14
Vol.41 Issue 55 February 2014 I want to thank everyone who attended and supported our Seven Seas Gala, “Celebrat- ing the Sea Services” on January 25th at Pier 66! It was wonder- ful to have so many sea service members in attendance! Our Spruance Division Sea Cadets did a fabulous job as side boys, flanking the entrance to the cocktail area. Every- where you looked there were military dress uni- forms and gorgeous sequined gowns. The spectacular ballroom was accented with stars, blue lights and beautiful orchids. The arrival of the offi- cial party, the introduction of the high ranking mili- tary officers as they entered the ballroom, was orchestrated flawlessly by Commander Alan Starr and our Sea Cadets. The excellent performance by the Sea Cadet Color Guard and Rifle Drill Team elicited a standing ovation from the crowd. LCDR Jeff Leibowitz, NSCC was an excellent master of ceremonies for the evening. A delicious dinner was accompanied by dancing to music per- formed superbly by Bob Pucetti and Taste Music. LCDR Alan Starr received the Regional Director of the Year Award for the US, which is quite an honor, and well deserved. Our guest of honor, RDML George Ballance, USN, Theater of Engagement Di- rector at US Southern Command, delivered spot on remarks and stressed the importance of the Navy League in supporting our sea services. Also in at- tendance from US Southern Command was Chap- lain Ronnie King, USN, who gave an excellent invocation, and RDML Daniel Fillion, the newly ar- rived Director of Strategy, Policy & Plans. The ever popular raffle drawing was conducted by Abi & Lina Montes and Jeff Leibowitz. All of our military guests were most appreciative of our hospitality. I want to thank our Gala Committee members, James Black, Elaine Hogg, Abiud Montes, Elaine Nasta, Rudy Oetting, Gary Pirtle, Simone Ramos, Claudia Vance and Oscar Romano for all of their help with TABLE OF CONTENTS: Seven Seas Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 2-3 A Day at the Races. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4-5 Guest Speaker Feb. Dinner Meeting RDML Fillion Page 6 Birthdays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6 Heros Among Us Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 7 NLUS Broward Council Officers Luncheon . . . . . . . . Page 9 Ft. Lauderdale Council Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 9 Blue Martini Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 10 Youth Inspire Optimism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 11 View From the Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 12 Social Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 13 Community Affiliates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 planning the event, and making sure everything ran smoothly. I hope you will all plan to attend our Febru- ary 19 th Dinner Meeting, 6 pm at the Coral Ridge Yacht Club. RDML Daniel Fillion, USN, whom many of you met at the Gala, will be our guest speaker. He is extremely enthusiastic and entertaining, and I am sure he will give an excellent presentation. Also, we need volunteers to help with Fleet Week Port Ever- glades 2014. We are looking forward to welcoming the USS New York. Our Council will be sponsoring the Sea Services Enlisted Person of the Year event. Please plan to attend. For more information, check out www.browardnavydaysinc.org . Lynn Atkinson Drucker President Fort Lauderdale Council NLUS

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Vol.41 Issue 55 February 2014

I want to thank everyone

who attended and supported

our Seven Seas Gala, “Celebrat-

ing the Sea Services” on January

25th at Pier 66! It was wonder-

ful to have so many sea service

members in attendance! Our

Spruance Division Sea Cadets

did a fabulous job as side boys,

flanking the entrance to the cocktail area. Every-

where you looked there were military dress uni-

forms and gorgeous sequined gowns. The

spectacular ballroom was accented with stars, blue

lights and beautiful orchids. The arrival of the offi-

cial party, the introduction of the high ranking mili-

tary officers as they entered the ballroom, was

orchestrated flawlessly by Commander Alan Starr

and our Sea Cadets. The excellent performance by

the Sea Cadet Color Guard and Rifle Drill Team

elicited a standing ovation from the crowd.

LCDR Jeff Leibowitz, NSCC was an excellent

master of ceremonies for the evening. A delicious

dinner was accompanied by dancing to music per-

formed superbly by Bob Pucetti and Taste Music.

LCDR Alan Starr received the Regional Director of

the Year Award for the US, which is quite an honor,

and well deserved. Our guest of honor, RDML

George Ballance, USN, Theater of Engagement Di-

rector at US Southern Command, delivered spot on

remarks and stressed the importance of the Navy

League in supporting our sea services. Also in at-

tendance from US Southern Command was Chap-

lain Ronnie King, USN, who gave an excellent

invocation, and RDML Daniel Fillion, the newly ar-

rived Director of Strategy, Policy & Plans. The ever

popular raffle drawing was conducted by Abi &

Lina Montes and Jeff Leibowitz. All of our military

guests were most appreciative of our hospitality. I

want to thank our Gala Committee members, James

Black, Elaine Hogg, Abiud Montes, Elaine Nasta,

Rudy Oetting, Gary Pirtle, Simone Ramos, Claudia

Vance and Oscar Romano for all of their help with

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Seven Seas Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 2-3

A Day at the Races. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4-5

Guest Speaker Feb. Dinner Meeting RDML Fillion Page 6

Birthdays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6

Heros Among Us Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 7

NLUS Broward Council Officers Luncheon . . . . . . . . Page 9

Ft. Lauderdale Council Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 9

Blue Martini Party. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 10

Youth Inspire Optimism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 11

View From the Bridge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 12

Social Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 13

Community Affiliates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14

planning the event, and making sure everything ran

smoothly.

I hope you will all plan to attend our Febru-

ary 19th Dinner Meeting, 6 pm at the Coral Ridge

Yacht Club. RDML Daniel Fillion, USN, whom many

of you met at the Gala, will be our guest speaker. He

is extremely enthusiastic and entertaining, and I am

sure he will give an excellent presentation. Also, we

need volunteers to help with Fleet Week Port Ever-

glades 2014. We are looking forward to welcoming

the USS New York. Our Council will be sponsoring

the Sea Services Enlisted Person of the Year event.

Please plan to attend. For more information, check

out www.browardnavydaysinc.org.

Lynn Atkinson Drucker

President Fort Lauderdale Council NLUS

NAVY LEAGUE NEWS – 2

ThE NAvy LEAguE OF ThE uNiTEd STATES FOrT LAudErdALE COuNCiL

by Oscar Romano

On January 25 our Council celebrated the Sea Services with our traditional annual Gala at the Hyatt Pier SixtySix Resort. The event was very well attended by Council members, friends and guests from all the commandsand units in the area.

The opening of the night featured the presentation of the colors and a great performance by the Rifle DrillTeam of the Spruance Division of the USNSCC.

Invocation was given by our dear friend, CAPT Ronnie C. King, USN, Chaplain US Southern Command.After 30 years of dedicated service to the US Navy, CAPT King will retire from active duty on 28 March 2014.

Our Honor Guest was RADM George W. Ballance, USN, and Director of Theater Engagement at US SouthernCommand. In his speech he thanked the Navy League for the constant support of the Sea Services and the youth

Susan Ballance, Admiral George Ballance,

Lynn Drucker

Marilyn Gari, Cadet Lorenzo Gari, Louise Oetting

Admiral Jim Black, Alicia Romano, Joann Black Mary Anne Gray & Rudy Oetting

NAVY LEAGUE NEWS – 3

continued

programs in the nation. He remarked on the permanent efforts and accomplishments of the US Navy throughoutthe history of our Nation, especially in difficult times and circumstances.

LCDR Jeff Leibowitz, NSCC and President Lynn Drucker presented the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps NationalRegional Director of the Year award to LCDR Alan Starr. This is well deserved honor for Alan, who has dedicatedhis entire life to serving the Nation in the Sea Services, starting at a young age as a Sea Cadet, serving in the USNavy for 28 years and joining the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps at the Fort Lauderdale unit, where he is the Com-manding Officer. To receive this honor he was joined at the podium by his beautiful wife Roz.

We were honored by the presence of past Presidents, Rudy Oetting (National Director), Chuck Black (SouthFlorida Regional President), Nels R. Pearson, Pat and Dolph DuMont (National Directors), and National DirectorSimone Ramos.

Admiral George Ballance Sea Cadet Color Guard

Sea Cadet Rifle Drill Team LCDR Jeff Leibowitz, NSCC

NAVY LEAGUE NEWS – 4

NAvy LEAguE dAy AT ThE rACES

JANuAry 12Th, 2014

guLFSTrEAM PArK

We had a great turnout on January 12th at Gulfstream Park for

our Navy League Day at the Races. All of the members and their

guests who attended enjoyed the sumptuous buffet lunch and

wine while placing bets to win, place or show on the gorgeous

Thoroughbreds. Our Council sponsored the 5th race with a purse

of $47,000, which was won by 4 year old filly Magical World,

owned by Phipps Stable and trained by Claude R. McGaughey,

III. It was a thrill to be ushered to the winner’s circle for photo-

graphs with winning jockey Joel Rosario. I know several of our

members had winning tickets! It was a very fun afternoon.

Lynn & David Drucker

Naia, Lina & Abi Montes

Alan Stotsky & Elaine Nasta

Rudy Oetting, Elaine Hogg, Louise Oetting

NAvy LEAguE dAy AT ThE rACES

JANuAry 12Th, 2014

guLFSTrEAM PArKcontinued

Harvey Kovac, his daughter Laurie & Elaine Hogg Mary Anne Gray, George Inman, Rudy Oetting

Steve Nasta, Gene Nasta, Michael Asser

NAVY LEAGUE NEWS – 5

NAVY LEAGUE NEWS – 6

guEST SPEAKEr FOr Our FEBruAry diNNEr MEETiNg

rEAr AdMirAL dANiEL h. FiLLiON, uSN

dirECTOr OF STrATEgy, POLiCy, & PLANS

uS SOuThErN COMMANd

Rear Adm. Fillion serves as US Southern Command’s Director of Strategy,

Policy, & Plans, J5. As the J5, Fillion leads the combatant command’s policy rec-

ommendations, strategy, and contingency and theater campaign plans for the

Caribbean, Central American, and South American regions. His immediate pre-

vious assignment was Executive Assistant to the Office of the Assistant Secre-

tary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller).

Fillion is a 1984 graduate of the College of Charleston, where he earned a

Bachelor of Science degree in Business.  He also earned a Master of Science in

Administration from Central Michigan University.

Fillion’s afloat assignments include service in the USS Nimitz (Navigator)

and the USS Wasp (LHD 1) as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer. His

aviation assignments in the SH-3 and SH-60B/R involved tours with Helicopter

Anti-Submarine Squadron 1, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadrons Light 40,

44 and 46, and Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 2. He served as Com-

manding Officer of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 51 and of Hel-

icopter Maritime Strike Squadron 41.

Ashore and staff assignments have included duty in the Politico-Military Affairs Directorate in Joint Staff J5;

Director of the President’s Emergency Operations Center in the White House; Air Warfare Research, Development,

Test and Evaluation Budget Analyst in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations; and Fellow on the Chief of

Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group (XXIX).

Fillion’s military decorations include the Legion of Merit (3 awards), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal,

the Meritorious Service Medal (4 awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2 awards), the

Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 awards), and various service and unit awards. 

Navy League of the united States

Fort Lauderdale Council

February Birthdays

Claudia Vance 2/2

Sue McAllister 2/13

Wendy Garfinkle 2/14

William Schmidlin 2/21

Gordon James III 2/24

SUNRISE, Fla. – Sunrise Sports & Entertainment today announced thatthe Rick Case Automotive Group will be the sponsor of ‘Heroes Among Us’for the honored heroes for the 2013-14 Florida Panthers (@flapanthers) sea-son.

Selected heroes will receive a jersey presentation on the ice of their gameas well as recognition on a specially created microsite. Additionally, the RickCase Automotive Suite will be dubbed the “Heroes Suite”. Each night RickCase Automotive will host the selected hero and their family in the “HeroesSuite”, which will be fully catered courtesy of the BB&T Center’s conces-sionaire, Centerplate.

“We are ex-tremely excited tohave the Rick CaseAutomotive Grouppresent the ‘HeroesAmong Us’ this sea-son,” said PanthersPresident Michael R.Yormark. (@Panther-sYormark) “This is animportant endeavorfor the entire Pan-thers organization, and we’re thrilled Rick Case supportsthe cause to recognize South Florida heroes.”

The  Heroes Among Us Award presented by Rick CaseAutomotive group is MSgt Abiud Montes who

enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on September 11, 1989.  He then attended Marine Combat Trainingand School of Infantry in Camp Geiger, North Carolina.  In 1990 he was de-ployed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for Combat Operations in OperationDesert Storm where he served as a Tow Gunner with 8th Tank Battalion(Anti-Tank) TOW Company.

Shortly after the war he transferred back to the Selected Marine CorpsReserve and in 1994 was hired as a Firefighter for the City of Hollywood.

Because of his experience as a Marine andknowledge of military Honor Guard pro-tocol he was later selected as an HonorGuard member to represent the City ofHollywood Fire Department in New Yorkfor the 9/11 Memorial Ceremony toHonor the fallen firefighters of the NewYork City Fire Department.

In 2003 then, Staff Sergeant Monteswas activated for combat in OperationIraqi Freedom.  He served as a VehicleCommander for 1st Marine Division, Reg-imental Combat Team (RCT 5), 2nd TankBattalion, Scout Platoon. He was part ofthe main combat element to Baghdad.

From 2009-2012, he served as Operation Chief for the Force Readiness As-sistance and Assessment Program (FRAAP).  The purpose of the FRAAP is toprovide the Marine Forces Reserve Commander with a more accurate pictureof unit readiness and to aid in providing necessary instruction and training toimprove unit readiness.  In May-June of 2010 Gunnery Sergeant Montes wasthe Operations Chief and Company Gunny for African Lion in Agadir, Morocco,

NAVY LEAGUE NEWS – 7

riCK CASE AuTOMOTivE grOuP NAMEd PrESENTiNg SPONSOr FOr

PANThErS’ “hErOES AMONg uS” PrOgrAM“Heroes Suite” hosts selected hero and family every home game this season

NAVY LEAGUE NEWS – 8

a Joint Task Force Operation with the Moroccan Mili-tary.  Now, Master Sergeant Montes is currently the Mil-itary Advisor/Anti-terrorism Officer (ATO) to NavalMobile Construction Battalion Twenty-Two.  NMCB-22’s mission is to provide and maintain a trained, ready,and immediately available reserve battalion, meetingthe requirements of the Naval Construction Force foremployment as directed by the Chief of Naval Opera-tions in the event of war, natural emergency, or whenotherwise authorized by law.

Master Sergeant Montes is also very active in hiscommunity and church.  He is currently the Presidentfor the Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge BrowardCounty Chapter and the 2rd Vice-President of the NavyLeague, Fort Laud-erdale Council.Eleven years ago he

got the Fire Department involved with Marines Toys for Tots toy drive, whichwas very successful for the Marines and the City of Hollywood.  From 2000 –2008 he was a mentor at a local elementary schools for students that don’t havefathers.  He continues to be involved in career days at local schools in the area.He selflessly sacrifices so much in order to help the children of our future.

He understands that education is important and strives to better himself byrecently graduating from St. Thomas University with a Master’s of ProfessionalStudies in Executive Management.  He is a member of Kappa Gamma Pi, theNational Catholic College Graduate Honor Society based on a commitment toFaith, Service and Leadership.

Master Sergeant Montes’s decora-tions include the Navy and Marine CorpsAchievement Medal, Combat Action Rib-bon with a Gold Star in lieu of 2nd award,the Presidential Unit Citation Medal,Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meri-torious Unit Commendation, the Se-lected Marine Corps Reserve Medal with a silver star in lieu of 6th award,National Defense Service Medal with a star in lieu of 2nd award, SouthwestAsia Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal,Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Military Outstanding VolunteerService Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with a star in lieu of 2nd

award, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hour glass device inlieu of 2nd award, Kuwait Liberation Medal (from Saudi Arabia), and theKuwait Liberation Medal (from Kuwait).  On the civilian side he wasawarded the 2011George Washing-ton Honor Medalfrom the FreedomsFoundation at Val-ley Forge.

Master Sergeant Montes is 44 years old and married toLina Montes and has two children Naia Marie Montes whois 8 years old and Austin Vidas Montes who is 3 years old.Master Sergeant Montes currently resides in Fort Laud-erdale, Florida.

R/SAbiud Montes

riCK CASE AuTOMOTivE grOuP NAMEd PrESENTiNg SPONSOr FOr

PANThErS’ “hErOES AMONg uS” PrOgrAM

continued

NAVY LEAGUE NEWS – 9

NLUS BROWARD COUNCIL

LUNCheON fOR 2014 OffICeRS INStALLAtION

We joined our friends at the Broward Council on board the Crown Princess for the installation of the 2014 Officers.

CAPT Glenn A. Wiltshire, USCG Retired and Port Everglades Deputy Director, is the new president of the Council. He

will be assisted by Erwin Sefton, Marianne Giambrone, Robert Marks, Tom Carney and Shelly Beck. Presidents from the

area Councils were present at the event; Sonny Barber Boca Del Ray Council, Lynn Drucker Fort Lauderdale Council,

Tom Melville Everglades Council, together with National Director Simone Ramos, South Florida President Chuck Black

and Florida Region President Skip Witunski. Military guests were CAPT Scott Pruett, USCG and CDR Nathan King,

USN. Chip LaMarca, Broward County Commissioner was also on board for the occasion and took the oath of office to

the new officers.

Glenn A. Wiltshire, Lynn Drucker, CDR Nathan King, USN,

Simone Ramos, Chuck Black, Skip Witunski

Alicia Romano, Joan and Harvey Kovac, Elaine Hogg

NAVY LEAGUE NEWS – 10

BLuE MArTiNi gALA uNdErWriTiNg PArTy

By Oscar Romano

Council members Richard & Cherie-Lynne Chosid once again hosted our Gala Underwriting Cocktail Party

in the VIP room at the Blue Martini Lounge at the Galleria, Fort Lauderdale. This event was held to show ap-

preciation for our Gala sponsors. Many thanks to Richard and Cherie-Lynne for their generosity and constant

support for this and many other Council events! A wonderful time was had by all!

Elaine and Bob Hogg

Cherie-Lynne and Richard Chosid, Veronika Thorne,

Joey and Alan Stotsky

Lynn Drucker, Alicia Romano, Jim and Joann Black,

Mary Anne Gray, Simone Ramos

yOuTh iNSPirE OPTiMiSM FOr NATiON’S FuTurE

As letters editor, I hear frequently from readerslamenting the condition of the country and its future.“The country is not as great as it used to be,” they’ll say.

But I was involved with a program earlier this monthat Camp Pendleton that made me think otherwise. Morethan 500 cadets from the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corpscame from throughout the United States — Long Island,Idaho, Texas, Seattle — and from throughout the state,Redding to San Diego, to participate in training in a vari-ety of subjects. The cadets, ages 11 to 17, learned basicmilitary orders; acquired radio skills; took STEM (science,technology, engineering and math) classes; and studiedfirst aid like a Navy corpsman, to name a few subjects.

What amazed me and made me optimistic about thecountry’s future was the leadership displayed by theteens and the opportunities to learn and experience lead-ing.

I spent more than a week at Camp Pendleton with acompany of 56 boys, ages 14 to 17, who were undergoingrecruit training — basically a boot camp. Two other com-

panies of boys and one company of girls also took part in recruit training. In total, about 200 teenagers went throughnine days of rigorous tests of their mental and physical stamina. It involved rising from their bunks in the barracks atCamp Margarita at 5 a.m., marching, inspections, standing at attention, barracks cleaning, classroom sessions andphysical training that left their muscles and lungs burning. Lights went out at 9 p.m., and the recruits were out.

I became involved in the Naval Sea Cadets when my 13-year-old son joined a little more than a year ago. Likemost parents, “helping out” grew and grew, until, in my case, I spent a week at Camp Pendleton as the adult withDelta Company.

I had never done this and had no idea what to expect. I knew I was there primarily to keep the teens safe. A staff offive cadets, teens themselves, would lead the company. It was the same for the other three recruit companies — Alpha,Bravo and Charlie.

The Delta Company commander was a 6-foot, 4-inch young man from Seattle with a deep, booming voice. Helooked about 25, but was only 16. When he woke up the recruits, they were moving in seconds.

On my first day, two companies of recruits headed to a classroom to learn about Navy uniforms. About a hundredteens filed in. They silently took their seats, pulled out their manuals and pens and sat straight. A young man fromIrvine, dressed in a khaki Navy chief uniform, used a Power Point display to instruct the class. He answered questionswith authority and confidence. (The cadets raised a closed fist to ask a question and stood up when called upon.) Helooked and carried himself like he was in his mid-20s. He was 17.

He could instruct a group at a Fortune 500 company, I thought.I sat in the back watching the scene. More than 100 teenagers being taught by another teenager, no joking around,

no talking, just notes being taken and questions being asked. One of the female staff cadets walked between the rowsof desks, scanning her recruits. Occasionally she would bend down, look directly at a recruit with a gaze that couldhave stopped the Tazmanian Devil and whisper a few words. The cadet would then walk to the back of the room andstand against a wall while continuing to take notes.

“What the heck was that?” I said to myself. I discovered that she had detected they were nodding off, and she toldthem to stand so they would stay awake.

Throughout the week, I stood back and watched as these cadets led hundreds of recruits and welcomed responsi-bility.

One of the more dramatic displays I saw was when the week neared its end and the recruits prepared for gradua-tion. The four companies, plus three other groups from other trainings, gathered on a football field. As staff adultsstood back, one young man from Boston directed the movements of hundreds. He was not corralling cats. Theymoved in unison under his command. He was 16.

On graduation day, the recruits and the other teenagers from the different trainings marched and stood at atten-tion in their dress blue uniforms. I listened to the parents, family and friends. They were stirred, inspired and proud.So was I. I had seen young leaders at work, performing well beyond their years. As I watchedthe hundreds of cadets, staring straight ahead with looks of confidence and accomplishment, Ienvisioned potentially hundreds of leaders and a bright future for the country.

Vore is Letters Editor for the U-T San Diego.

Delta Company heads out for a physical training session at Camp Pendleton during U.S. Naval Sea Cadet

Corps recruit training in late December 2013— Courtesy U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps

NAVY LEAGUE NEWS – 11

NAVY LEAGUE NEWS – 12

viEW FrOM ThE BridgEJANuAry 2014

The Cadets of Spruance Division and Radford Training Ship began the New Year with a Bang! Our Operations Officer,CWO Guy Rush, USCG, Training Officer LT Tim Diener, and X.O. LT Jorge Perez, along with our special guest NavySeal Chief Petty Officer, Oscar Sosa, planned and executed our first Field Exercise of the New Year with a Land Survivalexercise at Snyder Park, in Fort Lauderdale. Our team of older Cadet Petty Officers taught all of the classes under thewatchful eye of Chief Sosa and the Staff. Once again we chose the coldest night of the year for our Survival Bivouac.Next year we will have to consult the Old Farmer’s Almanac before scheduling in January. CWO Rush and Chief Sosaare working together to develop plans for a Sea Survival training exercise scheduled for May in Oleta State Park.

We are very pleased to report on Higher Education opportunities for our Cadets. Chief Lorenzo Gari and SN ShannonMcAllister have received Nominations for Appointment to the Naval Academy, and PO1 Danielle Serrano has receiveda Presidential Nomination to attend the Naval Academy. Captain Dennis Neutze, the Blue and Gold Officer for ourregion spoke to all of the Cadets regarding entrance requirements for the Naval Academy. Other Senior year Cadets,Zachary Vlahovsky and Parkar Dobrick are enlisting in the US Navy, and Paul Paguaga is enlisting in the US CoastGuard.

Ensign Wil Klinger, a recent graduate of the US Naval Academy made a presentation to the Cadets on his work andresearch on sea borne robotics. He is attending Florida Atlantic University in the Department of Ocean and MechanicalEngineering, conducting STEM Research.

The highlight of the month was the Fort Lauderdale Navy League Council 7 Seas Gala held at the Pier 66 Hotel. Theguest of honor was RADM Balance, USN, Director at US Southern Command, other guests included RADM Fillion USN,US Southern Command, and Several Marine Corps Colonels from Marine Forces South. CDR King USN, the X.O. ofNavy Recruiting District Miami. represented Navy Recruiting Command. Captain Gould USCG, Sector Miami Com-mander and Captain Pruitt USCG, Deputy Sector Miami Commander, represented the 7th Coast Guard District.

The Cadets were Side Boys welcoming the guests to the cocktail hour, and quickly posted themselves to providehonors and gonged onboard the Official Party of all the Officer guests above O-4. The Cadets presented Colors, andCaptain King, US Southern Command Chaplain gave the Invocation. X.O. LT Jorge Perez worked tirelessly to train theRifle Drill Team, who executed flawlessly a tremendous Rifle Drill routine to honor Admiral Balance. “Bravo Zulu!”

LCDR Alan Starr USNSCC was honored for his selection as the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps National Regional Directorof the Year. He was selected out of a field of 69 Regional Directors Nation Wide. Council President Lynn Drucker andLCDR Jeff Leibowitz USNSCC made the presentation of a beautiful nautical clock and the Distinguished Service Ribbon.Congratulations LCDR Starr!

The Cadets Presented Colors at the annual Four Chaplains Ceremonies at the Fort Lauderdale Coast Guard Station.This is a very moving ceremony conducted annually by the combined Posts of the American Legion remembering thefour Army Chaplains who gave up their own life jackets to four soldiers after the midnight torpedoing of the Armytroop transport ship Dorchester, off the coast of Greenland in 1942. They all went down with the ship singing hymnsand prayers.

Respectfully submitted:

LCDR Alan Starr, NSCC,Commanding Officer

NAVY LEAGUE NEWS – 13

Wednesday, March 5th, 2014 at 3:30 PM

SEA CAdET hEAdQuArTErSLocated at:

300 S.W. 25th Street • Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315

Fort Lauderdale Council2014 OFFiCErS

President: Lynn A. Drucker1st Vice President: Oscar Romano2nd Vice President: Abiud Montes3rd Vice President: Simone RamosSecretary: Elaine M. HoggTreasurer: Harvey KovacAsst. Treasurer: Rosemarie DezoltJudge Advocate: Capt. Edward R. FinkAsst. Judge Advocate: Richard Chosid

EdiTOriAL STAFF

Lynn Drucker

Rudy Oetting

Oscar Romano

Chuck Black

Jim Black

BOArd OF dirECTOrS MEETiNg

� � � � � � � � � � � � �

� � � � � � � � � � � � �

FOrT LAudErdALE COuNCiL COMMuNiTy AFFiLiATES

5700 Griffin Road, Suite 200Davie, Florida 33314

Main Line: 954.797.0410Cell: 954.658.7128Direct Fax: [email protected]

www.PirtleConstruction.com

Offices located in Broward, Dade & Palm Beach

CGC 001110

Gary Pirtle, LEEDAPAssistantVice President

visit us on the web at www.flnavyleague.org

NEXT gENErAL MEMBErShiP MEETiNgWednesday, February 19th, 2014

Coral ridge yacht Club6-7PM Cocktails • 7-9 PM dinner

guest Speaker

rEAr AdMirAL dANiEL h. FiLLiON, uSN

director of Strategy, Policy, & Plans, uS Southern Command

rSvP required!

Call 954-565-6778 no later than noon, Monday prior to the meeting.