WASHINGTON DC (April 10, 2008) - On April 2, 2008, 20 male and female teenagers from throughout the country arrived in Eastover, South Carolina, not far from the state’s capital, Columbia, seeking gold, and were told to keep the change. They spent many hours over a period of five days in a classroom and asked to stay even longer. Had the scenario happened a day earlier, it could have been an April Fool’s joke, but the teens were not fools and the classroom training was not a joke. The teens had an average age of 16 and shared a common interest; but there was nothing average about them and there was nothing common about the schooling they received.


The teenagers, and a handful of adults, volunteering to help teach them and provide support, came from eight states and the Nation’s Capital. All are members of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, a Congressionally chartered youth development organization for males and females, age 10 to 17, teaching leadership, self-reliance and self-esteem, while keeping them in school and away from gangs, drugs and other negative influences, by offering a variety of fun, challenging, exciting and rewarding activities during weekends, summers and other periods when school is not in session.

The teens, called Cadets, share the common vision of either attending college, perhaps with one of the many scholarships offered by the program; applying for entrance into a military or merchant marine academy; enlisting in a military service, likely at an advanced pay grade; or simply having fun while being exposed to various occupational fields and positive role models.

The Cadets received permission from their High Schools to miss a week and attend the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps’ (NSCC) Advanced Petty Officer Leadership Academy (POLA), held at the McCrady South Carolina Army National Guard Training Center, near the U.S. Army’s Training Center at Fort Jackson, SC.

Just as the Cadets were not average teens, this POLA was not the normal POLA curriculum. Instead, it was the first of its kind, a blend of the traditional NSCC POLA
and a course, known as “Cougar Quest,” taking the program to a more advanced level, resulting in what course facilitator, Mike Jones of Houston, TX called, an “intensive leadership development program, challenging the Cadets, mentally, physically, and emotionally.”

NSCC Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Tammy R. Rivera, of South Carolina and South Carolina Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 Rick Corley, who is also an NSCC adult volunteer, coordinated the program, with the assistance of six support and three additional instruction personnel. Corley called the course, “the most impacting and challenging course ever taken by Cadets.” Early in the week, it was evident that Cadets with diverse backgrounds blended together, formed bonds of friendship and quickly became an effective team, in order to meet the demanding challenges.

Throughout the course, the Cadets practiced newly acquired leadership skills; enduring long days, short nights, soaking near-continuous rains, cold mornings, warm afternoons; living and eating in military facilities in a beautiful wooded area, isolated from the conveniences and distractions of city life.

They ate, attended classes, performed practical exercises, took exams, showered, completed homework assignments and enjoyed a few hours sleep, daily. Because there was little time available to waste on idle chatter or text messaging, cell phones, I-Pods and other electronic items were collected upon initial arrival at the training site and not returned to Cadets until graduation day.


Classroom and practical sessions included leadership and personality styles; ethics; team building; memory association; public speaking; voice projection and confidence; diversity awareness; development of personal and academic goals and analysis; elimination of personal weaknesses; utilizing personal strengths; negotiation; effective verbal and non-verbal communication; lesson planning; physical fitness; creative brainstorming; and understanding the roles, responsibilities and accountability of leadership.

Rivera attended one phase of the program last May and said it made a huge difference in her life. It allowed her to trust people more; become more confident in herself; greatly improve her leadership skills; and change her personality from being very rigid to more flexible and better able to adapt to changes, reducing her stress level. Agreeing on the dramatic change he saw in LTJG Rivera, NSCC Instructor Roger Wheeler, a member of Rivera’s unit said, “it is like night and day. The positive change is at least three fold.” Nick Mann, a 16 year-old NSCC Leading Petty Officer in Rivera’s unit and a champion competitive swimmer, attended the entire course last July. He learned that striving for near-perfection was good, but failing on occasion when trying his best was okay. Mann served as one of the POLA course facilitators and as a liaison between the adult and Cadet personnel.

“Initially, I was skeptical that this program was much different from other POLA programs, but within days, I was convinced that the techniques used clearly made a
significant impact,” NSCC Lieutenant Joseph P Cirone, commanding officer of the NSCC unit based at the Washington Navy Yard in the Nation’s Capital, said. In describing the results of the course, Cadets spoke as if they found a pot of gold or had unlimited access to the gold deposits at Fort Knox.

“When I began this course, it was hard for me to speak to more than a few people at a time, now that’s changed,” Cadet John Winston Spires, remarked. Spires used his talents and kept his fellow students motivated during even the toughest times. “He always saw the bright side of things and kept us laughing,” a fellow Cadet recalled. “It is an amazing leadership experience,” one Cadet said. Another Cadet said the course pushed her out of her comfort zone, “I have grown in my abilities. This is a truly motivating experience,” she said. Cadet Heather Vibbert said she learned to become more self-confident, trust and open up to others, having faith in them. “It is an awesome experience,” she concluded.

“It got rid of barriers that kept me from being a success. We worked as a team with people we didn’t even know. I improved my leadership and overall personality,” Cadet Ben Webster of Georgia commented. “It’s an amazing leadership experience,” another Cadet said. “The training made me want to strive to be the best; give my all; work hard as I know how to, plus some. It was really motivating,” an excited Cadet proclaimed. “Everyone has to have this course. I thought I was a leader, now I am a leader. This has taken me to a new level I didn’t think possible - it is!,” Cadet Shannon Penne of California, boldly stated.


The program taught the Cadets not to let their personal limitations prevent them from doing everything they possibly can, according to Jones. During an extremely challenging portion of the course, Instructor Wheeler asked a group of Cadets if they were afraid of what was about to happen. He said the Cadets responded with, “All week they have been teaching us not to be weak or afraid; why would we fear now?”

As the course was nearing its conclusion, Cadets were still having the “adventure of a lifetime” and asked if they could stay longer and continue learning, even after enduring clothes-soaking rains, mud, fatigue and being pushed to their limits. Cadet Cynthia Rivera exclaimed, “If I had the chance, I’d do it again.”

Having completed the schooling; asking to stay in school longer and finding gold-like value in the course offerings, graduation day arrived. Parents traveled from near and far, as did High School teachers from Bloomfield, NJ, to be on hand in support of their two students, who are also Sea Cadets. “Different,” is how Rivera and others described the ceremonies. The ceremony was musical, confidence-filled, lively, emotional, and included participation by all in attendance. Pride, cheers and tears of joy were very evident.

“You will always be regarded as mine. I’m your second mom,” Rivera told the graduating Cadets. She pledged to be available to them as they continue in life and to feel free to reach out for her, if they wanted to talk or needed help at anytime in the future. “Feeling the love in the room and seeing the excellent teamwork, conduct and leadership
the Cadets displayed all week, today, I had tears in my eyes. It was hard to hold back my emotions and focus, after a special ceremony in which LTJG Rivera, some parents and I participated. I broke out in tears when one Cadet whispered a special thank you in my ear, while I had my eyes closed as part of the ceremony. I was blown away,” Cirone commented.

As a pilot program, the short term results look very positive, but the long term results will determine the program’s true worth. The changes in the Cadets will be observed over coming months to see what, if any, impact it has on the Cadet’s leadership and achievement. “We’ll personally observe our Cadets and if they are still changed for the better in four to six months from now, then we will have our answer,” Corley stated.

The graduation concluded with recognition of Cadet Megan Gilligan, of Kentucky, as the most improved; Cadet Andre Perez of New Jersey, and Cadet Joy Caris of Michigan as the male and female most outstanding Cadets. In her closing remarks, Rivera encouraged Cadets to “keep the change” they made during the course. So far, they have. “I am already getting e-mails from parents and Cadets thanking us for the change,” Rivera reported two days after the graduation.

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MEDIA NOTE - High resolution images e are available from co@seacadetsdc.org.


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