Origins , the founder of the non-profit charitable organization The United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps was established in 1958 by the
Navy League of the United States at the request of the
Department of the Navy. It was first vocalized to the Department of the Navy by Admiral
Arleigh Burke. The Admiral was inspired after witnessing the formation of sea cadet organizations within other countries. Seeking to establish a strong interest in the United States Navy, the organization received a balanced level of growth in both the number of local units and in active youth participants. In 1962, the organization received recognition from
United States Congress through the passage of Public Law 87–655, The legislation delineated the Sea Cadet Corps financial structure and leadership positions, and entitled it by law to the Navy League of the United States and gave it legal rights to the name. The proclaimed goal would be to educate youth about the
Navy and would be fully supported by the US Navy. The role of the organization described by
United States Congress states: "to encourage and aid American youth to develop an interest and skill in basic seamanship and in its naval adaptations, to train them in seagoing skills, and to teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance and kindred virtues."
20th century The Sea Cadets operated with shipboard training and received operational and educational experiences in collaboration with active-duty personnel. The USNSCC worked to instill a sense of patriotism and service in youth, aligning its training efforts with 21st century naval operations and exercises. The Sea Cadets served as a tool in fostering early interest in naval careers, allowing a gateway into supplementing several dwindling
recruitment pipelines, and building public support for the Navy's mission. One statement, in connection with the Naval Sea Corps mission, was to live a "
gang free lifestyle". late 20th century involvement in USNSCC training was described by US Congress as a "benefit", due to the rise of youth crime and it's funding of multiple
anti drug campaigns that amounted to an estimated total of over a
billion dollars. The DEA's participation in training regimens consisted of education on
drug reduction, and
drug rehabilitation, still prominent in the 21st century.
21st century The United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps remained an active, Navy and Coast Guard, youth development program operating in the United States and its territories. It continued to be administered by the
United States Navy League and remained divided into two organizations, the
Navy League Cadet Corps for ages 10 to the end of
eighth grade, and the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps, for youth aged 13 to the end of high school. The USNSCC includes 325 units distributed across 48 states, Guam and Puerto Rico, involving approximately 5,600 Sea Cadets and over 2,600 adult volunteers that contribute to multiple voluntary service hours each year. The
Executive director of the USNSCC is responsible for the management and funding of the entire organization. The United States Navy League have established different opportunities in the
Great Lakes, and have instilled operating schedules for
naval ships to permit a prospect for shipboard training, accompanied by an increase within its recruitment numbers. == Organization ==