Naval Station Everett (NSE) and Afloat Training Group (ATG) Pacific Northwest hosted naval ship handling seamanship training for the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) NSE Division, Jan. 10.

The goal of Sea Cadets is to offer a foundation of practical skills and to give them a big picture view of what is available to them, and introduce young men and women to what the military has to offer.

“Its purpose is to provide military orientation and formal instruction to young men and women between the ages of 13 and 18,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jim Sketchley NSCC unit commanding officer. “For younger children between the ages of 10 and 13, the Navy League Cadet program provides a modified training program as well. The Sea Cadet program emphasizes practical skills and hands-on-training, and is normally sponsored by a local Navy League Council, which is the case with our unit.”

The cadets took part in a host of military training from bridge simulations to fire fighting.

“We will go over basic rules of the road, maneuvering and shiphandling,” said Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Straub, executive officer of ATG Pacific Northwest. “We will set up a bridge watch team and rotate Cadets through stations in order to ‘drive’ a ship the way it is done on Navy warships.”

Sketchley said that they typically mix classroom training with hands-on technical training.

“For example, during today’s drill, unit cadets were provided exposure to hands-on training on the NSE Navigation/Shipboard Bridge Simulator in building 2000,” he said. “After chow, the unit conducted Damage Control and Firefighting training aboard the USS Momsen (DDG 92).”

One youth and fellow sea cadet, who has been with the sea cadets for more than five years, shares of his enthusiasm about the program while trying to maintain his military bearing.

“The Sea Cadets is a great program, there are a lot of training opportunities where you get to train with the Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Air Force, learning what they do,” said Jacob Carson-Hanson, leading petty officer of NSE division. “I am looking forward to the helmsman simulator training, because I like to navigate on the water. I’ve enjoyed the experiences a great deal so far although I haven’t gotten to drive the simulator yet”

Carson-Hanson said he would recommend the program to anyone interested, regardless of whether they plan to go in the military.

“It not only looks good on college and job applications, but it’s fun also. It’s a great program with a lot of great benefits,” said Carson-Hanson.

For information, call (661) 349-5157 or e-mail .