On behalf of the NSCC Board of Directors, I extend sincere Season's Greetings to all members of the Sea Cadet family, including Cadets, Officers, Instructors, Parents and Friends.

While this past year has been one of turmoil, there is a lot to be thankful for. I truly appreciate the efforts of the Cadets who encouraged friends to affiliate with the program. The tireless dedication of our adult leaders is truly impressive and inspiring. We thank parents for encouraging their Cadets and truly appreciate the efforts of those who volunteer to directly support the units.

Nothing in life is certain except change. And a big change has occurred at NHQ. Captain Steve Barrett recently retired from NSCC and returned home to Texas. For the past three years CAPT Barrett has represented NSCC with the Congress and succeeded in getting funds for Cadet summer training. We thank Steve for his tireless and successful efforts and sincerely wish Steve the very best in all of his future endeavors.

We welcome Steve's successor, retired Navy Captain Bob Hurd, USN, whose biography may be found in this issue.

NSCC membership reached the highest level ever, 11,377 members, thanks in large part to Congressional funding that has greatly reduced summer costs to the Cadets.

The Navy League, while not able to increase their financial support in 2003, has agreed to continue to provide about half of the NSCC's national budget.

The balance of the funds comes from the Combined Federal Campaign donations, investments and Cadet/Adult registration fees.

However, an unfortunate Holiday Scrooge remains in the form of inadequate numbers of NSCC adults … and this continues as our number ONE problem. I've asked all, especially our Regional Directors, to initiative steps to actively encourage more adults to affiliate with our Cadet programs.

We need adults to ease the burden of volunteers in existing commands, and to provide a base to establish new units.

I strongly believe Regional Directors are best positioned to recruit additional adults, to encourage development of added units and is in keeping with their senior NSCC positions and other duties.

In 2003, I look for our number one problem to be greatly reduced and our overall Cadet membership to continue to show impressive growth.

I wish each of you a joyous holiday season and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Jim Ward

National Chairman

Sheila M. McNeill, member of NSCC Board of Directors, was elected as the Navy League's Senior Vice President at the League's November National Directors Meeting in Crystal City, VA.

She is expected to become the League's National President in June 2003 at the Navy League national convention in Hawaii.

Mrs. McNeill's Platform stated "There is no question that our youth are our future and that the youth programs of the Navy League are the finest. I presently serve on the Board of Directors of the Sea Cadets. I will continue to work with the Sea Cadet leadership to expand their units and to encourage Congress to add funding for our Sea Cadets. The support of Sea Cadets and NJROTC by our councils is critical in today's environment."

All are encouraged to review Action Letter 09-02 to be familiar with the results of the decisions made at the 2002 Regional Directors Conference that was held in San Diego in early October.

Regional Directors are encouraged to share this information with commanding officers. COs in turn should share the information with unit officers, instructors and Cadets. All are encouraged to suggest new items that should be discussed at the 2003 conference.

It has been an exciting three and one-half years onboard, working with members of Congress and their staffs; and, especially, with all of you at headquarters and in the field who support our Cadets. Educating members of Congress of the importance of the Naval Sea Cadet Corps in the lives of our country's young men and women has been one of the most challenging and satisfying efforts of my career. Regrettably, I must step down as your Headquarters Liaison with Congress due to health reasons. However, I am extremely pleased that, as a team, we were able to put $1 million in federal funding in the Defense budget for three fiscal years. I encourage you once again to write letters to your two Senators and your district Representative, thanking them for their support for the Naval Sea Cadet Corps. CAPT Robert C. Hurd, USN (Ret) is my relief. He is an outstanding individual and I know that you will support his efforts on the Hill, as you supported mine. Your involvement at the 'grass roots' is the foundation for all of our work in Congress. I am so very appreciative of the support the Navy League and their Councils provide; and that of our other sponsors - VFW, American Legion, Naval Reserve, local school systems, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Naval Research, Navy Recruiting, local law enforcement agencies and numerous others. I am especially proud of the young men and women of our Naval Sea Cadet Corps. I will miss working with you and for you. What a terrific organization. The very best to each of you in the future.

Headquarters Liaison to the Congress, Captain Robert Hurd, USN (Ret) enlisted in the Naval Reserve while in high school, was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy. After graduation served as a Surface Warfare Officer until retirement in 1987 held a variety of sea duty billets, all in the Pacific Fleet, culminating with command of USS Decatur (DDG-31). His sea duty also included USS Los Angeles (CA-135), USS John A. Bole (DD-755), USS Mullany (DD-528), USS Galveston (CLG-3), and afloat staff duty on COMDESDIV 52, COMDESRON 19 and COMCRUDESFLOT 9.

Bob attained ashore sub-specialty designations in Personnel/Training, Transportation and Logistics Management. Additionally he had tours at BUPERS (ASW Training Branch), O-in-C Imperial Iranian Naval Destroyer & Submarine Training, CNET (Head, Surface Warfare Training), OJCS (J4) – Strategic Mobility and OASD (Head, Ocean Transportation Policy). Captain Hurd holds a Master of Science (Management) degree from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and an equivalent Master of Arts (International Relations) as a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Naval War College.

CAPT Hurd served in four Vietnam campaigns including 180 "Linebacker" raids against North Vietnam for which he received a Bronze Star with Combat "V." Other awards include Defense Superior Service Medal, DMSM, Navy Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation and various campaign and service medals.

After retirement from the Navy, Bob served as Administrator for the Pan American EDIFACT Board, serving concurrently as a U.S. Delegate to the United Nations (Geneva) and Chairman, UN/EDIFACT MDG Committee. He then served as President, Washington Publishing Company followed by several years as Chief Executive Officer of Moore Stephens North America, a network of independently owned and operated accounting and consulting firms.

Capt. Hurd has long devoted spare time to community service. In 2000 he was awarded the Order of St. John, a chivalric Order of the British Empire, by Queen Elizabeth II for humanitarian and charitable services.

We are fortunate to have Bob on our team and we believe he is an outstanding find and will well represent NSCC with the Congress. Welcome Aboard!

Cadet Timothy C. Myers of Columbus U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Columbus Division, Columbus, Ohio, is the first recipient of the Office of Naval Research Science Achievement Ribbon for outstanding performance at a regional science fair.

In impressive ceremonies at the Columbus, Ohio NMRC on Saturday, 23 November, the award was presented in behalf of RADM Cohen Chief of Naval Research by Captain Gregory Neuschafer, USNR, Ms. Laura Petonito, the Office of Naval Research Education Program Manager and the Federal Grant Manager for the annual NSCC Federal Grant and Capt. Robert Hurd, USN (Ret.), NSCC Headquarters Liaison.

Cadet Myers was presented the award for his project entitled "Magnus Effect and Projectile Motion." The Science Achievement Ribbon, developed and sponsored by the ONR, reflects the Navy’s awareness of the importance of science and technology education to the Navy. Cadet Myers was requested to assist ONR in judging the next Ohio State science fair.

Cadet Myers also serves as the webmaster for the Unit’s impressive website, www.ColumbusNSCC.org. He plans to apply for an appointment to the United States Naval Academy.

January 1^st is the Deadline for receipt of Willis E. Reed, Nicholas Brango, Keith T. Weaver and Instructor of the Year nominations to be received at NHQ from Regional Directors.

Congratulations to these exceptional Sea Cadets for their outstanding accomplishments. Sincere thanks to the Officers, Instructors and parents for encouraging these special young people to attain this very high level of achievement. The NSCC Chief Petty Officer rating is our equivalent to the Boy Scouts of America's EAGLE rank.

Emilio J. Valdez, Greater Ozarks Div.

Priscilla A. Ruiz, Betsy Ross Division

Summer training 2003.

We have already started working 2003 summer training opportunities and as always we will attempt to get it promulgated as early as possible. Our goal is to have it out not later than end February, with hard copy in the mail and posted at www.seacadets.org/resources. Federal Funding will once again be available to offset or cover most cadet training cost, much like last year.

The grant for 2003 is $1M just like 2002 and 2001. While the grant has remained the same, inflation has continued, cadet numbers have increased and berthing is expected to continue to increase in cost. What this means is that we will be stretching those grant dollars even further this year, asking COTC’s to be particularly conservative in their spending, and also that we may increase cadet deposits from the current $50 to somewhere in the neighborhood of $60-$70 for two week TWT and from $25 to $30-$35 for the one week trainings. Firm deposit requirements will be included in the summer training schedule.

We also expect that for cadets who perform multiple trainings over the summer, that deposits for those trainings beyond the first training will also have an increased deposit requirement. Last year we had approximately 450 cadets do multiple trainings, with most of those doing two. With these modest adjustments we expect to be able to be able to support all COTC’s as we have done in the past and provide all cadets the opportunity to train at minimal costs.

We also expect that we will be using the same forms for training and the funding of training, and we expect the summer training schedule guidelines to be very much like last years. With regard to base access, we will work each opportunity with the particular base, and the COTC for that evolution….any special requirements will be passed to cadets so they will know how to report. Current ID cards, a ready sea bag, deposit money in the bank, physical fitness, and ready cadets will be the same prescription this year, just like last, for a successful summer.

Think about what you will want to do so that applications can be submitted early. Early submissions will be particularly important this year as they always are. Competition for billets will be keen and quotas will go fast, so start thinking now.

For everyone, be advised starting now that any and all of the evolutions scheduled will be subject to possible cancellation and relocation right up to the last minute….As weso well have come to realize, the world situation can change on a moments notice, and the alert status in effect on the report date will dictate whether or not the evolution is held as scheduled. Non refundable airline tickets are strongly discouraged . If flying, use refundable tickets!

International Exchange Program 2003. We expect most of the same exchange opportunities that we had in 2002 to be again available in 2002. UK aboard the HMS Bristol is scheduled for Friday PM 18 July until Sunday 27 July. We will formally solicit applications in the near future to meet a due date of 18 April. Australia for 1 adult escort and two cadets has been advertised with apps due 17 January.

All other International Exchange opportunities will be promulgated in an information letter in February as was done last year. Information as it becomes available, as well as the international exchange information letter, will also be posted at www.seacadets.org/resources. We expect to be able to support the International Exchange Program in 2003 much as we did it in 2002 with the same processes in place. LCDR Mike Campbell continues as IEP Program Director and a merit based selection process for both cadets and escorts will once again be used. As with all other training a modest increase in deposit monies may be expected ($175 vice $150 is the ballpark figure now).

2002 Regional Director’s Conference.

For changes in policy and/or administrative procedures, see NSCC Action Letter 9-02. Hard copy distribution to all units has been made and it is posted on the WEB.

All cadets must pass the PT test at RT to get credit for the RT; if they don’t pass they will have to repeat the RT. The policy has always been that only cadets who can pass the RT should get Unit CO approval to participate in RT training. It remains a Unit CO responsibility. The change is that there is no longer a caveat for those who fail, stating that after completing RT without passing the PT test, they (the cadets) can return to the unit and get RT credit upon passing the RT at the unit. Now all cadets must pas the PT test at RT or they have to repeat the RT. All are reminded that the PT program is modeled after the President’s challenge, and that NSCC requirements remain below the 50^th percentile nationally. See NSCC Action Letter 9-02

All hands asked to help in looking for additional training opportunities. NSCC is looking for additional training opportunities to offer our growing numbers of NSCC/NLCC cadets. Specifically, expanded one week or two week (or even longer) advanced summer training opportunities are desired. While military training onboard bases, stations, and ships, continues to be of first preference in accordance with our program goal of making cadets aware of the prestige of military careers and also to increase advancement potential for those who join, we are not restricted to only that training. Our other goals are:

CNET is taking the following courses and putting them on CD for the NSCC.

Basic Military

BMR 14325

Leadership

PO3&2 14504

PO1 82046

CPO 14144

Basic E-3

Airman 14014

Seaman 14067

Fireman 14104

SeaBee, V1 14234

SeaBee, V2 14235

General Basic , good for all Navy (and NSCC)

Mathematics 14139

Tools & Uses 14256

Sound Powered Telephone Talkers

Manual 14232

(For cadet/escort safety afloat)

Naval Instructional Theory 14300

(For improved senior cadet, adult leadership and instructor skills)

Unit training officers will enroll cadets for courses in the data base and will take from cadets their completed hard copy answer sheets and transcribe/upload answers for the cadet into the data base against the established cadet file (already done by the unit as above). This is the hard part.

The good part is: once answers have been uploaded, scoring is immediate and results instantly recorded in the cadet file, and available to the unit. Upon uploading all answers for all lessons for a course, and hopefully passing, course completion certificates can be immediately downloaded, and course completion and crediting is immediately recorded in the CNET cadet file for that cadet.

Follow directions, read them twice! Work with Debra Saunders and CNET for the cadets. Be patient, and if problems arise seek assistance from your Regional Director and NHQ.

Remember, CNET only has eight people assigned to the Central Enrollment office and over a million people in their system who are registered for taking courses. The NSCC is only a tiny fraction (less than 1%) of the customer base yet CNET has devoted one person full time to supporting the Sea Cadets. They are giving 1/8th of their total support to the NSCC, less than 1% of their customers. This is most gracious of them and we wish to do all that we can to help them help us.

Many Navy League Councils sponsor Theodore Roosevelt Youth Medals for outstanding Sea Cadet and NJROTS cadets.

The Medals are usually presented in May or June prior to the end of the school year. While that is still a few months from now, it is not too early to take steps to identify Sea Cadets who excel academically.

If your local Council awards these Navy League Youth medals, we suggest you determine "the" Cadet in your unit at the high school level who has the best scholastic credentials. Once your choice is made, we suggest you recommend to your local Council that they consider presenting a Youth Medal to your Cadet.

It should be noted that the program is voluntary on the part of Councils, and that a number of Councils elect NOT to participate in the program. You can't lose anything by requesting consideration. It is for the Cadets

It is not too early to encourage Cadets, who are high school seniors, to apply for 2003 Navy League and 2003 Sea Cadet scholarships.

Over the past year, thanks to several contributors to the program, there are now a number of scholarships valued at $2,000 … well above the traditional $1,000 amount granted in the past. One scholarship is for a four-year period at $2,000 per year.

NSCC will give out at least 12 scholarships in 2003. In the past there have been a limited number of applications; generally 15 to 18 received. Thus the chances of getting a scholarship were very good because of the number of scholarships vs. the number of applications.

The Navy League provides around the same number of scholarships.

Sea Cadet Scholarship application forms may be found on the Sea Cadet web site.

Applicants for Navy League scholarships may be obtained from Ms. Sheila Hallas at (703-528-1556) or by writing to her c/o Navy League, 2300 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, 22201-3308. These Navy League applications should clearly indicate that the applicant is a member of the Naval Sea Cadet Corps.

April 1st is the deadline for receipt of Navy League Scholarship applications at Navy League Headquarters, while the deadline for receipt of NSCC scholarship applications at Sea Cadet Headquarters is April 15^th. Applicants must be NSCC members.

It is disheartening to receive applications qualified candidates after the deadline, and in some cases after the final determinations have been made.

Congratulations to LCDR Babe Crouch, NSCC who inducted into the Sea Cadet Hall of Fame by the NSCC National Directors at their meeting held in Crystal City, VA in early November.

Crouch is only the third person to be named to the NSCC Hall of Fame. Morgan Fitch, father of the NSCC program, and LCDR Charles J. Finnegan, NSCC are the only other names of the Hall of Fame. A Hall of Fame plaque hangs at Sea Cadet Headquarters in Arlington, VA.

Active in the Sea Cadet program for over 25 years, LCDR Crouch currently serves as Regional Director in South Texas and is on the NSCC Board of Directors. He has an extensive and impressive record of service to the Sea Cadet program and to the Cadets. He served for many years as a volunteer Headquarters Representative, Regional Director, Commanding Officer and has conducted more Sea Cadet summer training courses than any other Sea Cadet volunteer. Currently a Board of Directors Vice President, Babe has served for an impressive number of years on the NSCC Board. Tireless, LCDR Crouch has made many national contributions to Sea Cadet training and policy matters.

LCDR Phil Boslund was recognized at the 2002 Regional Director of the Year at the Regional Directors conference held in San Diego in early October. His contributions to the NSCC program, including an extensive involvement in summer training were noted. It was pointed out that he works almost full time as a RD.

A Regional Director recently spoke of the NSCC Chain of Command: "A lot of COs don't yet understand that the RD is their reporting senior and then in turn the Field Rep, etc."

Several years ago NHQ clarified the Chain of Command issue and explained that all are expected to follow it.

Cadets are responsible to their unit officers, who in turn, report to the unit CO. The CO reports to the Regional Director who reports to the assigned Headquarters Representative. Finally, the FR reports to the NSCC National Executive Director at NHQ.

Some bypass the established Chain and go directly to one of the higher levels. This causes delays in that the upper levels are required to return the input to the sender and direct the sender to resubmit their input via the appropriate Chain of Command. Nuff said???

The following individuals have provided needed financial contributions to the national Naval Sea Cadet Corps:

$5,000 and over:

Douglas and Christine Peterson for NSCC's General Fund, coordinated by Ms. Roz Ellis, NSCC National Director, Detroit, MI

Cecile Enright for scholarships Honoring RADM Richard K. Gallagher and ADM Hamlin Tallent

Arthur Judson II, NSCC National Director for NSCC's General Fund

Nick Ricco, NSCC Board Member for matching the donations of other board members for the NSCC Board of Directors Scholarship Fund. His donation will be presented as a 2003 NSCC scholarship in memory of the late LCDR Alan Groh, NSCC who died unexpectedly this past year.

NSCC National Chairman Fred Carl.

National Director Sandy Gaston.

National Directors Randy Hollstein, Lorraine Hughey, Hal Learson, Sheila McNeill, Jerry Moeller, Warren Savage, Jim Ward. past NSCC National Chairman Nick Brango for contributions to the NSCC Board Scholarship Fund

To contribute to the Sea Cadet program, send your check, in any amount, to Naval Sea Cadet Corps, attn. Executive Director CAPT M. D. Ford, 2300 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201.

Our sincere thanks to all of our generous contributors. Our apologies to donors we may have accidentally neglected to mention.

1 Deadline for receipt of Willis E. Reed, Nicholas Brango, Keith T. Weaver and Instructor of the Year nominations at NHQ from Regional Directors.