Quit Sea Cadets?

asajuiceasa

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2010
Messages
5
I'm a high school junior who joined Sea Cadets this past January because I felt it could provide me with a better look at navy life and also because I felt it would look favorable on my application. However, because of Sea Cadets, I have not had time to sit down and study, fulfill my duties as a Key Club officer by attending community service events regularly, as well as other things. I am worried because not only does Sea Cadets force me to give up a lot of my other extracurriculars and study time, but even within Sea Cadets, I'm a new cadet and thus, I'm not sure if being in the program for only a short amount of time will look favorable on my application.

Because of extraordinary amount of time I'm required to spend at Sea Cadets, it has come to the point where I don't really enjoy it as much as I did when I first started. Plus my LPO (Leading Petty Officer) punishes us physically, and I'm getting tired of the abuse (I don't even think it's legal.) Furthermore, I feel that I could improve my leadership skills a lot more within my other extracurriculars while better handling my studying. Even still, I'm not sure if quitting the program so abruptly will make me look unfavorable or not, but I am being tempted to quit so as to focus on my other priorities. What should I do?
 
I wouldn't worry about it. I don't think Sea Cadets, in and of itself, adds much to your application. It sounds like you have plenty of other opportunities to demonstrate leadership. If your extracurricular activities are cutting into your study time you need to eliminate something. Since you just started Sea Cadets in January it makes sense to drop it. Can you go to the next couple of drills so you finish out the semester?
 
If you are having that much trouble with PT at Sea Cadets, do you really think you will be able to handle 4 years at USNA and then another 8 in the US Military? I'm sure that will be much much harder not only physically, but you will also still have a massive academic load on top of that.
 
I know that the academy looks for candidates that do extra curriculars and can hold a leadership position which is sounds like you do for Key Club.

The academy would rather see someone work hard and focus on one and do leadership then do many different activities.

I see you joined Sea Cadets in January and to even be able to rank up you would have to attend recruit training this summer. I personally don't think would have the time to rank up fast enough to show and sort of firm leadership role.

My son has been a Sea Cadet for the past 4 years and is now Chief.

I say focus on what other things you have been doing and don't worry about leaving NSCC.
 
I'm sorry, this question doesn't have a lot to do with the thread, but I dont know where/who else to ask it. I'm actually joining Sea Cadets and my new cadet/parent meeting is this weekend.

So I was wondering what I should wear to this? For instance, just shorts and a t-shirt and tennis shoes, or a little more casual?

Thanks
 
sturner11: I can handle the PT. it's just the time constraints that I've been having trouble with.

dani2016: Just wear what you would usually wear. On your first day, you're just going to be discussing the program with the CO (Commanding Officer) of the division in particular. After that, you'll get to watch the other cadets practice for the rest of the day. That's what how my first day went, anyway.

pilotmom15: Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.

brass strings: Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. My division's actually going to Comp next friday, so I'm planning on telling my CO about my plan to quit tonight, but I'm going to stay until I do my share of participating at Comp, as I already paid my dues for it and I feel obligated to carry my own weight.
 
Honestly, it all depends on how you budget your time, and if it's too much on your plate then cut down.
Sea cadets should only be a one weekend per month activity as prescribed by NSCC unit regs. So it must be the correspondence courses that have eaten up your time, which in and of themselves are to be done gradually and second to schoolwork.

I am an appointee for the class of 2014, and I am a sea cadet that joined April of last year as a junior like yourself. I have attained the rank of cadet PO3 and am the ALPO for my unit not because My unit is corrupt, but because I budgeted my time gradually with advancement courses, and attended RT and POLA over the summer along with my sports camps. Above all, I prioritized my grades, and found time to fulfill my duties as NHS president, JROTC wing commander, and Varsity team captain.

If I can do sea cadets and achieved all that I have in a lesser span of time than you have, along with satisfying my other involvements, then you sure as hell can do it too. Grind it out, don't quit just yet as it will I pay off. I'm proof.
 
Had to interject my opinion here.

My son has been a Sea Cadet since 7th grade. He is now LPO and is about a week away from Chief (?); he worked hard to rise through the ranks and attended many really interesting trainings: Bethesda Naval Hospital, Air Traffic Control, several two-week trainings at USCG stations. He thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.

Did he get into USNA? No, but that is OK. He is going to US Coast Guard Academy and he is thrilled!

The important thing here is: Do what you like!!! If you are not enjoying Sea Cadets, it will eventually show in how quickly you rise/don't rise through the ranks. Choose other extra-curriculars that you are interested in. USNA is interested in the whole person concept...I don't think that one thing like Sea Cadets is enough to make or break the appointment decision. Just my opinion, now that we've been through the entire process.

Good Luck!
 
K_Delrosario: actually, we have sea cadets twice a week, every week. monday evening from 6:15pm - 8:45 pm, and saturday morning through afternoon 8am - 2pm.
 
Obviously you don't enjoy Sea Cadets to the extent it is disrupting your other interests and academics, so do the obvious and quit. Just don't let it become a trend.
 
I'm a high school junior who joined Sea Cadets this past January because I felt it could provide me with a better look at navy life and also because I felt it would look favorable on my application. However, because of Sea Cadets, I have not had time to sit down and study, fulfill my duties as a Key Club officer by attending community service events regularly, as well as other things. I am worried because not only does Sea Cadets force me to give up a lot of my other extracurriculars and study time, but even within Sea Cadets, I'm a new cadet and thus, I'm not sure if being in the program for only a short amount of time will look favorable on my application.

Because of extraordinary amount of time I'm required to spend at Sea Cadets, it has come to the point where I don't really enjoy it as much as I did when I first started. Plus my LPO (Leading Petty Officer) punishes us physically, and I'm getting tired of the abuse (I don't even think it's legal.) Furthermore, I feel that I could improve my leadership skills a lot more within my other extracurriculars while better handling my studying. Even still, I'm not sure if quitting the program so abruptly will make me look unfavorable or not, but I am being tempted to quit so as to focus on my other priorities. What should I do?

Let me put on my USNSCC Lt Bars for a second:

No Cadet can "punish" another cadet. Period. It's in the regs and your chain of command should be reminded of this. If that doesn't work, your parents should contact your regional director.

Also, your involvement with cadets should not interfere with school. School is a priority over Sea Cadets and the program requires you to keep your grades up. If your grades slip because of the program, take a leave of absence and specifically state your studying & grades have become a concern. This will give you the time you need to think about your future involvement with the program without being dis-enrolled.

As you have noticed, being bogged down with all of your extra activities has burned you out and has resulted in weak performance everywhere else. Sure, Sea Cadets may "look good" with your Annapolis application - but others have been accepted into the academy without Sea Cadets....

I strongly suggest you talk with your parents to help you with managing your time with everything you do. Then, the three of you need to talk with a Blue & Gold officer so you're on the same page!

LTJG Cabarle, NSCC
Cleveland Division
U.S. Navy, Retired.
 
Do you really think the original poster is around on a thread that started over 6 years ago?
 
I was browsing the internet for information about an issue with my daughter at her NSCC battalion and I found you.
Can a cadet not been promoted because another cadet complaint?
My daughter has been at this battalion for the past 5 years
She was cadet of the year a couple of years ago under a different CO.
She has been on every single community service, perfect attendance for 5 years. Also she was part of the cyber patriot team that won #1 in the nation last April 2016.
She was supposed to be promoted to PO2 last week. Her CO informed me that she would not be promoted because her attitude and disrespectful.
He also mentioned that because she was part of the cyber patriot winning team she thinks is superior than the others.
To add more he assured me that she is in competition with another female cadet ( that was promoted to PO2 the same day my daughter should be promoted)
He added that during a day that some cadets decided to get together outside of drill and go to the movies, he said that my daughter spent too much time on her phone ( he was not present at the movies)
All this conversation happened when I went to pick her up during an important activity with other battalions. Was a 3 day activity and she came home in tears and devastated. She told me she felt humiliated and embarrassed.
She also told me that she was completely ignored no duties were assigned to her,
They pull her out of the color guard( which she has attended the color guard training in the past) and the other female cadet which has no color guard training was added in her place.
The comments from the other female cadet were rude and disrespectful to my daughter. The other female cadet told my daughter that she was happy that they are not at the same level now.
I was reading all the rules and regulations for NSCC and I found that the CO were supposed to talk to my daughter first and do counseling, well this never happened.
In my opinion I think that CO handle this situation wrong. Why he didn't called both girls? Why he listened and believed one side of the story? He never give my daughter a chance to defend herself or at least explained what ever happened.
We don't even know what happened, my daughter don't even have a clue of why she has been punished.
Can you please give me some advice, before I pulled her out she wants to stay but I don't think it would be a good idea as no other cadets listen to her nobody talks to her anymore because this other girl and her brother( who is chief) had control over the rest of the cadets.
 
Let me put on my USNSCC Lt Bars for a second:

No Cadet can "punish" another cadet. Period. It's in the regs and your chain of command should be reminded of this. If that doesn't work, your parents should contact your regional director.

Also, your involvement with cadets should not interfere with school. School is a priority over Sea Cadets and the program requires you to keep your grades up. If your grades slip because of the program, take a leave of absence and specifically state your studying & grades have become a concern. This will give you the time you need to think about your future involvement with the program without being dis-enrolled.

As you have noticed, being bogged down with all of your extra activities has burned you out and has resulted in weak performance everywhere else. Sure, Sea Cadets may "look good" with your Annapolis application - but others have been accepted into the academy without Sea Cadets....

I strongly suggest you talk with your parents to help you with managing your time with everything you do. Then, the three of you need to talk with a Blue & Gold officer so you're on the same page!

LTJG Cabarle, NSCC
Cleveland Division
U.S. Navy, Retired.
 
I NEED SOME ADVICE PLEASE!
I was browsing the internet for information about an issue with my daughter at her NSCC battalion and I found you.
Can a cadet not been promoted because another cadet complaint?
My daughter has been at this battalion for the past 5 years
She was cadet of the year a couple of years ago under a different CO.
She has been on every single community service, perfect attendance for 5 years. Also she was part of the cyber patriot team that won #1 in the nation last April 2016.
She was supposed to be promoted to PO2 last week. Her CO informed me that she would not be promoted because her attitude and disrespectful.
He also mentioned that because she was part of the cyber patriot winning team she thinks is superior than the others.
To add more he assured me that she is in competition with another female cadet ( that was promoted to PO2 the same day my daughter should be promoted)
He added that during a day that some cadets decided to get together outside of drill and go to the movies, he said that my daughter spent too much time on her phone ( he was not present at the movies)
All this conversation happened when I went to pick her up during an important activity with other battalions. Was a 3 day activity and she came home in tears anddevastated. She told me she felt humiliated and embarrassed.
She also told me that she was completelyignored no duties were assigned to her,
They pull her out of the color guard( which she has attended the color guardtraining in the past) and the other female cadet which has no color guard training was added in her place.
The comments from the other femalecadet were rude and disrespectful to my daughter. The other female cadet told my daughter that she was happy that they are not at the same level now.
I was reading all the rules andregulations for NSCC and I found that the CO were supposed to talk to my daughter first and do counseling, well this neverhappened.
In my opinion I think that CO handle this situation wrong. Why he didn't called both girls? Why he listened and believed one side of the story? He never give my daughter a chance to defend herself or at least explained what ever happened.
We don't even know what happened, my daughter don't even have a clue of why she has been punished.
Can you please give me some advice,before I pulled her out she wants to stay but I don't think it would be a good idea as no other cadets listen to her nobodytalks to her anymore because this othergirl and her brother( who is chief) hadcontrol over the rest of the cadets.
 
Do you really think the original poster is around on a thread that started over 6 years ago?
Hello,
I posted an issue with my daughter at her NSCC battalion. I am new posting things like this and I am not sure if I did it right.
My daughter needs help with this problem as well as me to know how I can help her.
Can you please give us some advice we are in a very desperate situation.
Thanks
 
LTJG,

I am sorry to hear about your daughter's situation.

As the moderator suggested, you might wish to start a new post rather than to tag onto a "stale" thread that is six years old.

I also suggest you maintain your anonymity by not using your last name. If your daughter does end up in the military she will likely appreciate the confidentiality of her past history.

My son is an Army ROTC Cadet, so I have no experience with Sea Cadets but I did find contact information for the National HQ for Sea Cadets. You might reach out to them with your concerns.

U.S. NAVAL SEA CADET CORPS
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
2300 WILSON BLVD. STE 200
ARLINGTON, VA 22201-5435
PHONE: (703) 243-6910
FAX: (703) 243-3985
EMAIL: PAO@SEACADETS.ORG

Source:
http://www.seacadets.org/contact-hq

Good luck to you and your daughter.
 
Last edited:
I was browsing the internet for information about an issue with my daughter at her NSCC battalion and I found you.
Can a cadet not been promoted because another cadet complaint?
My daughter has been at this battalion for the past 5 years
She was cadet of the year a couple of years ago under a different CO.
She has been on every single community service, perfect attendance for 5 years. Also she was part of the cyber patriot team that won #1 in the nation last April 2016.
She was supposed to be promoted to PO2 last week. Her CO informed me that she would not be promoted because her attitude and disrespectful.
He also mentioned that because she was part of the cyber patriot winning team she thinks is superior than the others.
To add more he assured me that she is in competition with another female cadet ( that was promoted to PO2 the same day my daughter should be promoted)
He added that during a day that some cadets decided to get together outside of drill and go to the movies, he said that my daughter spent too much time on her phone ( he was not present at the movies)
All this conversation happened when I went to pick her up during an important activity with other battalions. Was a 3 day activity and she came home in tears and devastated. She told me she felt humiliated and embarrassed.
She also told me that she was completely ignored no duties were assigned to her,
They pull her out of the color guard( which she has attended the color guard training in the past) and the other female cadet which has no color guard training was added in her place.
The comments from the other female cadet were rude and disrespectful to my daughter. The other female cadet told my daughter that she was happy that they are not at the same level now.
I was reading all the rules and regulations for NSCC and I found that the CO were supposed to talk to my daughter first and do counseling, well this never happened.
In my opinion I think that CO handle this situation wrong. Why he didn't called both girls? Why he listened and believed one side of the story? He never give my daughter a chance to defend herself or at least explained what ever happened.
We don't even know what happened, my daughter don't even have a clue of why she has been punished.
Can you please give me some advice, before I pulled her out she wants to stay but I don't think it would be a good idea as no other cadets listen to her nobody talks to her anymore because this other girl and her brother( who is chief) had control over the rest of the cadets.


This is not the best forum to find your answers. However I am a parent of three kids in USNSCC (one has graduated). My advice is to let your daughter follow her chain of command to air her grievances. Is the other cadet they chose for color guard better at it? It is a competitive spot to be chosen. Also, is it possible she has not completed all the homework required to be promoted? It is not based just on time in the unit or attending trainings, but on lots of work involved.

It also sounds as though she is having personal issues with the other cadet. This could be due to typical teen drama, but it can be a great learning experience for your daughter on how to deal with people in a professional way. She needs to learn how to cope, and how to listen to what could be constructive criticism. Even if the other cadet is totally off-base, if your daughter can conduct herself in a professional way (and "not stoop to the level" of another), it will make her stand out as the better cadet.

I would not advise you that you (parent), get involved. There is a chain of command that she should follow.
 
LTJG, Cabarle,

I am sorry to hear about your daughter's situation.
As the moderator suggested, you might wish to start a new post rather than to tag onto a "stale" thread that is six years old.

My son is an Army ROTC Cadet, so I have no experience with Sea Cadets but I did find contact information for the National HQ for Sea Cadets. You might reach out to them with your concerns.

U.S. NAVAL SEA CADET CORPS
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
2300 WILSON BLVD. STE 200
ARLINGTON, VA 22201-5435
PHONE: (703) 243-6910
FAX: (703) 243-3985
EMAIL: PAO@SEACADETS.ORG

Source:
http://www.seacadets.org/contact-hq

Good luck to you and your daughter.
Thanks
 
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