SANTA RITA, Guam (July 17, 2019) –Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Asheville (SSN 758) hosted the United States Navy Sea Cadet Pacific Guam Program at Naval Base Guam, July 17.
More than 30 cadets toured Asheville as part of the program’s youth summer boot camp which takes place throughout the month of July and culminates on Liberation Day. Seven active duty Sailors from Naval Hospital Guam served as the military escorts for the cadets.
“This has been a great opportunity for the cadets,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jermaine Bernard, a native of Apopka, Florida. “Being able to tour a submarine provides them firsthand experience in the different rates of the submarine force and the discipline and skill it takes to operate a naval vessel.”
The purpose of the program is to promote interest and skill in naval disciplines while instilling strong moral character and life skills through leadership. The technical programs that the cadets experience are modeled after the Navy's professional development system.
Chief Machinist’s Mate (Auxiliary) Jeramiah Andrew, a native of Cambridge City, Indiana, was one of the three chiefs who led the tour and discussed the capabilities of the submarine as the group walked topside before heading into the submarine’s control room, living quarters, torpedo room, machinery room and mess decks.
“The cadets asked a lot of great questions about life onboard and how we operate Asheville,” said Andrew. “We emphasized to the cadets that in the submarine world we all need to trust and rely on each other and work as a team, even during training and qualifications. That is a lesson I hope they took to heart."
In addition to touring Asheville, the Sea Cadets spent the week touring a Coast Guard patrol boat, USS Frank Cable (AS 40), Naval Hospital Guam, Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit Five, and Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific Detachment Guam (NSTCP).
“I’m thankful that so many commands opened their doors to this program,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Raymond Soriano, a native of Yigo, Guam. “It’s a fine example of the true Navy family spirit.”
During their tour of the NSTCP school house, the cadets took part in multiple different submarine simulators that taught them the basics in submarine seamanship. Following their day long tour, they were given certificates as honorary submariners.
“Our staff spent the day teaching the cadets what it’s like being on a submarine,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jeffrey Cornielle, the officer in charge of NSTCP. “I hope that we made a positive influence in their decision to join the Navy in the future.”
Asheville is assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron Fifteen, which is located at Polaris Point, Naval Base Guam in Apra Harbor, Guam, and consists of four Los Angeles-class attack submarines. The CSS-15 staff is responsible for providing training, material and personnel readiness support to these commands.
Also based out of Naval Base Guam are submarine tenders USS Frank Cable (AS 40) and USS Emory S. Land (AS 39). The submarines and tenders are maintained as part of the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed submarine force and are readily capable of meeting global operational requirements.
For more news from CSS-15, visit our official website at http://www.csp.navy.mil/css15 and our official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SubmarineSquadron15/.
Are you interested in taking orders to Guam? Want to learn more about the duty station and life on our island? For more information, check out the ‘Go Guam!’ website at http://www.csp.navy.mil/go-guam/ and download the ‘1st Fifteen’ checklist.