Sunday, May 19, 2024
Sea Cadets and leadership on base.
Sea Cadets with a World War II C-47 plane, The Southern Cross.
Fort Worth’s Lone Star Squadron teaches young people valuable skills in and outside the military
Some students are preparing for their futures with the Sea Cadet Corps. The U.S. Navy Sea Cadet Corps is a youth program in which children and teens ages 10 to 18 can receive basic and advanced training alongside active-duty U.S. military personnel.
The Lone Star Squadron is Fort Worth’s own Sea Cadet unit, operating on Training Ship Lone Star since 2001. The Lone Star Squadron drills one weekend a month, typically the second weekend, at the Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base. The squadron was ranked as the top Sea Cadet unit in the nation in 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Currently, more than 60 cadets from 10 different Texas counties participate in the Lone Star Squadron.
The Sea Cadet Corps helps prepare young people for careers in the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines, as well as civilian life.
“The objectives of the Sea Cadet program are to introduce youth to naval life, to develop in them a sense of pride, patriotism, courage, and self-reliance, and to maintain an environment free of drugs and gangs,” Sanci Hall, a parent volunteer, said.
A few of the skills and jobs categories that cadets can learn in the Lone Star Squadron are Basic and Advanced Medical, Mountain Rescue, Master at Arms, Aviation, SCUBA, Culinary Arts, Leadership, STEM, Special Warfare, Firefighting, and Communications.
“Sea Cadets is one of our nation’s best-kept secrets, and an adventure of a lifetime,” Training Officer Scott Voigt said. “We look forward to inviting your cadet into our family and helping turn them into leaders for a better tomorrow. Your cadet will learn teamwork, leadership, communication, and service while making lifelong friends.”
The Lone Star Squadron has been instrumental in shaping the skills and values for many of the young people involved in the program.
“I made the decision to join the Naval Sea Cadets in June of 2020,” Lone Star Squadron Chief Petty Officer Olivia Riedl said. “Over the course of the past three years, I have learned, grown, and found myself in a way that could not have been done without this program. Sea Cadets has given and shown me many different phases of learning. First, I learned to follow; follow orders, and complete them to the best of my ability, which was a big step to take for my stubborn young self. Very quickly, I started maturing, growing, and beginning to open my mind up to new ideas. As I have gone through the ranks and have earned the title of chief petty officer, I am now leading a new generation of cadets. This opportunity has incredibly grown my independent and collaborative thinking.
“Overall, The United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps has brought out my inner strengths of leading that I previously never knew I had or was even capable of having. My self-confidence has grown drastically teaching me to speak clearly and maturely to adults, peers, teachers, and so many more. Along with this, the training opportunities I have been offered ranging from aviation all the way to welding, have expanded my knowledge and skill sets. I am thankful for not only making but maintaining lifelong friendships and connections with kids and adults all around the country.”
Chief Petty Officer Sydney Lacy, who joined the Sea Cadet Corps in January 2019, said the organization has been instrumental in building a wide range of necessary life skills.
“Sea Cadets has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and grow as an individual,” Lacy said. “I have learned valuable life skills such as how to make my bed, manage my time well, and write a professional email, and I have also learned how to be a good leader. I have had the opportunity to develop my leadership skills and become confident in my ability to lead a group of people. I have made lifelong friends through Sea Cadets and have attended amazing advanced trainings that have allowed me to expand my knowledge in topics that interest me. The USNSCC has given me so many opportunities that other high schoolers don’t have. I’m beyond grateful for this program and the amazing experiences that I have gained from it.”
The next Sea Cadet Orientation is scheduled for Aug. 5. If interested in the program, email Lieutenant Junior Grade Luedicke at Anthony.luedicke@yahoo.com or check out www.seacadets.org for more information. To support the Lone Star Squadron directly, email Sanci Hall at s.hall@seacadets.org.
