Our unit is proud to be celebrating 43 years serving the youth of the Albany area as a commissioned United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps unit,       1965-2008. 

 

Three years after Congress federally chartered the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps in 1962, our unit was formally commissioned as the "USS Albany Division" on 24 October 1965.  The units founder and first Commanding Officer was Commander William Richard Dunne, USN (Ret.) U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1939.

 

The unit drilled for 20 years as the Albany Division.  In 1985 the unit was renamed the "Nicholas J. DeSalvo Division" and operated as such for an additional 19 years.  In September 2004 we submitted a request to NHQ for a unit name change and officially became the "Mahan Division" on 01 September 2004.  The Mahan name was chosen to honor two of the U.S. Military most notable officers, Dennis Hart Mahan, USMA Class of 1824 and Alfred Thayer Mahan, USNA class of 1859.

 

Mahan family history page

 

In May of 2004, we received approval to form a U.S. Navy League Training Ship.  The Louis D. Liskin Ship was established and attached to the Mahan Division.  Named in Honor of a World War two Army veteran, the TS Louis D. Liskin serves the younger members of our division, ages 10 thru 13.

 

Master Sergeant Louis D. Liskin
 

For additional information on the units history, please visit our history page.

U.S. Naval and League Cadet Corps

The Naval Sea/League Cadet Corps is for American youth ages 10-17 who have a desire to learn about the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine.  Sea Cadets are authorized by the Secretary of the Navy to wear Navy uniforms appropriately marked with the Sea Cadet Corps insignia.  The objectives of the Sea Cadet program are to introduce youth to naval life, to develop in them a sense of pride, patriotism, courage, and self-reliance, and to maintain an environment free of drugs and gangs.  The NSCC Mahan Division is also proud to host a Navy League Cadet Corps (NLCC) Training Ship, the "Training Ship Louis D. Liskin".  The training ship is for young americans ages 10-13 and drills alongside the Mahan Division.

 

Our cadets meet or "drill" one Saturday per month at U.S. Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center in Albany.  We also host drills at nearby military bases, reserve centers and with other NSCC/NLCC units.  Our cadets also have the privilege of participating in underway cruises aboard the USS MAHAN (DDG72) and USS WASP (LHD1) including training, Caribbean and Mediterranean deployments.

 

Our unit is organized as a division, which closely reflects the surface Navy.  Some units are organized as squadrons, which are geared toward the field of naval aviation, and battalions, which reflect Navy construction battalions (Seabees).

 

Whether a division, squadron, or battalion, the local unit has one main purpose, and that is to foster teamwork, camaraderie and an understanding of the military command structure. 

 

Our cadets are instructed by both Sea Cadet Officers, active duty military and senior cadets through classroom and applied instruction in subjects such as basic seamanship, military drill, and leadership.   Our unit also participates in Sea Cadet regional weekend competitions where units compete with each other to test their seamanship and military skills. 

 

The Mahan/Liskin Division actively participates in community events such as parades, fairs and air shows.  We also train with Navy and Coast Guard ships and shore stations and participate in community service projects such as working with the Albany area Habitat for Humanity, the Stratton Veterans Hospital and organizing clothing and food drives for our local communities. 

 

The Sea Cadet training program consists of Navy Non-Resident Training Courses (NRTC), two-week training schools, shipboard training, and training arranged locally by units.

 

All new cadets enter the program at the rate of E1/Seaman Recruit.  In order for a cadet to move up through the ranks they must complete the following: the NRTC Correspondence Course for that rate, two-weeks of training, and depending on the rate, the Navy Military Leadership exam for that rate.  NRTC's cover basic military and naval subjects such as naval history, seamanship, leadership, and ship/aircraft familiarization.  

 

The cadet rate structure parallels that of the Navy and Coast Guard's enlisted rate structure, with E7/Chief Petty Officer being the highest rate a cadet can achieve.

 

Two-week training (TWT) mostly takes place during summer months and occasionally during winter and spring break.  The first TWT for all cadets is NSCC/NLCC Recruit Training, better known as boot camp.  It is a scaled down version of the Navy's boot camp.   For the two-week period, cadets are instructed by active and reserve military personnel and Sea Cadet officers in military drill and discipline, physical fitness, seamanship, shipboard safety, first aid, naval history, and leadership.

 

TRAINING SCHOOLS

• AIRMAN SCHOOL (AVIATION)
• FAA GROUND SCHOOL
• SEABEE SCHOOL (CIVIL ENGINEERING)
• SUBMARINE SEMINAR
• HOSPITAL CORPSMAN SCHOOL (MEDICAL)
• SEAL TEAM TRAINING
• AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING
• PETTY OFFICER LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
• MASTER-AT-ARMS SCHOOL (MILITARY POLICE/LAW)

SHIPBOARD TRAINING

• LIVE ABOARD NAVY & COAST GUARD SHIPS & SHORE STATIONS FOR TWO-WEEKS.

     Sea Cadet summer training is held throughout the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Guam on military installations.

     In addition to the above, those cadets who exhibit extraordinary initiative and leadership ability may participate in annual exchanges with Sea Cadet Corp's around the world.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE PARTNERS

• BELGIUM
• BERMUDA
• CANADA
• HONG KONG
• JAPAN
• NETHERLANDS
• SOUTH KOREA
• and UNITED KINGDOM