By U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Henry E. Mooberry Division Public Affairs

WASHINGTON – Last week, eight male and female youth from the National Capital Region, ages 14 to 17, members of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Henry E. Mooberry Division, based at the Naval Support Activity Washington (NSAW) Washington Navy Yard traveled to Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach, Va. The cadets began an intensive two-week long training course – a shortened version of the Navy’s boot camp.

Once completed with boot camp, the cadets are eligible to attend more advanced, fun training in topics that interest them, this summer and during winter, spring and summer school breaks for years to come, throughout the country and internationally. In between school breaks, the cadets will take advantage of training and fun opportunities provided in the D.C. area and within a day’s drive.

Traveling with the newer cadets were two more senior cadets, prior graduates of boot camp. The two are serving as cadet company commanders, training and leading the newer cadets who come from around the country. Additionally, an adult volunteer from the Navy Yard Sea Cadet unit also reported to the boot camp, where she is serving as part of the support staff.

Sea Cadet Ens. Joshua Maye, the unit’s assistant operations officer, Instructor Tye Mullikin, the unit’s morale, welfare and recreation officer, Instructor Peter Gaydos, the unit’s training officer and Instructor Negar Rafikin, accompanied the cadets to Camp Pendleton.

“Before departure, Maye provided a quick prayer for the cadets successful journey and for the drivers to have a safe trip,” Gaydos stated.

Cadets Sean Buzzard, left, and Jean Buzzard, right, prepare to leave for boot camp. (USNSCC Photo by Inst. Tye Mullikin/Released)

While cadets, parents and boot camp training and support staff, from a variety of Sea Cadet units around the nation were engaged with administrative in-processing, a loud rumble broke the mid-day near-silence.

Mullikin reported, “With much fanfare and a loud cadence being called, the Mooberry Division arrived at Camp Pendleton at 12:30 p.m., marching to the administrative building, with Cadet Ketih Buzard calling the cadence.”

“There was a collective ‘What group is that arriving?’ ‘They are so organized!,’” Mullikin stated. “Boot camp adult leaders and staff cadets were very impressed.” Petty Officer Leila Farzam, one of the unit’s two cadets serving as a company commander at the boot camp, responded to the stunned group, “That is the Mooberry Division, the best division on the East Coast!”

Sea Cadets sound off while in formation after completing the boot camp in-processing at Camp Pendleton, Va. (USNSCC Photo by Inst. Peter Gaydos/Released)

Mullikin continued, “The boot camp staff was even further impressed when 2 cadets dropped out of formation and performed road guard duties, ensuring the safe crossing of the formation, and fell back in when directed.” Mullikin noted, “We were the only unit to march in formation into the boot camp. There are around 152 cadets attending boot camp, overall.”

The unit’s Chief of Staff, Air Force Major David Vernal, stated the cadet’s entrance into boot camp was “Outstanding!” Gaydos added, “We did look and sound good!”

“I had tears in my eyes hearing what the cadets did. I am so very proud of them,” Sea Cadet Lt. Cmdr. Joseph P. Cirone, the unit’s commanding officer, said.

“Every cadet was a delight to travel with and made the Mooberry Division proud with their excellent military bearing,” Mullikin concluded.

Normally, Gaydos coordinates the unit’s training, but this time it was he that was trained. “I ended up cutting the male cadets hair as part of their in-processing. It was the first time I have ever cut hair and would do it again,” he said.

Cadet Noel Babayemi, left, has his head shaved by a Navy Petty Officer, right, during the in-processing phase of Sea Cadet boot camp at Camp Pendleton, Va. (USNSCC Photo by Inst. Peter Gaydos/Released)

While under no obligation to ever join the military, Sea Cadets living the military lifestyle in a boot camp environment, without contact with loved ones, cell phones or e-mail, helps the cadets break their dependency on their parents/guardians and develop self-reliance and self-confidence, explained Cirone. “Plus they learn how to make their bed, iron their clothing, get out of bed on time and keep their room clean. Something we hope they continue when they get home,” Cirone said with a smile.

Two weeks away from home, living in a structured environment, complete with physical fitness exercises at 5 a.m., marching, hands-on and classroom learning is a real test for most cadets.

“It helps produce a winning, positive, confidence in the cadets’ minds. They know it is hard. They press on and then realize that by not quitting, they can overcome other challenges in life when many other people would have taken the easy way out and simply quit. They also learn the value of teamwork and how important supporting each other is for any team to win,” according to Cirone.

Just like the men and women, age 17 and older, who attend the Navy and Coast Guard boot camps, not everyone succeeds.

“The only real differences between our cadets at boot camp and the Navy and Coast Guard recruits at boot camp are that our cadets are three years younger; our boot camp is about one-quarter as long and Sea Cadets are not required to serve in the military unless they decide to enlist or attend a service academy when they complete our program in the senior year of high school,” Cirone emphasized. “Our cadets learn most of the same lessons as the active duty and reserve Navy and Coast Guard personnel do.”

Having reached the halfway point in their boot camp experience, the recruit cadets have begun to show signs of needing more encouragement and support from each other, their company commanders and the training staff, according to Sea Cadet Instructor Georgia Gaydos, the unit’s administrative and logistics officer, who is volunteering as one of the boot camp’s adult staff.

“This is tough. Many of the cadets need some words of ‘good job, we are proud of you,” Gaydos reported. But completing the training has its rewards.

Sea Cadet Instructor Georgia Gaydos, right, speaks with Cadet Talyor Allen, center, and her mother, left, at the Washington Navy Yard about boot camp, before Gaydos and Allen departed to Camp Pendleton, Va. (USNSCC Photo by Inst. Peter Gaydos/Released)

Following boot camp. all of the Sea Cadet unit’s personnel, at times, called “Junior Sailors” by NSAW Commanding Officer, Navy Capt. John Sears and other naval personnel, have the opportunity to also attend advanced training in law enforcement, firefighting, firearms, medical and public affairs before returning to school in late August or early September.

Eleven days after the cadets return home from boot camp, NSAW is hosting an advanced training opportunity for them, the remaining cadets in the unit and all other interested Sea Cadets, nationwide. That training, dubbed as “The Adventure of a Lifetime,” is centered around the centennial anniversary of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America.

The Sea Cadets will help ensure the safety and security of the scouts, as well as provide first aid, crowd and traffic control to keep the scouts safe at events at the NSAW’s Naval Support Facility Anacostia in D.C. and the Army’s Fort A.P. Hill, Va., in support of a Navy mission there.

“This advanced training opportunity will be filled with fun and experiences that will last a lifetime,” Cirone concluded.