ABOUT US

The U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps (USNSCC) is a federally chartered nonprofit civilian youth organization, sponsored by the Navy League of the United States and supported by both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard. The USNSCC was established in 1962 by The Navy League of the United States after receiving a request from the Department of the Navy to develop a program that would create a favorable image of the Navy in the eyes of the American youth. 

Through the Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC), young people have the opportunity to develop leadership skills and receive immersive exposure to both military and civilian career fields. 

Of our cadets that choose to pursue higher education after graduation, most of them are accepted into their first-choice schools. 

While there is zero obligation to join the military after graduating, many cadets do choose that path. Those who choose the military are eligible to enlist at a higher pay rate than their peers and have higher chances of being accepted into a Service Academy or ROTC program if they wish to commission as an officer. 

Whether they choose the military or a civilian career, our cadets excel and often become leaders in their chosen fields. 

The NSCC prepares its cadets for whatever path they may take after high school. 

We encourage our cadets to test their limits, and once they test their limits they realize- they have no limits. 

REGION 12-4 consists of the:

Modesto Division, serving Stanislaus, Mariposa, Merced, and Tuolumne Counties and surrounding areas.

San Joaquin Division, serving San Joaquin and Calaveras Counties and surrounding areas.

Mountain Division (coming soon! Forming now!) serving Tuolumne, Mariposa and Calaveras Counties and surrounding areas. (Cadets from these areas are currently part of Modesto Division)

And the inactive Princeton Division, formerly serving the Turlock area, Merced County, and surrounding areas. (Cadets in this area are now part of the Modesto Division. Plans to reactivate the unit will be revisited in 2026.) 

All information on this site (apart from Modesto Division specific history), applies to all unit in Region 12-4, and across the Nation. 

Modesto Division was established on January 27, 1973, and is one of the oldest units in the country. For nearly 50 years Modesto Division has been serving the area's youth and building leaders in our community. Our NLCC unit, Training Ship Crows Landing, was established in October 1990, to serve our younger cadets.

Two Cadet Programs in One

Sea Cadets is made up of two programs rolled into one, the NSCC and the NLCC- here in Modesto it is the NSCC Modesto Division and the NLCC Training Ship Crows Landing. What separates the two programs is simply age. All management and functioning of the two programs are the same, however the content, requirements, and training differ slightly so as to be age appropriate for both groups. 

1.  NLCC Program:  

The Navy League Cadet Corps (NLCC) Training Ship Crows Landing is our junior cadet program, for ages 10-14 (5th grade to first half of 8th grade). It introduces members to various character traits essential to naval life, and all of life, through instruction in basic seamanship and leadership. 

NLCC members participate in monthly drill sessions with their unit throughout the school year. During school breaks, they may choose to attend one-week training courses away from home. These courses begin with a 1-week orientation class which, for Modesto/TS Crows Landing cadets, is usually aboard the USS Hornet Museum. 

After completing orientation, cadets have the opportunity to attend specially designed advanced training sessions in fields such as aviation, seamanship, STEM, robotics, leadership, culinary, photojournalism, and many more. There is even a Navy SEAL-style training that has been adapted for their age. 

The purpose of the NLCC program is to prepare cadets for success upon entering the NSCC by exposing them to the fundamentals of seamanship and leadership. The training program is less arduous than the NSCC's, but still includes an emphasis in ethics, leadership and essential life skills as well exposure to Naval life and wide variety of military training.

2.  NSCC Program:  

The Naval Sea Cadet Corps Modesto Division is our senior cadet program for motivated youth aged 13 AND in the second half of their 8th grade year through the completion of high school. The NSCC develops leaders of character through a Navy approved training program that emphasizes the qualities and traits essential to good leadership such as honor, responsibility, accountability, respect, self-discipline, commitment, etc. NSCC cadets can put these skills into practice by holding leadership positions amongst their peers in their home units, by staffing summer trainings for other cadets, and by participating in our international exchange program. 

The NSCC exposes cadets to the full rigors of a military training program but with no commitment to join the military. Cadets meet monthly with their units throughout the school year and attend training sessions away from home during school breaks. 

All NSCC Cadets are required to attend a mandatory two-week recruit training camp during the summer or winter break after they join the program. 

After this requirement is met, cadets are eligible to participate in a variety of advanced training sessions (see "training opportunities" below). These sessions serve to expose cadets to seamanship and seagoing subjects, as well as career fields found both within and outside of the military. They also focus on developing an appreciation for our country's rich naval history, customs and traditions as well as developing a cadet's self-esteem. 

The purpose of the NSCC is to develop cadets into driven, successful young adults with the skills and abilities to be effective leaders in their communities and with the confidence to pursue their dreams. 

Training Opportunities: The U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps offers its cadets opportunities to train in ways seldom seen in other youth organizations. These opportunities include shipboard training on Navy and Coast Guard vessels, training on military bases, instruction from military professionals with military equipment, as well as our international exchange program. 

Monthly training sessions, or drills, are where cadets develop their military bearing, refine their leadership skills, work on their physical fitness, and experience training in a multitude of subjects with their home units. Monthly drills consist of activities such as tours of military and civilian vessels or installations, training in military or civilian service career fields (e.g., aviation, fire, rescue, law enforcement, medical, STEM, etc.), flagship competitions, museum visits, first aid/CPR certification, firearm safety and marksmanship, presentations from guest speakers, classroom and hands-on training on a variety of topics, and much more. 

NSCC and NLCC advanced training sessions are offered during school breaks each summer and winter in countless subjects. Training sessions typically available:

Seamanship- -Aviation- -STEM- -Robotics- -Marksmanship- -SCUBA- -Law Enforcement- -Medical- -Firefighting- -Veterinary- -Automotive Repair- -Construction- -Sailing- -Search and Rescue- -Culinary- -Photojournalism- -Navy SEALs- -Field Ops- -Cyber Security- -Cyber Patriot- -Sea Perch- -Music- -Law/legal- -Petty Officer Leadership- -Honors and Ceremonies- -Wilderness Survival- -Advanced Leadership- -Space Camp- -Drones- -Lifeguarding- -EMS- -Mental Health- -Culinary- -Navigation, and many, many more!

International Exchange Program: Our international exchange program is the brass ring of training. Every year, select Sea Cadets travel overseas to participate in training with sea cadets from other countries. 

Uniforms: Our cadets and officers are authorized to wear the U.S. Navy uniform, appropriately marked with NSCC or NLCC insignia. Cadets and Officers are required to wear the designated uniform to all USNSCC events. Maintaining their various uniforms helps reinforce program ideals such as accountability, responsibility, and self-respect. Cadets learn the proper care of their uniforms and wear them with pride.

Chain of Command: The USNSCC organization follows a rank structure that mirrors the structure of the U.S. Navy. Cadets are eligible to advance in rate, from Seaman Recruit to Chief Petty Officer, by completing the requirements for each rate, which includes coursework, attending training, displaying the necessary skills, passing a Physical Readiness Test, and other requirements. The adult volunteers that make up the program Officer and Command Staff follow an officer rank structure, from Midshipman to Lieutenant Commander, to enhance the military atmosphere of the program and to help reinforce the mission and the leadership development environment for the cadets. The program has a defined Chain of Command from the youngest League Cadet all the way up to the top of National Headquarters to the program's Executive Director, retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Andrew Lennon. The concept of the chain of command is reinforced at all program activities. 

Conduct: Cadets are held to the highest standards of honor, integrity, and respect. We stress the importance of self-control and good conduct in all areas of their lives. Cadets are taught to maintain discipline and bearing through our military structure. Sea cadets are accountable for their actions. 

Academics:  Successful academic progress is required (at least a "C" grade point average with no failing marks) and ribbons are awarded for cadets achieving academic excellence. Cadets must complete a self-paced, online training course for each rate/rank they achieve in the program, and before they can advance to the next rate. Cadets are expected to be able to balance their schoolwork and sports with their unit activities. 

Sea Cadets often are accepted into their first-choice colleges and universities. Cadets pursing admission to one of our Nation's Service Academies have a higher chance of getting accepted than their non-cadet peers. Sea Cadets made up about 12% of the most recent incoming class at the United States Naval Academy, a figure that has been consistent throughout the past decade. 

Skills: We believe that we are training the next generation of our nation’s leaders. Our program teaches leadership skills but, most importantly, provides the cadets with opportunities to practice them. Our challenging coursework and training opportunities push cadets to expect excellence from themselves and their fellow cadets. Our structure is designed to be supportive, and our units work hard to ensure success for all of our cadets. Ribbons and awards are available for cadets to earn based on their achievements and serve as motivation for cadets to pursue excellence in all areas of their life.

The Benefits of Our Program

Our cadets participate in a variety of community services that benefit their hometowns. Cadets also support our nation’s great veterans through outreach programs and honor guard detachments for memorial services.

While cadets are not required to join the military, they do so at increasingly high rates. Due to the high quality of their training and preparation, former cadets tend to do very well in the military and have a relatively low attrition rate. Low attrition means a reduced cost to our nation’s armed services.

Many  of the benefits of our program are immeasurable. Our cadets talk about the feelings of pride, camaraderie, respect and honor associated with their experience in the program. Our alumni tell us about the program's significant impact on their decisions and approach to life. One of our alumni told us that “honor, courage and commitment” were the three words that characterized her time in the program and that those three words were now a part of her.

Being a cadet can also help individuals become more competitive in certain programs. Over 12% of the midshipmen in the most recent entering class at the U.S. Naval Academy were former cadets, a figure consistent over the past decade.

Cadets who choose to enlist in the military are often eligible for advanced pay grade programs. This means that a cadet who enlists may be eligible for a higher rank after graduation from boot camp than their non-cadet counterpart.

Our program not only provides cadets with the motivation and encouragement to pursue their goals but also concrete assistance in achieving them. Each year, 17 scholarship funds, totaling tens of thousands of dollars, are awarded to exceptional cadets. The U.S. Navy also offers many large Sea Cadet scholarships.

When we ask our cadets to chart their courses, we are asking them to not only make the most out of their time in this program but to use the resources they are provided to develop a vision for their future. Our slogan “Chart Your Course” is a reminder to our cadets to seize the limitless possibilities available to them. It also serves as a reminder to our volunteers and organization to help cadets realize their full potential.

Whether they join the military or pursue a civilian career, our cadets have limitless possibilities. Our program prepares them to overcome challenges and to expect the best from themselves. Our cadets take the skills they have mastered and go on to become leaders in their communities.

JOIN US TODAY

JOIN FORCES WITH US TODAY!