2010 Almanac Highlights

Navy League

Education, Communication Will Be Key

As NLUS Transitions into New Decade

The 107th annual National Convention in Corpus Christi, Texas, marked the end of a year of transition for the Navy League as Daniel B. Branch Jr. took the helm as the 45th national president and Jeffrey Sapp came aboard as the organization’s new executive director. Earlier in the year, the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space Exposition opened at its new venue, the Gaylord National Convention Center and Resort at National Harbor, Md., after more than 40 years at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington.

As with many organizations that had to deal with the economic turmoil of the past several years, 2009 was marked by belt-tightening and a careful eye on finances at the Navy League, measures that will continue through 2010 as the economy slowly gets turned around. The Navy League headquarters building now is nearly fully occupied, with several banks opening branches on the ground floor and the highly regarded Ray’s The Steaks restaurant moving into the building in February after a lengthy construction effort.

The Navy League’s financial health will be one of the major areas Branch intends to focus on during his tenure, along with education and communication.

In his inaugural “… from the National President” message that was e-mailed to Navy Leaguers in late November, Branch noted, “We will continue to be prudent in our expenditures, mindful of our resources and efficient in program execution. Since the financial ‘seas’ are still unpredictable, we must continue to operate with a watchful and conservative mindset.”

Membership and fundraising will play key roles not only in helping to maintain the Navy League’s financial health, he said, but the strength of the organization as whole.

“While there is strength in numbers, our true strength lies in consistent, effective activism,” he wrote. “It is not only important to recruit and retain our members to support our mission financially, but it is equally important to recruit people who are going to be actively involved in executing the mission and being passionate and committed about what we do.”

Education and communication, through such means as the sharing of best practices among councils, better public relations and continued support of the Grass Roots Legislative Affairs program are central to executing that mission.  In his first President’s Message in the December Seapower, Branch noted “I want to encourage councils, area and region presidents to work together, share information, pool resources when able and network so that we can benefit from each others’ experiences and expertise, and capitalize on our strengths.”  At the same time, he said, “We need to increase our media outreach and engagement, from the smallest hometown daily and weekly newspapers, radio and television stations, to the largest of national outlets. … It is not sufficient to preach to the choir.”

Branch has been involved with the Grass Roots Legislative Affairs program for five years, and was Legislative Affairs national vice president at the time of his election as national president in June. As the program expands, and reaches more senators and representatives through its briefings, he said it “will continue to be the primary conduit through which we educate our leaders in Washington about the programs and issues so vital to our national security and our men and women in uniform.”

Since his election, Branch has visited councils in Minneapolis, Kansas City, Denver and Europe to learn of their concerns and receive their recommendations relative to Navy League programs. He traveled to New York to participate in the commissioning of USS New York Nov. 7. The commissioning, sponsored by the New York Council, welcomed the newest San Antonio-class warship to the fleet. The ship was built with 7.5 tons of steel recovered from the World Trade Center’s twin towers.

Outgoing National President J. Michael McGrath presided over the convention, held Oct. 27-Nov. 1. It was chaired by Suzy Williams, South Texas Area President. National Convention Committee members included representatives from the Corpus Christi, Kingsville and Ingleside Area councils, as well as the Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau, USS Lexington Museum on the Bay and the State of Texas Aquarium, and Omni Hotels Corpus Christi Bayfront.

Among the action items at the convention was a resolution that, effective in 2012, will see the Board of Directors’ meeting move to the fall and the National Convention move to the June-July time frame. The 2010 convention will be held Oct. 20-24 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Along with the change of command at the national president’s post and the approval of Sapp to replace Stephen R. Pietropaoli as executive director, 2009 convention attendees elected a new slate of officers for the Navy League’s Steering Committee. The national vice presidents comprising the 2010 Steering Committee and their area of responsibility are: Pamela K. Ammerman, Region, Area and Council Presidents’ Liaison; J. Douglas Crawford, Public Affairs and Public Education; Patricia Du Mont, Legislative Affairs; Philip L. Dunmire, Corporate Affairs and Development; Thomas E. Jaffa, Membership, Marketing and Information Technology; Richard H. Kennedy, Finance; William A. Kopper, International Affairs; Richard C. Macke, Youth Programs; Robert Sutton, Sea Services Liaison; John T. Tozzi, Strategic Planning; Alan K. Kaplan, National Treasurer; Rockwell O’Sheill, National Judge Advocate; Vicki S. Ruckman, National Corporate Secretary; Lawrence P. Lynott, chairman, U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps; J. Michael McGrath; chairman of the National Advisory Council; and Al Bernard, assistant to the national president.

Development and

Navy League Foundation

The Navy League relies on the generosity of its members to finance annual operations, special programs and events in support of its mission. In 2009, despite the challenging national economy, Navy League members and military supporters contributed more than $500,000 to fund national education and advocacy programs, the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps and activities for U.S. sea service personnel and their families around the world.

In 2009, the Navy League Foundation awarded more than $50,000 in college scholarships to students who are dependents or descendants of sea service personnel. More information about scholarship eligibility requirements and the 2010 application form can be found at the Navy League Web site: ww.navyleague.org/scholarship.

The Navy League continued to grow its major donor program, the President’s Circle, made up of members who give $1,000 annually. President’s Circle members are the Navy League’s most steadfast supporters.

Information on making a tax-deductible gift to the Navy League is available by calling the Development Office at (800) 356-5760 or e-mailing development@navyleague.org.

Sea-Air-Space Exposition

The 2009 Sea-Air-Space Exposition May 4-6 drew record numbers of attendees and exhibitors as the world’s largest naval exposition moved to the Gaylord National Convention Center and Resort at National Harbor, Md. Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations, and Adm. Thad W. Allen, commandant of the Coast Guard, cut the ribbon officially opening the 2009 exposition May 4. With them were then-National President J. Michael McGrath and Sea-Air-Space Chairman Charlie McCullough, a member of the National Capital Council, which served as host of the event.

About 11,000 people attended the three-day event at Gaylord, including staff members of House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over defense affairs, as well as a number of military, industry and diplomatic officials from the United States and abroad. The Sea-Air-Space Exposition provided members of the sea services and Defense Department employees the chance to see firsthand the technology they work on or support. Such direct dialogue also fosters better understanding of user requirements and provider issues. It is this opportunity for interaction that has made Sea-Air-Space the nation’s signature maritime event.

The new location along the Potomac River provided a better opportunity for attendees to see the people and equipment they support in action. The Navy’s first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), USS Freedom, made its inaugural visit to the nation’s capital to coincide with the exposition. It docked across the river in Alexandria, Va., and was made available for visits by the media and show-goers, as well as tours by the general public. Members of Freedom’s crew and the LCS program delivered a briefing at the exposition.

A Navy Riverine patrol boat and Coast Guard 25-foot Response Boat were docked at National Harbor for much of the exposition, and Lockheed Martin Corp. displayed and demonstrated its Common Off-Board Reconfigurable Asset, a 39-foot catamaran that has been proposed for use as a manned boat for special operations or as an unmanned surface vessel for the LCS. Armored vehicles, gun mounts and unmanned aerial vehicles also were on display outside of the exhibit hall during the exposition.

With its theme of “National Security — Maritime Superiority — Global Presence,” Sea-Air-Space 2009 featured more than 150 exhibits showcasing the latest military hardware and technologies, and presented dozens of seminars and briefings on globalization and its impact on maritime strategy, the continuing Navy shipbuilding turmoil, procurement and acquisition priorities, and greater collaboration among the U.S. sea services.

Sea-Air-Space 2009 drew top decision-makers from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and U.S.-flag Merchant Marine. The “Sea Power and America’s Security” panel that kicked off the exposition included Roughead, Allen, Gen. James T. Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps, and James E. Caponiti, acting maritime administrator at the Maritime Administration.

Other seminar and briefing participants included: Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, then-commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, now vice chief of naval operations; Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, deputy commander, U.S. Northern Command; Air Force Lt. Gen. Glenn F. Spears, deputy commander, U.S. Southern Command; Vice Adm. Robert S. Harward Jr., then-deputy commander, Joint Forces Command; and Rear Adm. Gary T. Blore, the Coast Guard’s then-assistant commandant for acquisition and chief acquisition officer.

Keynote speakers during the Sea-Air-Space luncheons were Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; William J. Lynn III, deputy secretary of defense; and Sean Stackley, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition.

More than 1,000 military and civilian guests enjoyed the black-tie reception and banquet May 5, at which Roughead was the guest speaker. Former General Dynamics executive and retired Navy Rear Adm. John F. “Dugan” Shipway was presented with the 2009 Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz award for exemplary leadership in the maritime defense industry by McGrath and Roughead.

The revenue generated by Sea-Air-Space supports a multitude of Navy League programs, including public, community and congressional education efforts, and many award and recognition programs.

Corporate Affairs

The Navy League is very proud of its partnership with industry. Its corporate members are responsible for providing the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine with the tools, resources and supplies to win wars and keep the nation’s ports secure, protect our interests overseas and provide a safe environment for commerce to flourish.

Members of the Navy League Corporate Membership Program comprise different cornerstones of industry, including multinational manufacturers, companies focusing on specialty technology, service providers and consultants. The program provides a way for these companies to demonstrate support of the U.S. sea services and opportunities to network with U.S. and allied defense industry leaders, senior decision-makers on Capitol Hill, and the departments of Defense and Homeland Security.

The Navy League offers three levels of industry participation. Foremost is the Corporate Gold Membership, followed by the Corporate Membership level and then Business Associate. As of December, there were 15 Corporate Gold Members, 147 Corporate Members and 49 Business Associate members.

Throughout the year, members take part in a variety of Navy League-hosted forums and special events with sea service leadership. Most prominent among these is the Sea-Air-Space Exposition. More than 60 percent of members of the Corporate Membership Program participate in Sea-Air-Space each year. It offers a unique opportunity for the defense community and industry to work together by exhibiting innovative goods and services and exchanging ideas for sea power solutions.

The Special Topic Breakfast Series is another benefit of membership. Featuring a distinguished speaker from senior military and civilian program offices, these “not-for-attribution” forums give industry the latest information and insights on sea service acquisition priorities and developments.

Members have the opportunity to get involved in special events around the country hosted by the Navy League, often in conjunction with local councils. These include receptions on Capitol Hill honoring members of Congress for their support of the sea services, ship commissionings and other unique programs.

All corporate supporters also are acknowledged each month on a special page in Seapower. Profiles of corporate members are included in the Corporate Directory issue, published each June or July.

2009 Corporate Gold members included: Accenture, BAE Systems, The Boeing Co., Curtiss-Wright, DRS Technologies Inc., HP Enterprise Services, the Embassy of Canada, General Atomics, General Dynamics Corp., Honeywell, L-3 Communications, Lockheed Martin Corp., Maersk Line Ltd., Northrop Grumman Corp. and Raytheon Co.

Legislative Affairs

In 2009, the Legislative Affairs Committee continued to spearhead the national Grass Roots Legislative Initiative, an undertaking steered by the national vice president for Legislative Affairs and executed by numerous Navy League members designated by their respective councils, areas and regions.

■ Participation: Following his election in November 2008, Daniel B. Branch Jr. served as national vice president for Legislative Affairs until assuming the national presidency at the annual convention in November 2009, whereupon he was succeeded by Patricia Du Mont. James P. Bras and Tom Dwyer continued serving in their roles as Legislative Affairs Committee chairman and adviser, respectively.

The committee is composed primarily of the region vice presidents for Legislative Affairs, the critical link between national leadership and councils, areas and regions in grass roots matters. Each region vice president has the responsibility of guiding council, area and region designees toward achieving the initiative’s goal of personal constituent contact with 60 percent of all members of Congress (MOC) in presenting two separate presentations on the importance of a robust maritime force structure. In this endeavor, the region vice presidents report monthly to the national vice president and Legislative Committee chairman on related progress. 2009 saw continued progress toward the national goal.

As of Nov. 1, participants made presentations to 61 MOCs during 2009. Since the start of the 110th Congress, 169 MOCs have received Presentation One, and 45 have received Presentation Two. Of particular note, four regions — Lone Star, Pacific, Rocky Mountain and South Atlantic — are setting the pace by having far exceeded the goal of briefing 60 percent of their respective delegations in the House and Senate.

■ Nonpartisan Advocacy: Compliant with the Navy League’s 501(c)(3) status, its advocacy activities are neither partisan nor conducted to influence elections. They are undertaken solely for the sake of encouraging legislative branch awareness of important maritime security issues as well as the maritime services’ mission requirements. Somewhat distinct from the legislative focus of many peer organizations, the Navy League monitors appropriations and legislation primarily in terms of its impact on the operational capabilities and readiness of the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and U.S.-flag Merchant Marine.

■ Visibility in Washington: The most vital and tangible element of the national office’s presence on Capitol Hill is its sponsorship of informational briefs on programs and policy for congressional staff. The presentations are hosted by the respective congressional liaison offices of the maritime services. The Navy League promotes the presentations via direct contact with the defense-focused legislative staff members in all 541 congressional member and key subcommittee offices.

In 2009, the Navy League again sponsored more than 25 such presentations. Despite the unpredictable occurrence of congressional hearings and floor debate, the briefings routinely drew 30-50 congressional staff members.

Public Relations

Doing more with less was the challenge for Navy League’s Public Relations program. Despite the lack of a public relations staff due to budget cuts, the program continued to provide valuable support to the councils and distribute timely, effective communications about the Navy League’s mission and programs.

The 2009 Sea-Air-Space Exposition continued to be the primary opportunity to generate media coverage for the Navy League, the sea services and defense industry partners. Approximately 100 print and broadcast media representatives attended the 2009 exposition. The media room credential and information areas were staffed by volunteers from other Navy League staff departments, public relations professionals who are Navy League members and staff members of Navy League corporate members during the three-day symposium.  Communications Senior Director Janet Mescus worked closely with exhibitors and the sea services to provide national and international journalists with information about maritime programs and initiatives. She also prepared advisories, news releases and worked with several defense industry and exhibiting government agencies’ public relations representatives to coordinate media briefings on new programs, initiatives, equipment and technology. Several Sea-Air-Space exhibitors held news conferences and briefings in the media conference room.

The exposition’s public relations volunteers teamed again with Seapower magazine to provide an online daily show report — Seapower Expo Online — that provided daily coverage of the exposition’s featured guest speakers and panelists and exhibitor highlights. In addition to the online show coverage, copies of the presentations and speeches were posted on the exposition Web site at www.seaairspace.org. Social messaging tools such as Facebook and Twitter, along with RSS news feeds from the exposition Web site, were added to the overall communications and marketing efforts.

During 2009, other public relations efforts included providing guidance and support to councils and the membership leadership team, funding the awards for the sea services’ Recruiters of the Year recognition programs, continued assistance with the publicity efforts of the Naval Sea Cadet Corps, and collaborating with the Legislative Affairs directorate on grass roots outreach efforts and Op-Ed messaging.

Innovation remains the watch-word for the Navy League public relations program as efforts continue toward improving, expanding and developing key marketing strategies and tools to enhance the national and international attention to the Navy League’s efforts in supporting the sea services.

Membership

Improvements and updates continue to be made to the national membership database as well as to the Online Community, which provides the Navy League’s more than 250 councils access to their member rosters, mailing labels, council-unique newsletter pages and event calendars. It also provides council leadership with the ability to manage their recruiting and retention through statistics and individual renewal and new member information.

Councils around the world show their support for the sea services through more than 245 ship, submarine, squadron, base and unit adoptions; awards totaling more than $50,000 in local scholarship programs; fundraising for ship commissioning ceremonies; and various recognition programs for Coast Guardsman, Sailor and Marine of the Quarter and Year. In addition, many councils have adopted U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps and Navy League Cadet Corps divisions and squadrons, providing funds, material, time and adult leadership.

Two new international councils have joined in this effort — the Black Sea Council in the Romania/Bulgaria region and the Thailand Southern Seaboard Council. While active-duty personnel are not eligible to join the Navy League, their spouses are and are a great resource for providing ideas of how each council can provide support to those serving our country, as well as their families and communities.

National Publications

As the Navy League’s official publication, Seapower magazine continued to report on developments of interest to the sea services, highlighting groundbreaking advances in programs, strategy, materiel and manpower, as well as examining issues that hold promise, or could be cause for concern, for the future. In addition, Seapower’s Almanac issue remains the world’s most widely used reference publication about the sea services.

Seapower stayed at the forefront of coverage of the problem of international maritime piracy, which was the subject of a cover story in the magazine in October 2004, long before recent events along the East African coast prompted significant media attention.

Correspondent Daisy R. Khalifa covered the international response to piracy, spearheaded by the U.S. Navy’s Combined Joint Task Force 151, along the Somali coast in the February and March issues. Assistant Editor John C. Marcario addressed the issue again in June, detailing the possible solutions that were being discussed to combat the nagging problem, such as more aggressive patrolling of the waters around the Horn of Africa by task force vessels or armed security teams aboard merchant ships.

The August issue featured an interview by Editor in Chief Amy L. Wittman with Capt. Richard Phillips, then-master of the MV Maersk Alabama, who made international headlines when he was rescued April 12 by a team of Navy SEALs and the USS Bainbridge after having been abducted by Somali pirates several days earlier when his crew thwarted a takeover of the ship.

Part and parcel with defending against piracy are maritime security and maritime domain awareness, which Seapower highlighted in a number of reports during the year, notably in the May issue, which had port security as its special focus. Special correspondents David Pugliese and Thomas Worthington detailed efforts to defend against the threat posed to ports by undeclared shipping containers or swimmers/divers. Correspondent Otto Kreisher reported on the U.S. Maritime Threat Response Plan that will coordinate federal action to seaborne threats in ports and far from shore.

In the February issue, Deputy Editor Peter Atkinson profiled the New York Naval Militia, a state naval force that has gained new prominence since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Its 10-vessel Military Emergency Boat Service patrols New York Harbor, the waters around the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant just outside of New York City and assists the Coast Guard with boarding operations off the New York coast. And in June, Khalifa highlighted recent milestones in the U.S. Coast Guard/Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to establish Interagency Operations Centers nationwide so state, local and federal agencies can collaborate to ensure maritime domain awareness and a secure operating environment.

Special operations also earned a lot of attention in 2009, with Managing Editor Richard R. Burgess’s March cover story on the irregular warfare capabilities of the guided-missile versions of the Ohio-class submarines, and a June special report package that highlighted the more publicized role of Navy SEALs and expanding mission and intense training of Navy Riverine forces. Seapower also showcased sea service and industry leaders in 2009, with in-depth features and interviews with top commanders and high-ranking officials.

The July Corporate Membership Directory issue included a special “Eye on Industry” question-and-answer feature that focused on the challenges facing U.S. shipbuilders. Taking part in the interviews were Kevin Moak, chairman and president of Gibbs & Cox Inc., and Tom Schubert, vice president and group manager, Gibbs & Cox Government Services Group, representing the design side of the shipbuilding equation. Mike Petters, vice president, Northrop Grumman Corp., and president, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, represented the construction side.

Other interview and feature subjects included: Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations; Coast Guard Rear Adm. David T. Glenn, then-assistant commandant for command, control, communications, computers and information technology; Navy Vice Adm. John J. “Jay” Donnelly, commander, submarine force; Coast Rear Adm. Mary E. Landry, then-director, governmental and public affairs; Coast Guard Rear Adm. Thomas F. Atkin, then-commander, Deployable Operations Group; Nevin P. Carr, chief of naval research; Vice Adm. Vivien S. Crea, then-vice commandant of the Coast Guard; Rear Adm. Ronald J. Rábago, assistant Coast Guard commandant for acquisition and chief acquisitions officer; Adm. Timothy J. Keating, then-commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, vice chief of naval operations; Rear Adm. James J. Shannon, commander, Naval Warfare Center; and U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., chairman of the House Armed Services seapower and expeditionary forces subcommittee.

Seapower also continued to develop its digital edition, which is updated every month as each issue goes to press. A new Web interface was introduced late in the year, making the digital edition easier to navigate and more readier-friendly.

Regional Activities

The Navy League continued to expand the field services available through the Regional Activities Department in 2009. Council, area and region leaders now can choose from 28 workshops (an increase of two) and 22 guides (an increase of one) that provide guidance and proven ideas for improving their operations. The training workshops cover a broad spectrum of council operations, including management and governance, membership recruiting and retention, strategic planning, fundraising, grant writing and electronic communications.

Workshops are available at no cost and can be scheduled through headquarters at a mutually agreeable time and place. All workshops and council guides are posted on the Navy League Web site under “Navy League Councils/Council Resources.”

Major initiatives supported by Regional Activities staff in 2009 included Operation Homefront, a program to support the families of deployed sea service personnel; Old Ironsides Across the Nation, sponsored by the USS Constitution Museum; Navy Office of Community Outreach-sponsored Navy Weeks; and the Navy Professional Reading Program.

Ongoing support of routine operations includes ship adoptions, ship commissioning ceremonies, new council formation and major event planning. A new focus this year is encouraging councils to become more involved in their community and the forming of community partnerships. Training to familiarize field leaders with the “Navy League Operations Manual,” which was revised this year, was a major focus late in the year.

The monthly electronic “Council Alert” newsletter continues to provide field leaders with timely information on best practices and good ideas, new programs and workshops, national meeting notices, membership benefits and promotions, announcements of rebate mailing, insurance and various topics of interest to the field. “Council Alerts” are posted on the Navy League Web site under “Navy League Councils/Council Alerts.” The alerts are available to anyone with an e-mail address who wants to be included in the distribution.

Members of the team continued to attend council, area and regional meetings to support training workshops and improve communications between headquarters and the field.

The Navy League Web site serves as an excellent planning resource — an all-purpose “first stop” for new council officers and others seeking information about the Navy League. Among the data included on the Web site under Navy League councils are lists of adopted ships, sponsored U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps and Navy League Cadet Corps units as well as other youth groups, ship commissioning events, council guides and training workshops, the “Operations Manual,” business card order forms, Navy League graphics, council change forms and the council information notebook.

Youth Programs

The two Navy League-sponsored youth programs — the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) and Navy League Cadet Corps (NLCC) — continue to grow. More than 9,231 members now are enrolled in 387 NSCC and NLCC units in the United States; Puerto Rico; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; and Guam.

At the request of the Navy, the Navy League established the NSCC in 1958, and it was chartered by Congress in 1962 as a nonprofit youth-training organization. The NLCC is not covered by the federal charter.

All of the nation’s armed forces, including the reserve components, provide training and facilities support for both programs. Membership is open to boys and girls ages 11-13 for the NLCC and 13-17 for the NSCC.

Most cadet training is carried out at local Navy, Coast Guard or other military facilities and supervised by carefully selected volunteer officers and instructors, many of them active-duty or retired military personnel.

That training is supplemented with summer training, starting with a two-week Navy-approved NSCC recruit or one-week NLCC orientation program encompassing a broad range of basic military subjects. These include skills and specialties ranging from basic seamanship, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and swimming to health care and basic leadership training.

After attendance at recruit training, Sea Cadets are offered the opportunity to participate in almost all Navy skill and rate training, including aviation, homeland security, construction, medical, scuba diving, sailing, various engineering skills and advanced leadership training. At-sea training on Navy ships or Coast Guard cutters is available as well.

For the ninth year, federal funding was available for cadet training. More than 1,900 Sea Cadets and 1,000 Navy League Cadets participated in recruit and orientation training at 22 regional military bases or stations. Another 2,780 received advanced training at more than 70 other bases and stations, where more than 170 different training opportunities/courses were taught.

In addition, 55 U.S. cadets and their adult escorts participated in an international exchange program with Sea Cadet units from overseas. More than 708 adult officers participated in summer/winter training as escorts for the cadets.

The federal funding was used almost exclusively to offset continued berthing and messing costs for all cadet summer training. Cadets do, however, pay approximately 18 percent of their own summer training costs. Since 1975, more than $381,000 has been provided to more than 239 cadets who received NSCC college scholarships.

A large number of cadets also have received appointments to one of the service academies or have won Navy ROTC scholarships. There now are well over 700 former Sea Cadets enrolled at the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy or in the Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program.

Through its councils, the Navy League also sponsors approximately 300 Navy and Marine Corps Junior ROTC programs and more than 45 ROTC programs at colleges and universities. The Navy League also has established a “Youth Medal,” to recognize outstanding NJROTC/Marine Corps JROTC cadets in units or schools sponsored by a Navy League council.

The Navy League supports the NJROTC’s two major national competitions: the NJROTC National Academics, Athletics & Drill Championships, held each year in Pensacola, Fla., and the NJROTC area managers’ evaluation of the overall performance of the units in their 11 respective areas, from which “Most Outstanding in Nation” and “Most Improved in Nation” units are chosen.  The Navy League provides all of the various awards, more than 100 in all, for both competitions, and Navy Leaguers are actively involved in making the presentations of the area manager evaluation awards.