United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps (USNSCC) members visited Naval Air Station Whidbey Island for two weeks of airman training, July 19-30.
USNSCC is a Department of the Navy program designed for young adults, ages 13 to 17, to learn about life in the naval forces in a military-style environment while still providing a safe setting.

“The Sea Cadets get a good indoctrination into the aviation aspect of being in the Navy,” said Charles Grosvenor, commanding officer of the USNSCC NAS Whidbey Island Airman Training Program. “Our program, unlike the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, is geared towards the enlisted ranks. It is a good introduction to all the different fields of the naval aviation community.”

The cadets spent their first week at the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) observing the schooling aviation rates receive before seeing the practical application at Fleet Readiness Center Northwest, Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130, NAS Whidbey Island Search and Rescue, Naval Region Northwest Fire and Emergency Services and NAS Whidbey Island Air Traffic Control during the second week.

“It was a great experience. I am planning on going in the Navy, and this is a great program to prepare me for that. If I am interested in a particular rate, I can go to that certain training and learn a little bit more about it. Coming here I get a taste of a few aviation jobs. I am thinking about the aviation field a lot more,” said Seth Castagnola, a cadet from Crescent City, Calif.

After having the opportunity to work with the cadets, Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Ashley Cypert of Paris, Tenn., agreed.
“The Sea Cadet program is a good opportunity for kids in high school to see exactly what we do in the military, the different types of jobs and everything that the Navy offers them,” Cypert said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Ashley Cypert of Paris, Tenn., who worked with the cadets.
Upon successful completion of the training, cadets graduated and received their aviation warfare pins.