Naval Sea Cadet Corps Accepting Applications For Summer Programs

It is enrollment season for The Naval Sea Cadet Corps, a national youth military education organization, offering a variety of leadership, travel, and training opportunities for local youngsters. Applications for summer programs are now available through May 31.

Camps are between $190 and $260, depending on the duration. The SCUBA training camp, for example, is longer and more expensive than the leadership camp, said Lt. Cmdr. Scott D. Oram, Naval Sea Cadet Corps regional director for San Diego and Imperial Counties.

The Sea Cadets also offers a two-week, $400 international exchange program to countries like Australia, Scotland, England, Bermuda, Russia, Canada, Hong Kong and others.

“That program is competitive,” said Oram. “One in four cadets will be chosen and about 40 or 50 applications are submitted in a year.” 

The Michael Monsoor Battalion at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and the Escondido Battalion at the Escondido National Guard Armory have formed to provide training for young people in Oceanside and Escondido.

“Active duty Marines help the kids emulate military customs and courtesies,” said Valencia Jones, an administrator with the Sea Cadets. “They can help with the discipline aspects of drill and ceremony, they help with M16 simulation training, land navigation and boot camp.”

Jones’ son, now a staff sergeant in the Marine Corps, was a sea cadet. Now he helps with the two-week cadet boot camp.

The Naval Sea Cadet Corps is open to young people ages 10-17 and offers an extra-curricular experience, unafilliated with any educational institution, and is much like Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.

The sea cadet program is federally subsidized and are held during the school year between September and June, with camp and away training periods held between June and August.

Visit the Sea Naval Sea Cadets Corps website for more information.