Request
Funded in Fiscal Year 2001, FY 2002 and again in FY 2003, continued Congressional appropriation in the Navy Recruiting Budget (Operations and Maintenance Navy - Title II, Budget Activity 3) is essential to expand the Naval Sea Cadet Corps into more communities. Unlike all other federally chartered military youth groups, the Sea Cadets themselves pay almost all program costs, including uniforms, training costs, insurance and transportation to/from training. Funding to offset Cadet out-of -pocket training costs at a level commensurate with that received by other federally chartered military related youth programs, as well as adult volunteer training costs, is needed to increase program access by America’s youth, regardless of economic or social background, and develop the fine citizens our country needs and deserves.
Request FY 2004 authorization and appropriation of the full requested amount of $2 million for the Naval Sea Cadet Corps.
Background
At the request of the Department of the Navy, the Navy League of the United States established the Naval Sea Cadet Corps in 1958 to "create a favorable image of the Navy on the part of American youth." On September 10, 1962, the U.S. Congress federally chartered the Naval Sea Cadet Corps under Public Law 87-655 as a non-profit civilian youth training organization for young people, ages 13 through 17. A National Board of Directors, whose Chairman serves as the National Vice President of the Navy League for Youth Programs, establishes NSCC policy and management guidance for operation and administration. A full-time Executive Director and small staff in Arlington, Virginia administer NSCC’s day-to-day operations. These professionals work with volunteer regional directors, unit commanding officers, and local sponsors. They also collaborate with Navy League councils and other civic, or patriotic organizations, and with local school systems.
In close cooperation with, and the support of, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, the Sea Cadet Corps allows youth to sample military life without obligation to join the Armed Forces. Cadets and adult leaders are authorized to wear the Navy uniform, appropriately modified with a distinctive Sea Cadet insignia.
There are currently over 338 Sea Cadet units with a program total of 11,577 participants (2,107 adult Officers and Instructors and 9,470 Cadets (about 33% female). This is an all time high enrollment for the program.
NSCC Objectives
• Develop an interest and skill in seamanship and seagoing subjects. • Develop an appreciation for our Navy’s history, customs, traditions and its significant role in national defense • Develop positive qualities of patriotism, courage, self-reliance, confidence, pride in our nation and other attributes, which contribute to development of strong moral character, good citizenship traits and a drug-free, gang-free lifestyle. • Present the advantages and prestige of a military career.
Under the Cadet Corps’ umbrella is the Navy League Cadet Corps (NLCC), a youth program for children ages 11 through 13. While it is not part of the federal charter provided by Congress, the Navy League of the United States sponsors NLCC. NLCC was established "...to give young people mental, moral, and physical training through the medium of naval and other instruction, with the objective of developing principles of patriotism and good citizenship, instilling in them a sense of duty, discipline, self-respect, self-confidence, and a respect for others.”
Benefits
Naval Sea Cadets experience a unique opportunity for personal growth, development of self-esteem and self-confidence. Their participation in a variety of activities within a safe, alcohol-free, drug-free, and gang-free environment provides a positive alternative to other less favorable temptations. The Cadet Corps introduces young people to nautical skills, to maritime services and to a military life style. The program provides the young Cadet the opportunity to experience self-reliance early on, while introducing this Cadet to military life without any obligation to join a branch of the armed forces. The young Cadet realizes the commitment required and routinely excels within the Navy and Coast Guard environments.
Naval Sea Cadets receive first-hand knowledge of what life in the Navy or Coast Guard is like. This realization ensures the likelihood of success should they opt for a career in military service. For example, limited travel abroad and in Canada may be available, as well as the opportunity to train onboard Navy and Coast Guard ships, craft and aircraft. These young people may also participate in shore activities ranging from training as a student at a Navy hospital to learning the fundamentals of aviation maintenance at a Naval Air Station.
The opportunity to compete for college scholarships is particularly significant. Since 1975, 141 Cadets have received financial assistance in continuing their education in a chosen career field at college.
Activities
Naval Sea Cadets pursue a variety of activities including classroom, practical and hands-on training as well as field trips, orientation visits to military installations, and cruises on Navy and Coast Guard ships and small craft. They also participate in a variety of community and civic events.
The majority of Sea Cadet training and activities occurs year round at a local training or "drill" site. Often, this may be a military installation or base, a reserve center, a local school, civic hall, or sponsor-provided building. During the summer, activities move from the local training site and involve recruit training (boot camp), “advanced” training of choice, and a variety of other training opportunities (depending on the Cadet’s previous experience and desires).
Senior Leadership
Volunteer Naval Sea Cadet Corps officers and instructors furnish senior leadership for the program. They willingly contribute their time and effort to serve America's youth. The Cadet Corps programs succeed because of their dedicated, active participation and commitment to the principles upon which the Corps was founded. Cadet Corps officers are appointed from the civilian sector or from active, reserve or retired military status. All are required to take orientation, intermediate and advanced Officer Professional Development courses to increase their management and youth leadership skills. Appointment as an officer in the Sea Cadet Corps does not, in itself, confer any official military rank. However, a Navy-style uniform, bearing NSCC insignia, is authorized and worn. Cadet Corps officers receive no pay or allowances. Yet, they do derive some benefits, such as limited use of military facilities and space available air travel in conjunction with carrying out training duty orders.
Drug-Free and Gang-Free Environment
One of the most important benefits of the Sea Cadet program is that it provides participating youth a peer structure and environment that places maximum emphasis on a drug and gang free environment. Supporting this effort is a close liaison with the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).. The DEA offers the services of all DEA Demand Reduction Coordinators to provide individual unit training, as well as their being an integral part of our boot camp training program.
Among a variety of awards and ribbons that Cadets can work toward is the Drug Reduction Service Ribbon, awarded to those who display outstanding skills in he areas of leadership, perseverance and courage. Requirements include intensive anti-drug program training and giving anti-drug presentations to interested community groups.
Training
Local Training Local training, held at the unit’s drill site, includes a variety of activities supervised by qualified Sea Cadet Corps officers and instructors, as well as Navy and Coast Guard instructors.
Cadets receive classroom instruction in basic military requirements, seamanship, water safety, core personal values, social amenities, drug/alcohol abuse, cultural relations, Navy history, customs and traditions and other nautical skills. Training may be held aboard ships, small boats or aircraft, depending upon the availability of a platform. Cadets also learn about civilian and military career opportunities during special career counseling sessions such as fire fighting and law enforcement.
Special presentations by military and civilian officials are part of the local training as are educational tours, briefings and attendance at special events. Participation in parades, social work and other civic activities are encouraged as part of the whole-person-training concept. During the Cadets’ first several months, they receive basic indoctrination to the Sea Cadet program at their local training site in preparation for summer recruit training. The Navy League Cadet Corps training program teaches younger Cadets the virtues of personal neat-ness, loyalty, obedience, courtesy, dependability and a sense of responsibility for shipmates. In accordance with a Navy-oriented syllabus, this education prepares them for the higher level of training they will receive as Naval Sea Cadets.
Summer Training
First-year Sea Cadets attend a two-week recruit training period at the Navy's Recruit Training Command or at a regional recruit training site. Instructed by Navy or NSCC Recruit Division Commanders, Cadets receive a condensed version of the basic training which Navy enlistees receive. Recruit training occurs at a number of regional sites to handle the overflow from the Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes and to reduce travel costs to the Cadet as well as the adult volunteer staff.
A Cadet who successfully completes recruit training is eligible for advanced training in various fields of choice. Cadets can experience the excitement of "hands-on" practical training aboard Navy and Coast Guard vessels, ranging from tugboats and cutters to the largest nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. Female Cadets may also train aboard any ship that has females assigned as part of the ship's company. Qualified Cadets choose from such Sea Cadet advanced training as basic/advanced airman, SEAL training, amphibious operations, leadership, submarine orientation and training in occupational specialties, including health care, music, master-at-arms and construction.
The Cadet Corp programs excel in quality and diversity of training offered, with more than 7,250 training orders carried out for the 2002 summer training program. Cadets faced a myriad of challenging training opportunities designed to instill leadership and develop self-reliance, enabling them to become familiar with the full spectrum of Navy and Coast Guard career fields.
The positive results of federal funding for both 2001 and 2002, were that for each summer the NSCC has experienced increased recruit training attendance of about 1,500 cadets per summer over those years in which federal funding was not available.
While recruit training acquaints cadets with Navy life and Navy style discipline, advanced training focuses on military and general career fields and opportunities, and also affords the cadets many entertaining, drug free, disciplined yet fun activities over the summer. The popularity of the training continues to grow not with just overall numbers but also as evidenced with over 500 cadets performing multiple two week training sessions during the summer of 2002.
Advanced training highlights for 2002.
With federal funding available in 2002, the NSCC’s focus was continuing and/or expanding many of the initiatives started in 2001 with a few new advanced training opportunities added.
They included: • Continued keeping Cadet costs for summer training at a reduced price of only the deposit ($25 or $50, same as 2001) plus transportation. • Accommodated 9/11 required adjustments through training relocations and/or alternate arrangements to maintain cadet training opportunity and quotas at above 2001 levels. • Maintained expanded recruit training and advanced training opportunity with a grand total of over 7500 orders issued, a record high. • Expanded adult professional development participation. • Increased total cadet participation in summer and winter training evolutions to over 6000 cadets. • Added two classes in legal (JAG) training. • Expanded SEAL Orientation under the sponsorship of the UDT-SEAL Association and Museum Association with the sponsorship of the Okeechobee County, Florida Sheriff’s Department. Maintained SEAL Orientation training at NAB, Little Creek, VA. • Maintained East and West Coast sailing training at NAS, Pensacola, and NAB, Coronado, with expanded classes at each. • Nearly doubled class size for seamanship training at the State University of New York Maritime Academy at Fort Schuyler, and for the second summer in a row maintained seamanship training aboard USNS merchant ships, homeported on the West Coast. • Continued 2001 initiative for Honor Guard training in Texas. • Maintained expanded YP training on the Great Lakes at participation levels above 2001. • Placed 4 cadets onboard USCG Barque Eagle for two, three week underway orientation cruises. • Maintained placement of cadets aboard USCG stations, cutters, and tenders for what many consider among the best of the training opportunities offered in the NSCC. • Once again filled all quotas for the popular, merit based, International Exchange program, with 72 cadet participants and 20 escorts for 2002. • Kept all quotas filled to all the NSCC Petty Officer Leadership Academies, (POLA) graduating over 270 cadets at 10 training sites. • Maintained SCUBA training opportunities with two classes in 2002. • Increased MAA and police science from 4 classes to 5. • Maintained placement of cadets onboard USN ships under local orders as operating schedules and opportunity permitted. • As was the case in 2001 and all prior years, once again enjoyed particularly outstanding support from members of the United States Naval Reserve, whose help and leadership remains essential for summer training.
International Exchange
NSCC operates an international exchange program with Naval Sea Cadet units in Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Each summer, outstanding Cadets are selected to serve as young ambassadors and train with their global counterparts. The NSCC continued in 2002 its’ redesigned, highly competitive, merit based, and very low cost to the cadet, International Exchange Program and placed cadets in Australia, Korea, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Sweden, Netherlands, and Bermuda to train with fellow cadets in these host nations. The NSCC and Canada maintained their traditional exchanges in Nova Scotia and British Columbia, and the NSCC hosted visiting cadets in Norfolk for two weeks of U.S. Navy style training.
Navy League Cadet Training
In 2002, over 1,185 Navy League Cadets and escorts attended orientation training at 15 different sites. This diversity in location made training accessible and reasonably available to each Cadet who wished to attend. Over 373 League Cadets and escorts attended advanced training at several sites. The advanced program was developed in recognition of the need to provide follow-on training for this younger age group to sustain their interest and to better prepare them for the challenges of Naval Sea Cadet Corps training. Navy League Cadets who attend recruit orientation training are exceptionally well prepared for Sea Cadet “boot camp.” The number of NLCC Cadets who participated in summer training was a third higher than normal. Again, this was directly attributable to the federal funding received.
Training Grants
Through contributions from Douglas and Christine Peterson, the Donner Foundation, and the federal funds, every Cadet who desired to attend summer training had that opportunity. Approximately 1500 more Cadet orders were written than in previous years. This milestone is a direct result of funds received for NSCC/NLCC to participate in the Corps' summer training.
Scholarships
The Naval Sea Cadet Corps Scholarship program was established to provide financial assistance to deserving Cadets who wished to further their education at the college level. Established in 1975, the scholarship program consists of a family of funds: the NSCC Scholarship Fund; the Navy League Stockholm Scholarship; the San Diego Gas & Electric Fund; grants from the Lewis A. Kingsley Foundation; and the NSCC "named scholarship" program, designed to recognize an individual, corporation, organization or foundation. Under this latter program two new funds have been established to commence scholarships. The estate of June Howell has forwarded funds to establish a scholarship in the name of her parents-Harry and Rose Howell. Also, from the estate of Robert C. Hutton, an aviation orientation scholarship has been established. Since the inception of the scholarship program, 149 scholarships have been awarded to 141 Cadets (includes some renewals) totaling over $160,000.
Service Accessions
The Naval Sea Cadet Corps was formed at the request of the Department of the Navy as a means to “enhance the Navy image in the minds of American youth.” To accomplish this, ongoing presentations illustrate to Naval Sea Cadets the advantages and benefits of careers in the armed services, and in particular, the sea services.
While there is no service obligation associated with the Naval Sea Cadet Corps program, many Sea Cadets choose to enlist or enroll in Officer training programs in all the Services.
Annually, the NSCC conducts a survey to determine the approximate number of Cadets making this career decision. This survey is conducted during the annual inspections of the units. The reported Cadet accessions to the services are only those that are known to the unit at that time. There are many accessions that occur in the 2-3 year timeframe after Cadets leave their units, which go unreported. For example, for the year 2000, with about 83 percent of the units reporting, the survey indicates that 510 known Cadets entered the armed forces during the reporting year ending 31 December 2000. Of these, 30 ex- Sea Cadets were reported to have received appointments to the U.S. Naval Academy. Further liaison with the USNA indicates that in fact, there are currently 466 Midshipmen with Sea Cadet backgrounds – almost 10% of the entire Brigade. Navy accession recruiting costs have averaged over $11,000 per person, officer or enlisted, which applied to the number of Sea Cadet accessions represents a significant financial benefit to the Navy. Equally important is the expectation that once a more accurate measurement methodology can be found, is, that since Sea Cadets enter the Armed Forces as disciplined, well trained and motivated individuals, their retention, graduation and first term enlistment completion rates are perhaps the highest among any other entry group. USNA officials are currently studying graduation rates for past years for ex-Sea Cadets as a group as compared to the entire Brigade. Their preliminary opinion is that these percents will be among the highest. It is further expected that this factor will be an excellent indicator of the following, not only for the USNA, but for all officer and enlisted programs the Sea Cadets may enter:
• Extremely high motivation of ex-Cadets to enter the Service. • Excellent background provided by the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet experience in preparing and motivating Cadets to enter the Service. • Prior U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps experience is an excellent pre-screening opportunity for young men and women to evaluate their interest in pursuing a military career. This factor could potentially save considerable tax-payer dollars expended on individuals who apply for, then resign after entering the Academy if they decide at some point they do not have the interest or motivation. • U.S. Naval Sea Cadet experience prior to entering the Service is an excellent indicator of a potentially high success rate.
Data similar to the above has been requested from the United States Coast Guard Academy and the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
Whether or not they choose a service career, all Sea Cadets carry forth learned values of good citizenship, leadership and moral courage that will benefit themselves and our country.
Program Finances
Sea Cadets pay for all expenses , including travel to/from training, uniforms, insurance and training costs. Out-of-pocket costs can reach $400-$500 each year. Assistance is made available so that no young person is denied access to the program, regardless of social or economic background.
Federally funded at the $1,000,000 level (of the $2,000,000 requested) in FY’s ’01, ’02, and ’03, all of these fund were used to offset individual Cadet’s individual costs for summer training, conduct of background checks for adult volunteers and for reducing future enrollment costs for Cadets. In addition to the federal fund received ($1 million), NSCC receives under $700,000 per year from other sources, which includes around $226,000 in enrollment fees from Cadets and adult volunteers. For a variety of reasons, this current level of funding can no longer sustain this program:
• All time high in number of enrolled Sea Cadets (and growing). • General inflation of all costs. • Some bases denying planned access to Sea Cadets for training due to increased terrorism threat level alerts and the associated tightening of security measures – requiring Cadets to utilize alternative, and often more costly training alternatives • Reduced availability of afloat training opportunities due to the Navy’s high level of operations related to the Iraq war. • Reduced training site opportunities due to base closures • Non-availability of open bay berthing opportunities for Cadets due to their elimination as a result of enlisted habitability upgrades to individual/double berthing spaces. • Lack of available “Space Available” transportation for group movements. • Lack of on-base transportation, as the navy no longer “owns” busses now controlled by the GSA.
Because of these factors, Cadet out-of-pocket costs have skyrocketed to the point where the requested $2,000,000 alone is insufficient to handle cost increases, not to mention the impact if, as in past years, only $1,000,000 is approved and appropriated.
It is therefore considered a matter of urgency that the full amount of the requested $2,000,000 be authorized and appropriated for Fiscal Year 2004.
