Sea Cadets land at NSB Kings Bay

"The focus of the Naval Sea Cadet program is to put these boys and girls on the deck plates," said Commanding Officer, Training Contingent Lt. Thomas Meyer, who is in charge of the Sea Cadet Submarine and Master-at-Arms schools held at Kings Bay this summer. "The Naval Education and Training Command helped organize some basic training for the cadets that is very similar to training we get in the real Navy. The sub-school training they have been getting here is known as their advanced training, similar to the Navy's A-school."

The VESUB, otherwise known as the virtual reality submarine navigation simmulator, gave the Sea Cadets many hours of practice in basic navigation commands and proceedures. One fifteen-year-old cadet gave the all-ahead one-third order to move the boat from the Kings Bay waterfront into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, while the voice recognition software sent the right orders to the virtual crew below deck and replied "Aye-aye" with a synthetic voice.

Just like in the real Navy, the Sea Cadets spent many hours studying everything they could about submarines in one of the classrooms at Trident Training Facility. Here, the cadets also used many of the building's training modules to enhance their understanding of submarines.

They were taught to drive submarines, demonstrating their skills in the "Dive and Drive," a hydraulically maneuverable square room designed to tilt and pitch as if it were a real submarine. They were also taught basic surface navigation and the importance of clear communication in the VESUB - a virtual reality submarine designed to teach future commanding officers to control their submarines and to navigate in unfamiliar waters.

"Essentially it is a condensed two-week version on the Navy's Enlisted Basic Submarine School, and TTF is absolutely critical to the success of that training," said Meyer. "The cadets learned everything from basic submarine construction to all the major systems that make the submarine function. We also had them take advantage of the virtual shooting range, which the Marines keep at TTF and share with the Navy."

Sea Cadets march from Trident Training Facility to the Pirate's Cove Galley for lunch. The cadets took part in a two-week submarine school similar to a Navy A-school.

At the completion of their submarine school, the Sea Cadets visited the USS Maryland (SSBN738) for a tour and were lucky to stay aboard for lunch as well.

Following the privilege of dining with the crew, the cadets took an elevator ride down the shaft of one of the boat's missile tubes. Needless to say, these experiences are once in a lifetime events for many of the cadets.

"These kids are very capable and every one of them wants to be here," said Sea Cadet Coordinator BMC(SW/AW) Eric Frank, who works at base security, but volunteers his free time to work with the cadets.

Sea Cadets also practiced their shooting skills at the virtual firing range located inside Trident Training Facility. This range was bought for the Marine Corps, however, having no space to set it up, the Marines agreed to share it with the Navy and even local law enforcement in exchange for the space in TTF. This virtual shooting range is the most advanced of its kind, with amost limitless possibilities of weapons and scenarios.

"The Sea Cadet Corps is an all volunteer organization; these kids always put 110 percent into everything they do and we treat them accordingly."

At the conclusion of each day, the cadets enjoyed evening liberty just like Sailors at Kings Bay. They often visited the dance machines next to the Rocky Colletti kitchen and bowled at the Rack 'n' Roll Lanes. They also visited Oscar's to play video games and watch movies. However, they also had a mandatory study period every evening, during which they read educational books and watched films about the Navy.

The Sea Cadets get wet, but successfully work as a team to patch the holes in this pipe.

"Being a Sea Cadet gives these kids a sense of purpose, teaches them responsibility and the importance of the work done by the Navy," said retired ATCS Charles Holland, who is in charge of the Sea Cadet Submarine School group. "Being 14 through 16, they still want to be kids and have fun with a lot of what they are exposed to, but they still learn the importance of listening to directions, giving a verbal response and then carrying out their tasks."

For more information about joining or volunteering for the Sea Cadets, visit their Web site at www.seacadets.org.