Special to Citrus Daily

It has been a busy summer for Sea Cadets.

"Honor Cadet......Hannah Jo Dixon", 14, from Lecanto, number one of 71 recruits, was one of seven (7) Manatee Division Sea Cadets to graduate recently from the Recruit Training Command at Groveland after a grueling two weeks of marching, classroom hours on military education, and general military protocol.

Graduating with her were Cadets Zachary Ames, 13, of Crystal River; Robert Stoots, 15, Dunnellon; Terry Pitts, Jr., 15, Inglis; Michael Kofmehl, 13, Lecanto; Austin Burns, 14, Inverness; and Ariana Pusey, 13, Hernando.

Also recently completing recruit training this year was Stephen Arnaud, 16, from Dunnellon, at NAS Pensacola in July. This was the first step to advancement for these cadets and their first real taste of military life. Next year, they will be attending Advanced Training exercises like Devan Smith, 15, of Hernando, who completed two NSCC exercises, one at the Medical Center in Camp Perry, Ohio along with Cadet Devon McAvay, 15, Dunnellon.

Seaman Smith also attended training at the Electronics School at Naval Station Great Lakes, where she received a PlankOwners Certificate which means she was in the first class of that particular course.

Seaman McAvay, along with Airman Devan Brown, 16, Dunnellon, as senior cadets, attended the Petty Officer Leadership Academy at NAS Pensacola.

Airman Brown also attended Aviation Maintenance training for two weeks at NAS (Naval Air Station) Jacksonville. Seaman Apprentice Arnaud, upon completion of his recruit training, also attended the Field Operations Training at Ft Benning Georgia.

And certainly not the least of accomplishments was our youngest Cadet, Samual Hardman, 13, of Dunnellon, who completed a one-week Orientation (mini boot camp) as a Navy League Cadet.

An awards ceremony will be held following the Pancake Breakfast sponsored by the Parsons Church on Riverside Drive in Yankeetown. The breakfast will be from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sept. 12. All proceeds ($4 per breakfast) go to the Manatee Division.The aAwards ceremony will be at approximately noon.

Come out and support your local Sea Cadets.

All of these accomplishments are only a small part of our Naval Sea Cadet program. Our unit staff of the Manatee Division and the parents that provide so much in financial and personal support are proud of each and every one of these young people who have taken the initiative to be something different than the norm and to proundly support our Armed Forces in our own way. These young people are the future of our Nation and all support for their training is voluntary.

For more information about the activities of the Manatee Division, call T. Dunn at 352-726-0522.