Adult Volunteers Drive Another 124 Hours, 4,459 Miles -
436 Hours, 19,443 Miles In Two Months!

By Joseph P Cirone 

“Absolutely impressive,” is what LT Joseph P Cirone, USNSCC, Commanding Officer of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Henry E. Mooberry Division and the U.S. Navy League Cadet Corps Admiral John S. McCain Training Ship, called the dedication of 16 adult volunteers who helped Cadets get to and from training sites in the past two months.

In August 2008, INSTs A. Babayamei, B. Babayemi, Bragg, Downing, Herbert, McKenzie and Malley joined LT Cirone on East Coast highways, transporting and supervising 45 Cadets to and from training sites in DC, Fort Belvior, VA, New Jersey and New York, enabling the Cadets to attend the training without the added and potentially prohibitive costs for transportation.

The adult volunteers made trips to Boot Camps in Sea Girt, NJ and Camp Clark/Evans Mills, NY (near Fort Drum); Master-At-Arms training at Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst, NJ; Aviation, Riverine and Land training starting at Fort Belvior, VA and small boat training at Coast Guard Station Washington DC.

U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Gary Roughead (center) poses with NLCC Cadet R. Eichler (left) and NSCC Cadet E. Eichler (right) during a summer event for which our adult volunteers provided transportation support. Photo courtesy of Joan Jones, National Capital Council – Navy League of the United States (www.navyleaguedc.org)

The trips in three states and the District of Columbia metropolitan area had the volunteers on the road 124 hours, covering 4,459 miles of roadway. The trips were conducted in a safe and professional manner, while contending with inclement weather, congested traffic and other hazards.

16 Adults – 52 Interstate Trips

During July and August, the 16 road savvy adult volunteers, and LT Cirone donated 436 hours on the road and traveled 19,443 miles, during 52 interstate trips. “Most Impressive,” Cirone exclaimed.

“Words alone cannot express the warm feelings I have for these great people, who gave much of themselves to help our Cadets and our unit. I know what challenges they faced – sitting in a vehicle, driving for hours to get to the destination; being in bumper-to-bumper traffic at times and having Cadets needing to get to a rest stop in a hurry. They have my utmost appreciation and respect,” Cirone stated.

Recruit Cadets march onto the parade field during the graduation ceremony at Boot Camp at Camp Clark, NY, before heading back to the Washington Navy Yard. Photo by Joseph P Cirone

Road Troopers – Adult Volunteers Cover the East Coast

The adult volunteers who helped transport Cadets in July and August 2008, number of hours spent; number of miles and number of trips:

INST McKenzie 2 66 2
INST B. Oxendine 7 340 1
INST M. Oxendine 7 340 1
INST Herbert 9 406 1
INST Malley 12 480 1
INST McFadden 10 484 1
INST Bragg 24 573 13 (12 in DC Area)
INST Hallinan 14 680 2
INST Eichler 17 824 2
INST A. Babayemi 24 946 1
INST B. Babayemi 24 946 1
INST Rafikan 21 1020 3
MIDN Maye 23 1128 3
INST Downing 36 1426 2
INST Lavoie 45 2306 4
INST Plata 53 2630 5
LT Cirone 108 4848 9

TOTAL: 436 Hrs 19,443 Miles 52 Trips

In addition, Petty Officers A. Lan, H. Lan, KA. Plata, KG. Plata and Player traveled to Fort Lewis, WA to participate in the intensive, three-week long Field Medical Force training course. SN DeShong traveled to Rhode Island for Homeland Security training and Cadet Vorus independently traveled in the DC metropolitan area, returning from Coast Guard Station Washington DC on a daily basis, during a two-week training evolution.

Some of the Cadets and Adult Volunteers pose at Fort Indiantown Gap, PA, before hitting the road back to DC. Photo by Joseph P Cirone

Navy Support – Vital

“Without the Navy’s tremendous logistical support, providing the vehicles and other support that it gives our unit, we would be unable to provide the great opportunities and training for our Cadets. Likewise, without our dedicated adult volunteers and the support we get from the NSCC chain of command and National HQ, we would not be able to offer the type of program we do. They are all unsung heroes. They help make our unit the very best.”

“I encourage all of our Cadets and their parents to write their federal elected officials to send a note of thanks for the Navy’s support and appreciation for Congress’ funding grant that pays for the majority of the costs for NSCC summer training. This is especially important this fiscal year as our elected officials will be looking for budget cuts to offset rising costs in the declining economy,” Cirone concluded.

Cadets Walsh, Vorus, R. Thomas, S. Thomas and Stephens pose along with the remainder of the Master-at-Arms Academy graduating class, in front of a VFA-15 “Valions” Strikefighter Squadron (NAS Oceana, VA and USS Forrestal – CV-59) A-4 Skyhawk jet fighter at the Naval Air Engineering Center in Lakehurst, NJ, in August. Photo by Instructor Linda Ashbey, NSCC (Squadron One – NAEC Lakehurst, NJ).

Unit Commendation

In recognition of their extraordinary contributions and accomplishment, all of the adult volunteers were awarded the NSCC Unit Commendation Ribbon, by CAPT R. Baker, USN (Ret), NSCC Southeast Representative for National HQ.