United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps

The United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps (USNSCC or NSCC) is a congressionally chartered, U.S. Navy–sponsored organization that serves to involve individuals in the sea-going military services, U.S. naval operations and training, community service, citizenship, and teach an understanding of discipline and teamwork. The USNSCC is composed of two programs: the Navy League Cadet Corps (NLCC), which is for cadets ages 10–13, 5th grade through 8th grade; and the senior program (NSCC), which is for cadets ages 13–18 (March 1st of the year they complete 8th grade).

United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps
Founded	1958 (1958)
Country	United States
Size	396 units and 12,002 members (2,871 officers and 9,131 cadets)
Garrison/HQ	Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.
Motto(s)	"Chart your course"
Colors	Sea Cadet Blue and Gold
Anniversaries	10 September 1962 (federal incorporation)
Website	[1]
Commanders
Executive Director	RADM Andrew Lennon, USN (Ret.)

History

Sea Cadets at Recruit Training

Sea Cadets graduation in January 2019 from EMS at Naval Station Newport

The NSCC was founded in 1958 by the Navy League of the United States at the request of the Department of the Navy. In 1962, the USNSCC was chartered under Title 36 of the United States Code as a non-profit youth organization with an emphasis towards the sea-going services of the United States.

In 2000, the U.S. Congress stated that the NSCC and related programs "provide significant benefits for the Armed Forces, including significant public relations benefits." Although under no service obligation, a sizeable percentage of cadets later enlist in the military. Members who attain the grade E-3 or Seaman/Airman or are in the program for 2 years, may enter as an advanced paygrade of E-3 if they join the Navy before they turn 24 years old, and E-2 in the Marine Corps or other services, due to the training they receive.

Sea Cadets participating in EOD/MDSU training at Fort Story, Virginia

U.S. Navy training activities include, but are not limited to:

Flag of the Chicago Division of the USNSCC. Other divisions use this same flag, just with the division name changed at the bottom.

• Amphibious operations training
• Shipboard training
• Coast Guard
• FAA ground school
• JAG legal training
• MAA (Master at Arms, the Navy equivalent to military police) law enforcement academy
• POLA (petty officer leadership academy)
• Seabee (naval construction battalions)
• Submarine seminar (basic and advanced)
• USN seamanship academy
• Firefighting and damage control school
• Port operations
• Honor guard school
• Field medical school (corpsman)
• Cybersecurity training
• Joint Special Operations Command training
• SEAL training
• SWCC (special warfare combat crewman) or "special boats"
• EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) training
• AIRR (naval helo search and rescue swimmer) training
• Advanced music training
• Land navigation training
• Field operations training
• Homeland security training
• Search and rescue training
• Marksmanship training
• Expeditionary warfare training
• Maritime interdiction
• International exchange program
• Photojournalism
• Scuba
• Naval Criminal Investigative Service training
• Coastal riverine training
• Locally arranged training
• Lifeguard
• U.S. Naval Academy summer seminar
• Online trainings were hosted but now is obsolete

U.S. Naval Sea Cadet doing EOD/MDSU Training at Norfolk, Virginia in 2006.

Vice Adm. Terrance Etnyre, commander of Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, salutes the Sea Cadets performing as sideboys of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet training ship Grayfox (TWR 825), Detroit Navy Week, 2007

The USNSCC owns a ship, the USNSCS Grayfox, homeported in Port Huron, Michigan. The USNSCC also sponsors an International Exchange Program with other Sea Cadet programs around the world: exchange countries include the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, India, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Hong Kong, Russia, and Bermuda.

The Band of the West (BOTW) is a 30-member martial music team which is the only active marching band in the USNSCC. The band has been trained by the top military bands in the nation including the United States Navy Band, Marine Band San Diego and the 101st Army Reserve Band.

Uniforms

As of 10 January 2020 the U.S. Navy has authorized the NWU III Uniform to be worn by Cadets, Midshipmen, Instructors and Officers of the USNSCC. The NWU III uniform worn by the NSCC/NLCC is modified with official USNSCC/USNLCC tapes, shoulder flashes and 8-point cover flash. The only footwear authorized for wear with the NWU III is a black combat style boot. Coyote, Tan and Black "rough out" boots are not authorized for the NSCC.

Rates

Warrant officers are adult leaders who have received direct appointments into the USNSCC Officer Corps. Warrant Officers wear a modified navy warrant officer's (W-2) uniform appropriately marked with the NSCC Insignia. Warrant Officers normally serve a specific function or head a department within the unit and remain in the grade of Warrant Officer, however, may become an Ensign in the normal path of advancement after one year of service if they choose to do so. Candidates for Warrant Officer do not have to complete the Officer/Midshipman Study Guide prior to appointment, but have to have obtained the rank of E-6 or higher in any branch of the Armed Forces, serve 1 year as an instructor, and have a special skill, or speciality in the unit's operation.

Chief Petty Officer shoulder sleeve insignia

Advancement and promotion

Cadets

Rank	Correspondence course	Training	Time in rate	Time in service	Exam	Approval authority
Recruit Candidate / RC	Recruit Candidate	N/A	12 Drills	N/A	RO Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS)	Commanding officer
SC-1 Seaman recruit / SR	Polaris advancement course E-1: Seaman Recruit (SR)	N / A	N / A	N / A	Basic Military Requirement Booklet	Commanding officer
SC-2 Seaman apprentice / SA	Polaris advancement course E-2: Seaman Apprentice (SA)	N/A	3 months in NSCC	3 months	N / A	Commanding officer
SC-3 Seaman / SN OR Airman / AN	Polaris advancement course E-3: Seaman (SN) OR Airman NAVEDTRA 14014A	NSCC recruit training & Advanced training (Minimum 7 days)	6 months as SC-2	9 months	N / A	Commanding officer
SC-4 Petty officer 3rd class / PO3	Petty officer 3rd and 2nd class NAVEDTRA-14504	Advanced training (Minimum 7 days)	6 months as SC-3	15 months	PO3 exam	Commanding officer
SC-5 Petty officer 2nd class / PO2	Petty officer 3rd and 2nd class NAVEDTRA-14504	Advanced training (minimum 7 days), must have graduated from POLA (Petty Officer Leadership Academy)	6 months as SC-4	21 months	PO2 exam	Commanding officer
SC-6 Petty officer 1st class / PO1	Petty officer 1st class NAVEDTRA-14145	Advanced training (minimum 7 days)	6 months as SC-5	27 months	PO1 exam	NSCC executive director
SC-7 Chief petty officer / CPO	Chief petty officer NAVEDTRA-14144	Advanced training (minimum 7 days) Staff RT (effective 1 September 2008) Be 16 years of age	6 months as SC-6	33 months	CPO Exam	NSCC executive director

Adult officers

Rank	Course	Training	Time in service	Other requirements
Midshipman Midshipman (MIDN)	NSCC Officer/Midshipman Study Guide	N / A	N / A	NSCC E-3 or above, or ROTC. between ages 18-21
Instructor Instructor (INST)	NSCC Officer/Midshipman Study Guide	N / A	N / A	at least 21 years of age
Warrant officer Warrant officer (WO)	NSCC officer / Midshipman Study Guide Complete OPD101	Escort one Basic or one Advanced Training as an INST.	Serve a minimum 1 year as an INST.	Must have reached E-6 or above in military, at least 35 years of age
O-1 Ensign (ENS)	NSCC Officer / Midshipman Study Guide Complete OPD101	Escort one Basic or one Advanced Training as an INST.	One year as MIDN or INST One year in NSCC	N / A
O-2 Lieutenant, junior grade (LTJG)	Complete OPD 201	Escort one Basic or one Advanced Training as an ENS	2 years as ENS. 3 Years Minimum NSCC Time in service	N / A
O-3 Lieutenant (LT)	Complete OPD 301	Escort one basic or one advanced training as a LTJG	3 years at LTJG. 6 years minimum NSCC time in service	N / A
O-4 Lieutenant commander (LCDR)	N / A	Escort one Basic or one Advanced Training as a LT	4 years at LT. 10 years minimum NSCC time in service	1 career TWT must be recruit training

Awards and decorations

Awards and decorations of the Naval Sea Cadet Corps

1st row		Chairman's Medal
2nt row		Honor Ribbon
3rd row	Distinguished Service Ribbon	NLCC Distinguished Service Ribbon	Meritorious Recognition Ribbon
4th row	Commendation Ribbon	Citation Ribbon	NSCC Escort Officer Ribbon
5th row	NLUS Youth Ribbon	Community Service Ribbon	NSCC IEP Officer Ribbon
6th row	Academic Achievement Ribbon	Drug Reduction Service Ribbon	ONR Science Achievement Ribbon
7th row	Recruiting Incentive Ribbon	DAR ROTC Award	DAR Outstanding Cadet Award
8th row	SAR Citizenship Award	VFW NSCC Ribbon	Unit Commendation Ribbon
9th row	Physical Fitness Ribbon	NSCC Staff Cadet Ribbon	Color Guard Ribbon
10th row	NSCC/NLCC Service Ribbon Ribbon	NLCC Merit Ribbon	Marksman Ribbon
11th row	International Naval Review/OpSail 2000 Ribbon	NSCC 25th/50th Anniversary Ribbon	25th Year Commissioned Ribbon
12th row	USCG Bicentennial Unit Commendation Ribbon	Fifth Year Ribbon	Fourth Year Ribbon
13th row	Third Year Ribbon	Second Year Ribbon	First Year Ribbon

Headquarters

Policy and guidance for the administration and operation of the Cadet Corps programs is established by a National Board of Directors. The National Vice President of the Navy League for Youth Programs serves concurrently as the National Chairman of the NSCC National Board, and the Vice Chairman of the NSCC National Board serves as the National President. Day-to-day administration of the programs is accomplished by a full-time Executive Director and small staff located in Arlington, Virginia.

Gallery

• 
  Naval Support Facility (NSF) Dahlgren fire department battalion chief Tracy Hall offers some knot-tying pointers to a Navy League cadet.
• 
  Naval Sea Cadets take part in a rigorous exercise routine while participating in Diver/Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Special Operations Program training.
• 
  Master-at-Arms 1st Class Doug Terou, left, assigned to Naval Station Everett, Wash., encourages members of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps to work during a master-at-arms training exercise.
• 
  U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Josh Gladden provides instruction on how to get the perfect spit-shined shoes as part of basic training to U.S. Naval League Cadet Corps recruits.
• 
  Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) William Davis talks to a U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps cadet from the Seal Beach Battalion.

See also

• Navy Junior ROTC
• Combined Cadet Force
• Cadets (youth program)
• International Sea Cadet Association
• Sea Cadets (various nations' Sea Cadet organizations)
• U.S. Naval Academy
• U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
• U.S. Coast Guard Academy
• Civil Air Patrol

External links

• Naval Sea Cadet Corps. Navy.com (About the Navy: "Before the Navy"). Retrieved 2009-12-05.
• Naval Sea Cadet Corps official website. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
• National Resources Portal webpage on Naval Sea Cadet Corps official website. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
• COMPASS: National Training Portal webpage on Naval Sea Cadet Corps official website. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
• NSCC Alumni Association official website. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
• International Sea Cadet Association Archived 16 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine official website. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
• International Exchange Program