It is important that we establish goals to focus and channel our efforts in the forthcoming year. Program Goals - 2000, are forwarded for this purpose in enclosure (1). The following brief review - "State of the Corps" - report is provided as a point of departure for your planning in working to attain these goals: Program Strength: Our registered enrollment remained high at the close of 1999. We had 9076 members registered (down from Dec 98--9192) with a drilling enrollment on 31 December of 8013, up slightly from our previous year's high (Dec 98) of 7986. This reflects improved cadet retention but, not the recruiting enrollments we need to place the Corps in position to meet the NLUS' goals in the outyears. There are 192 NSCC and 47 NLCC units in operation with 68 units in various stages of the formation process. An analysis of unit manning indicates that 77 NSCC units (41%) are at, or above, satisfactory minimum enrollment. The remainder, 115 units (59%) have less than the minimum (25) NSCC cadets enrolled. Some 31 NLCC units (65%) have the minimum on board (15 cadets). Training: The 1999 summer training programs were marked by continued success. Training opportunities were expanded where possible and diversified. Particularly noteworthy was the continuation of the winter recruit and Petty Officer Leadership training among the wide spectrum of opportunities available to cadets. Key to our success was the ability of planners to cope with changing availability of Navy training resources and facilities, and the initiative of Headquarters Representatives, Regional Directors, and key individuals in arranging for, and supervising regional training. Most important was the ability of unit commanding officers and parents to accommodate to a rapidly changing training schedule. In 1999 we significantly improved on the number of cadets who attended recruit training over 1998 figures. This was most probably the result of the advanced deposit required to be forwarded to the commanding officer of the recruit training sites. Summer 2000 will be very challenging with some reductions in recruit training site for the NSCC. This is a result of the continued draw downs and reductions of facilities within the services. Administration: Program administration provided the support and guidance needed by those in the field to accomplish their training mission. NSCC/NLCC manuals and other important information are posted to the Internet. This has given all units the access to information as needed. The NSCC Internet Development Group responsible for web site postings is doing a fantastic job and has contributed greatly to the flow of information available to the NSCC/NLCC unit. The NSCC/NLCC Administrative Manual has been revised in its entirety. This manual was distributed to the field in December. Many NSCC/NLCC forms have been revised and consolidated to reduce paperwork to the units. The forms will continue to be worked to reduce the paperwork even further. The Advancement and Training Manual is under revision with the goal of producing the manual to the field before summer 2000. Fiscal Status: The fiduciary responsibilities of the Board of Directors and National Headquarters are being properly discharged with the Corps ending the year in satisfactory fiscal condition. Efforts underway to get federal funding are progressing above expectations. Good progress is being made and it has become more important than ever to get outside funds. Down sizing of Department of Defense activities has continued to result in the NSCC being tasked to pay for more and more of our own training and administrative costs. Some of the cost involving training has resulted in a significant increase in costs to the cadets. We need to relieve most of this burden when we receive federal funding. Navy/Coast Guard and other Service Support: Support of Cadet Corps training by both the Navy and Coast Guard has been good. The success of the summer and winter training program reflects the willingness of both these services and as well as the other services to make available for our use, to the extent possible, their training facilities and resources. As the Department of Defense continues to draw down the force structure with the resultant base closures, it is incumbent on the NSCC program to take advantage of every training opportunity available. More than half of our recruits training sites are non-Navy sites and we must continue to take advantage of whatever is available locally and within the region. This means working with any service which offers training opportunities. The program goals outlined in enclosure (1) are challenging, but are achievable if we work together as a team to attain them. Only through working together, will we accomplish our goals. Enclosure (2) is our guiding principles which will help us to achieve our goals. These principles are powerful tools and will make the program shine if we follow through on each and everyone.
Copy to: |
