Young sailors learn ropes at VS-22

The cadets, ages 15 to 17, were assigned to the line division as plane captain trainees. They undertook intensive training to safely learn pre-flight, launch and recovery procedures for the S-3B Viking.

Lt. Dustin Lehnig, VS-22 line division officer and Naval Sea Cadet program manager said, ''Aviation safety requirements are always the first order of businessæso upon arrival, we teach them how to anticipate and avoid dangerous situations from the hangar to the flight line.''

Volunteer Naval Sea Cadet Corps officer Don Brammer and former cadet AT2 Manuael Castro in front of the S-3 Vikings flown by VS-22.

''Although plane captains tend to be some of the most junior personnel in a squadron, their responsibilities cannot be overstated. In addition to a myriad of inspections, they check fluid levels, prepare the cockpit for flight, and are always on the lookout for foreign object debris (FOD) that could damage the aircraft,'' said Lehnig.

''The VS-22 plane captain syllabus normally takes five to six months for active duty Sailors to complete. The accelerated Sea Cadet syllabus requires 12 hours or more every day to master the required knowledge. Each Sea Cadet is paired with a qualified plane captain whenever they work on the flight line,'' explained Lehnig.

Starting Cadets on the right foot After 24 years in Marine Corps aviation, 78-year-old Don Brammer is approaching his 30th year as a volunteer Naval Sea Cadet Corps officer. ''I just love working with young people who are considering a future with America's armed forces. Our program has been at NAS Jacksonville since 1999, and I frequently meet former Sea Cadets who trained under my command. One of them, AT2 Manuel Castro, is assigned to the VS-22 avionics shop.'' Castro joined the Sea Cadets in Miami at age 14. ''It's a great way to learn 'the Navy way' before you enlist. I spent two summers at NAS Jax in Commander Brammer's program at VS-32 and VS-22. I remember his as a leader who had a lot of knowledge to share and who wants young people to start off on the right foot.'' After boot camp, Castro completed AT School at Pensacola and trained on the S-3 systems at NAS prior to checking-in with VS-22. ''Many of the squadron personnel I met as a Sea Cadet were still here when I came aboard. Today, it's cool to watch Commander Brammer's Sea Cadets kind of walk in my footsteps.''

Sam Kincanon (Poseidon Division, Blaine, Minn.) joined the Sea Cadets in eighth grade. He plans to attend the U.S. Naval Academy or a university and earn his wings as a Navy pilot. ''This hands-on training with the Checkmates is really intense. There are lots of safety procedures to memorize and the heat can wear you down. The hand signals that plane captains and pilots use take a lot of practice, but we're getting it down.''

Sea Cadet Nicholas Compton (a 10th-grader at Englewood High School) drills with the Henry B. Cecil Squadron in Jacksonville. ''I plan to join the military upon graduation, so I figured the Sea Cadets gives me a head start. Working alongside squadron personnel in the line shack is a great experience. When I complete this training, I can earn promotion to Airman.''

Brittney White (a 10th-grader with the Warrior Division, Douglasville, Ga.) plans to attend college and train as a Naval aviator. ''Sea Cadets is a great opportunity to get ahead in life. Our 12-hour workday at the line division can be exhausting. Once you learn the procedures, it's a great feeling of accomplishment to preflight and launch a bird. Washing planes is not my favorite job but now I know that corrosion control is a vital function to squadron readiness.''

Atop an S-3 fuselage, sea cadet, Nicholas Compton prepares to wash the tail section.

Sea Cadet Justus Leach is a tenth-grader at Middleburg High School who drills with the F.D. Roosevelt Squadron at NAS Jacksonville. He completed Basic Airman Training before attending the advanced aviation training at VS-22. ''Our days with the line crew are long and hotæbut we're learning a lot by working alongside the squadron personnel. And the hand signals take lots of practice.''

Like active duty trainees, Sea Cadets must go before the squadron's plane captain certification board that consists of the safety officer, maintenance officer, line division officer, line chief, line LPO and quality assurance LPO. When they demonstrate the required proficiency, a plane captain certificate and uniform patch are awarded.

Sea Cadets Justus Leach (left) and Sam Kincanon move the fire extinguisher to the starboard engine.

The Sea Cadets officer-in-charge of the advanced aviation training program is Lt. Cmdr. Don Brammer of Orange Park. ''My job is to help the cadets develop their military leadership skills and to motivate them to excel. These four cadets have exceeded my expectations, as well as those of the Checkmates. Achieving plane captain certification in just two weeks is a major challenge. They can return to their units with a new level of pride and accomplishment.''

Sea Cadet Brittney White performs one of more than 60 hand and arm signals while plane captain AN Daniel Dennis observes.