will find several units from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, participating in the event by spending overnights on the ships and some riding from Norfolk to NYC. There will be a flight out of Willow Grove, PA, to transport 87 of the Cadets to Norfolk for the cruise back to NYC. Others will be driving down with approximately Cadets involved. Another on-going project is with the Suncoast Squadron of Clearwater, FL., doing volunteer community service. The unit has been performing maintenance work for the city aquarium over the past several years, but now that the entire squadron has qualified in scuba training, the unit will be doing volunteer work feeding the fish underwater and cleaning the inside of the huge tanks using their scuba gear. Our Senior Director of Communications is working on a story for possible viewing on the Disney Channel. The Clearwater Council is a superb supporter of the Suncoast Squadron. Not everything is happening in the south. Further north we will have again have scuba dives and archeological studies of the floor of Lake Huron where petrified forests and areas which were above sea level before the glaciers carved out the Great Lakes. The NSCC YP PRIDE OF MICHIGAN has four cruises and underwater studies scheduled at archeology sites of interest. A first class training mission accompanied by learned professors from local universities. TRAINING There is no other organization that comes close to providing the training and experiences offered to our Cadets. The NSCC 2007 Annual Report that was mailed to all of you did an outstanding job of highlighting the training opportunities offered last year. The following NAVAL SEA CADET CORPS

4 TRAINING REPORT put together for us by CAPT Henry Nyland, does an outstanding job of telling us about the training evolutions that are being offered this year. Enjoy reviewing them, and then go spread the word about the BEST PROGRAM AVAILABLE. NAVAL SEA CADET CORPS SPRING 2008 TRAINING REPORT Three general categories of training: 1) NSCC Recruit Training, 2) NSCC Advanced Training, the fun stuff and, 3) And NLCC training greatly expanding. RT Past 6 or 7 years, consistently RT s nationwide, year round we will have 20 RT s plus winter Most within a days drive for most parents. Most at National Guard sites (generally cheaper and available). Most accommodating cadets, total quotas Cadet attendance expected to be Similarly, for NLCC, NLCC Orientation and NLCC advanced trainings. Consistently 17, 18, 19 evolutions nationwide annually will be 17, Many with RT s, but not all. Most accommodating cadets, Total quota s about Attendance runs about 700 cadets. Also for NLCC, have advanced training. Usually USCG small boating course, or a junior leadership course. About 400 quotas, with cadets attending annually. Then for Sea Cadet Advanced Training, where NSCC really excels quotas, evolutions, 60 or so different sites nationwide cadets participating in advanced training. For 2008: Traditional areas: Aviation 12 classes, MAA 10; POLA 15; Medical 6; Seabee 4; Submarine 3; Port Ops 2. About 800 cadets will attend these traditional trainings. As shipboard opportunities have declined, and BRAC has taken many bases and stations, NSCC training opportunities have been expanded. In 2007 and scheduled again in 2008, or new in 2008: Naval Intelligence in San Diego, 1st class in 2007, scheduled again in Expanded FAA training to include a Flying Midshipman Association class onboard Midway in San Diego. Brand New Heritage History Class in Pearl Harbor, HI sponsored by USN CAPT Kennedy (active duty NSCC supporter). 4

5 Cadets do research and presentations on history and current importance of the Pacific Theatre. Maritime Industrial Arts in Newport RI, cadets in 2007; very popular; 2 classes scheduled in Maritime Interdiction and Law Enforcement, new in 2007, scheduled again in Engineering and Seamanship new at G-Lakes in 2007, two USN taught Old Service Schools Command classes, expanded in 2008 to include Operations Specialist and Culinary Arts. These are formal Navy Schools that our cadets are being allowed to attend! NLCC Advanced Expanded. 4 new classes in 2007; Aviation, Sailing, Survival, and Leadership. Expanding to eight classes summer 2008, both East and West Coast. Over the last 3 or 4 years and again in 2008: Photo Journalism 2 classes. JAG/Legal, annually in Newport and Florida. SCUBA, 9 classes in 2008, 160 cadets will receive their PADI certification. Sailing Schools, expanded from 5 classes in 2007 to 8 classes in 2008, including 4 classes on tall ships in Newport, RI. About 100 cadets will attend. Culinary Arts, prior classes have been primarily OJT, in formal classes are being offered. EOD/Diving, cadets annually. Field Operations, 2 or 3 classes annually, for 160 cadets. Firefighting and Homeland Security, 5 classes annually with over 100 cadets attending annually. Focus on disaster preparedness. JPD, new leadership class for junior cadets, on COMPASS, can be done at unit level. Life Guard, annually, cadets, get Red Cross Certification. Medical Surgical Technical, only training like it anywhere, at Balboa, for cadets headed towards medical fields and includes a Nurse track too. Marine Mammal, annually for 6-12 cadets in San Diego, training Navy s dolphins. SAR, part of Homeland security. Honor Guard, annual class with Wash, DC instructors. Air Traffic Control, annually at NAS Kingsville. Marksmanship, at Camp Perry with the federally chartered CMP Civilian Marksmanship Program. Joint Special Operations Command Orientation, 30 cadets annually with SEAL and Special Forces personnel (retired) instructing. Surface Warfare annually in Newport RI using their surface warfare officer trainers. 5

6 NSCC s International Exchange Program: Australia, Bermuda, Canada E and W, Netherlands, Sweden, UK, Hong Kong, Korea, Saint Petersburg Russia, Singapore, Scotland. Approximately 50 cadets annually attend. Additional final points: NASS and AIM, about 70 cadets attending annually with NSCC supporting. Leadership and Ethics course as given by Naval Academy to their first year midshipmen, is being exported to NSCC units. Bataan Academy started in 2007, first ever NSCC charter school in Albuquerque. USCG Continue to place 2 cadets each summer onboard Eagle and on other USCG underway platforms. Up on the Great Lakes, we still have: Onboard the Grayfox, four underway training periods. Onboard YP 671 Manatra, two underway trainings for cadets to include immediate hands on OJT for graduates of this years culinary arts, seamanship and engineering school. Onboard the YP Pride of Michigan, an aggressive SCUBA and underwater research program. Four underway training evolutions; SCUBA diving, conducting scientific research and receiving instruction from NOAA officers, divers, and archeologists in Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Lake St. Clair. Expanding Unit Support via increased funding for locally arranged unit training. An important program for growth and retention. For example: on their own SUNCOAST SQUADRON cadets qualified in SCUBA and in concert with local aquarium, cadets now regularly assist in a aquarium and marine life maintenance (in SCUBA gear, feeding fish, cleaning tanks etc. as aquarium guests observe). OPD training up to classes a year for 500 adults. James H. Erlinger Vice President for Youth Navy League of the United States 6