Sea Cadets offer excellent opportunity for area teens

Anthony Sevin will lead the area Sea Cadet program.

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Parents of adolescents know the challenge of instilling the right virtues and values in their children. Often times in today’s society, it is hard for teenagers to stay on the path seemingly less traveled; the right one – off of the streets and drug free.
Thankfully, Kaplan residents now have a helping hand sponsored by the Navy League of the United States. January 31 marked the first meeting of the newly reactivated Kaplan chapter of the Sea Cadets.
The Sea Cadet program may be familiar to some of Kaplan’s more seasoned citizens. Area native Harold Jones ran the program successfully for a number of years before retiring.
In November of 2009, Kaplan resident and retired veteran Anthony Sevin agreed to fill Jones’ vacated shoes and help offer this amazing opportunity to the community’s youth.
The Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) is geared towards young men and women aged 13-17. Candidates should be committed to learning new and long lasting life skills, and to being drug and gang free.
Through NSCC, members will get a taste of military life without having to enlist – Cadets are not obligated to join the U.S. Armed Forces – and learn about the opportunities a military career has to offer. Sea Cadets are even supplied surplus U.S. Navy uniforms to wear. Travel transportation is also provided through the military. Instead of commercial flights, young Cadets will travel aboard military aircraft.
The Sea Cadets meet once a month and train at various military institutions. The program offers many opportunities to travel, as their summer training period utilizes many different military sites around the country. Members also have the option to participate in the NSCC International Exchange Program where a young Cadet is sent to an allied country.
This summer’s two-week basic training course will be held in Lake Mead, Nevada. At Lake Mead, participants have the chance to train and learn roles such as operational officer, navigator and bridge operator. All experience will be hands-on aboard a Coast Guard Cutter and will include lessons in boat safety.
What is the best part of the Sea Cadet Program? The fact that it’s free.
Sevin has already received donations to ensure that teenagers of struggling families will not have to by-pass this wonderful opportunity and he will continue to raise money and entice donations to help guarantee this program’s benefits in the future.
One of Sevin’s goals is to be able to give the youth an understanding of the difference between enlisted life and an officer’s life. Through NSCC, rank can be earned should an individual decide to enlist.
The Sea Cadets also prepares members for enrollment in college or a military academy. In fact, the last two Sea Cadets who completed the Kaplan program went on to a Naval Academy where they graduated from the Navy Seals at the top of their class.
Sevin stresses that the end of junior high and beginning of high school are pivotal moments in the lives of teenage boys and girls. It is the point where they begin thinking about what direction they would like to take in life.
The cadet leader reiterates, “This is a golden opportunity for the youth to expand their knowledge for a better future, at no cost to them or their family.”
The Naval Sea Cadet Corps will be accepting applications throughout the year. Interested parents, guardians, or teens can request an information packet and application from Sevin. He can be reached at the American Legion, 643-7991, or on his cell, 523-9191.
Sevin is a veteran of the U.S. Army who served in two conflicts: the Persian Gulf War and Operation Just Cause.
At first, Anthony wasn’t sure how he would adjust to the transition from the Army to the Nation’s Sea Services.
However, once he stepped foot onto a Coast Guard Cutter his mind was put at ease. “There were guns!” Anthony quips.
He is also grateful for the opportunity to lead the Sea Cadets and says this will help him ‘get back to military life.’
Anthony Sevin is a Kaplan native, son of Eve Bertrand and the late Arthur Sevin, Sr.
He and his wife Holly have four kids: Cole, Halie, Abbie, Jordan; and one more on the way.