Winter Trainings 2023
During the winter 2023 training season, sixteen Baton Rouge Sea Cadets attended trainings across the country. Cadets attended or staffed the following trainings: Navy League Orientation, Recruit Training, Culinary Services, Petty Officer Leadership Academy, Chief Petty Officer Academy, Naval Special Warfare Training. Petty Officer Third Class Stuntz earned top honors at the NSWOC training. Chief Petty Officer Martin served as the Command Chief for a combined training of over 150 cadets.
December Drill - Wreaths Across America
Despite the rain, cadets from the Baton Rouge Division participated in two Wreathes Across America (WAA) ceremonies today. One at Louisiana National Cemetery and another in Plaquemine. Cadets also presented a Battlefield Cross at LA National Cemetery. Afterwards cadets and officers met up at the American Legion post and practiced for our annual inspections, prepared recruits for winter RT, ate a Christmas dinner, and exchanged presents.
A big "Thank You" to our parent auxiliary for supporting us. Merry Christmas to all.
November Drill - BR American Legion - Veterans Day
Baton Rouge Sea Cadet Nov drill was at the BR American Legion Post 38, a Division sponsor, where cadets did community service by cleaning out storage areas and removing unwanted file cabinets and desks.
Selected cadets performed a Honor Guard at a nearby retirement home with resident veterans. Classroom time was spent learning about the evolution of firearms from 1800 to the present with example of civil war guns and more.
Cadet Coffey was recognized for his heroic effort is saving the the life of a swimmer in Pensacola, FL.
A PRT was done and cadets still had enough energy to do "Baton Rouge pushups". XO Stuntz even joined in!! Ens Pousson from the Acadiana Divison and his son, a former cadet is a recent graduate of US Navy Bootcamp visited.
Thank you to our Parent Auxiliary for a Thanksgiving lunch, complete with ham and turkey and all the fixings.
October Drill - Fountainbleau State Park
Baton Rouge Sea Cadets converged on Fontainebleau State Park this weekend for our Oct. drill. After check in, cadets performed a PRT (Physical Fitness Test). Following the PRT, cadets changed into their NWU's and trained in a class on Land Navigation using map and compass and Ranger beads. No GPS! They learned how to properly use a compass and how and why a compass works. They also learned how to determine long distances by pacing. After lunch, cadets ran compass courses with multiple legs given only range and bearings. They all survived! In the evening, cadets had Recruit Orientation prep.
A special thank you from the BR Division goes out to Mr. & Mrs. Dubos for taking their time to prepare meals for us this weekend, especially since this weekend is their wedding anniversary.
2023 September Drill
The Baton Rogue Division had it's annual family picnic this weekend, and awards. We officially pinned three Cadet Chiefs; West, Leaycraft and Dubos. Chief James LeCompt, USN retired and our very own Master Chief Jeff Ryan USCG retired helped in the pinning. Many other awards and promotions were handed out. Family, friends and cadets all joined in for a lot of fun and good food. On Saturday, cadets practiced honor guard movements and commands in preparation for the annual Massing of the Colors HG Competition. If you recall we have placed first, second or third every year for the last 6+ years. Our four new cadets learned many new skills; ie; how to blouse their pants, roll their sleeves, how to make square turns, how to wear their uniforms and more. On Sunday morning, after a long Saturday training, cadets got up at 6am because they wanted to go play football before breakfast!!
2023 August Drill
The Baton Rouge Division had a fantastic drill this month thanks to the staff at the St George Fire Dept. Cadets were taught combat trauma techniques, trauma assessment, and scenarios involving "bloody" victims!! Cadets were graded on their handling of the situation and the victim.
Cadets were also coached in public speaking.
2023 July Drill
The Baton Rouge Division held another boring drill this month (not really). The Baton Rouge Fire Dept held rappel training to include knot tying. Cadets rappelled of a seven story training tower. Cadet Hicks graduated out and will be joining the US Army soon. Tom Hershey from the Navy Club presented each cadet and adult volunteer with a Navy Club pin. Mr John Jones, a retired US Marine joined our volunteer ranks.
2023 July Community Service
Baton Rouge Sea Cadets accepted an invitation to assist at the Louisiana War Veterans Home in Jackson, LA today. Cadets helped to push veterans around in their wheel chairs and bring them plates of food. They enjoyed talking with and listening to sea stories from these veterans of all branches of the military. Afterwards some of the cadets got to "inspect" the WWII tank.
2023 June Drill
The Baton Rouge Davison packed a lot of activities into today's drill. CO gave a overview of the sea cadet program and the history of the BR Div for all our newer cadets. We had a sea bag inspection for all our cadets going off to RT, PRT, for all, classes on marlinspike seamanship, the elements of a "legal order", facing movements, and more. Several cadets promoted up, including - Cadet Coffey promoted up to LC3, Delatte promoted up to LC3, M. Dubos promoted up to SLPO, Varneav promoted up to PO1, I. Dubos promoted up to PO1, and last but not least Leaycraft promoted up to Chief Petty Officer. Congratulations to all our cadets. A BIG thank yo to all of our adults officers and Parent Auxiliary, without you this Division would go down faster than the titanic!!!
2023 May Drill
Baton Rouge cadets accomplished a lot this weekend while at drill. We passed out poppies around Baton Rouge to support the American Legions awareness for Memorial day; put our American flags at the state capital, and help at the Jambalaya festival in Gonzales. Cadet recruits were given instruction on marching, facing movements, the manual of arms, and other topics in preparation for Recruit Training. We had several cadets making their first drill, so there was a lot of "making new friends" opportunity. We bid farewell to shipmate Freiberger as he turns one page of his life to open another. May he have fair winds and a following seas. Leaguer Dorris crossed over to be Sea Cadet. Cadet Zello called home to tell mom and dad he was surviving his first drill. Cadet Posey received her award from Massing of the Colors. Mr Stuntz showed cadets that even at his "advanced" age he can still crank out FIFTY push-ups!!
2023 April Drill
Cadets had a great time and the weather was awesome. Cadets enjoyed the Zip Line and built a pull up bar involving digging holes, setting post and pouring concrete. Completing a project is motivating and satisfying. Sunday is swim day during April drill.
2023 Spring Break Activities
During spring break, Baton Rouge Sea Cadets participated in the Tunnel 2 Towers moving memorial for 9/11 at the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. Cadets also volunteered at the American Legion Post #38 where cadets work with veterans to clean the attic, trim bushes and trees, and general clean up. Thank you to all the cadets that served during their spring break, a great example of honor, respect, commitment and service.
2023 March Drill - Firearms Safety
League Cadet McDonald crossed over to Sea Cadets. We were visited by former Sea Cadet Bohan, currently plebe Bohan, US Merchant Marine Academy (MMA). Bohan helped McDonald to cross over. Afterwards, Bohan spoke to our cadets about life at the MMA and how much he loves being there. Bohan credits his time in the BR Sea Cadets with learning about the MMA, which has changed his life and career plans. After a firearms safety briefing by Mr Kerry Bertrand and his son, Justin (former BR Sea Cadets), cadets fired the USNSCC course of fire. Several of our cadets qualified as Marksman or Expert. All cadets participated in a USNSCC Physical Readiness Test (PRT). Everyone has room for improvement. At dismissal, several cadets were promoted an/or received awards. A big "thank You" goes out to those parents that came out to act as coaches for the firearms training, providing meals and other support. Without your help we could not have had this training!
A very good time was had by all.
2023 Regional Annual Inspection, Awards, and Orion Parade
Baton Rouge Sea Cadets had a full day of activities. First, we prepared and and participated in our annual inspection which was conducted by LCDR Reeder, our Regional Director. We celebrated our celebrating our 25th anniversary as the “Baton Rouge Division”. We then had lunch, gave out awards and promoted cadets. Medals from the Sons of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Revolution, American Legion and VFW were presented to cadets. After all of those activities, the cadets Marched in the Orion Mardi Gras parade.
USNSCC Chief Buckhalter retired and passed the cutlass to USNSCC Chief Martin. Ensign Stuntz assumed the position of XO, Instructor Ryan was promoted to Ensign and LT. Fortier was promoted to LCDR. LTJG Buckhalter retired to join our Parent Auxiliary.
This drill could not have been possible without the hard work of our Parent Auxiliary and parents help, THANK YOU all!
A very good time was had by all.
Gumbo Festival 2023
Baton Rouge Sea Cadets provided an Honor Guard for the Gumbo Festival at the Livingston Parish Fairgrounds today. They got several compliments form attending veterans. Other cadets provided community service. Regional Director Reeder visited with the cadets and adults. We also had a recruiting booth where we handed out flyers and got several new prospects. Cadets got to inspect a WWII truck complete with M-2 machine guns compliments of Mr John Spinks, one of our supporters. The weather was ideal. A good time was had by all.
January Drill 2023
Our first drill of 2023 is now history, but it was a good one. The cadets learned about Sexual Harassment, Fraternization, drug reduction and all those other mandatory subjects. The cadets ran a 5K adventure race, had some honor guard practice, had a class on ranks, rates and saluting, and watched a WWII war movie; a good time was had by all. Two League cadets crossed over to be sea cadets and two cadets graduated RT.
