“…through organization and cooperation with the Department of the Navy, to encourage and aid American youth to develop, train them in seagoing skills, and to teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance and kindred virtues.”

The Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) celebrates its birthday on Monday, September 10, 2007.

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It is Morgan Fitch who is credited with founding the first U.S. Navy Sea Cadet Program in 1958, comprising the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps and the Navy League Cadet Corps.

Fitch had been involved in the Navy’s Buddy Program when, in the 1950s, Chief of Naval Operations Burke, after visiting the Canadian and British Navy Sea Cadet Program, determined that a feasibility study should be done to determine the benefits of such a program to the United States Navy. The Navy approached the Navy League’s National President, John J. Bergen, to discuss their involvement in establishing, managing and supporting a sea cadet program on behalf of the U.S. Navy. Bergen chose Morgan Fitch to oversee the project.

Working directly with Under Secretary of the Navy William Franke and Chief of Information Rear Admiral Charles Kirkpatrick, Fitch reached an agreement on several principles, the most important of which was that the Sea Cadet program should be federally chartered. Though supported by the Navy League in numerous ways, it would be a separate organization with its own rules, regulations, bylaws, uniforms, and governing body, and remain clear of any League controversies. This would permit the organization to conform to Navy regulations but also exist as a separate entity distinct from the Navy League.

Morgan Fitch was the first Naval Sea Cadet Corps Chairman from 1962 – 1965 and became the first recipient of the NSCC Hall of Fame award in 1999. He was the driving force in the formation of the Naval Sea Cadet Foundation. He and his wife, Helen, endowed it with $1,000,000.

Since 1958 the Naval Sea Cadet Corps has been committed to providing American youth with a drug and alcohol free environment to foster their leadership abilities, broaden their horizons through hands-on training and guide them to becoming mature young adults.

Sea Cadet organizations exist in most of the maritime nations of the world. Recognizing the value of these organizations in educating youth in maritime matters, the Department of the Navy requested the Navy League of the United States to establish a similar program for American youth. The Navy League agreed to do so and formally established the Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) and Navy League Cadet Corps (NLCC) in 1958. Recognizing the importance and benefits of the NSCC, Congress on September 10, 1962 federally incorporated the Naval Sea Cadet Corps under Public Law 87-655 (36 USC 1541).

Today, the NSCC has formed partnerships with organizations such as the Foundation for Teaching Economics and the Flying Midshipman Association to offer cadets broader opportunities in areas of leadership and aviation. The NSCC also took an active part in the creation of the International Sea Cadet Association (ISCA). The ISCA is an association of Sea Cadet Corps’ from around the world, whose main objective is to facilitate exchanges of cadets between member countries.

Navy League’s newest council, the Pacific Merchant Marine Council, was ‘launched’ aboard the SS Jeremiah O’Brien in San Francisco December 11 by National President John Panneton, accompanied by VADM Albert Herberger, National Vice President for Merchant Marine Affairs. RADM Frank X. Johnston, MARAD Western Administrator joined in the event.

The charter ceremony, held aboard the World War II liberty ship, was witnessed by 80 attendees as the 44 charter members were recognized and sworn in. The first Council President is Captain Kerry O’Brien, USMM(Ret.), and the membership includes many merchant mariners, union representatives and Navy Leaguers who became dual members.

Pacific Merchant Marine Council is the culmination of [a concerted] effort to focus attention on the nation’s US-Flag Merchant Marine, according to Don Hale, Pacific Central Region president.

“The setting for this important event in the Navy League, aboard the historic Jeremiah O’Brien in San Francisco Bay, seemed most appropriate,” Hale commented. “We expect the Council to grow under Kerry O’Brien’s leadership … as the significance of its focus grows.”

By PETER ATKINSON, Deputy Editor, Seapower Magazine

Adm. Gary Roughead, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, was the featured speaker at the Monterey Peninsula, Calif., Council’s September meeting at the Monterey Maritime Museum. During his remarks, Roughead updated the group of Navy supporters on the state of the Pacific Fleet.

“Your fleet is maintaining the sea lanes of commerce, free from the disruption of terrorist attacks,” he said.

Roughead noted that the 9/11 attacks on commercial aviation would be an economic blip in comparison to the impact on the global economy should ocean thoroughfares be compromised. He also discussed changes in the Pacific Rim force structure, which include the planned movement of 8,000 U.S. Marines from Japan to Guam.