PAGE 12 - September 25, 2013
The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
Outstanding Sea Cadet Advances to Petty Officer
thing I have ever done, and even though I didn t pass, I try to keep a good attitude and tell
myself that there is always next year. I hope someone will learn from my experience to
never give up and to never quit, because you only fail when you give in.”
In May, Stamper helped lead his division in a weekend long “mini boot camp” to
provide younger cadets a taste of what to expect for their summer trainings. Acting as the
Master at Arms, Christopher maintained order and stood watch at night.
So instead of UCOIN, this summer the cadet attended not one, but three other
advanced trainings all of which were extremely challenging. When asked why he said, “LT
Dunn had told us that only one other cadet had attempted three summer trainings and after
they were finished, they quit the program. To me, that was a challenge that I wanted to take
on.”
Even though cadets are not encouraged to undertake more than one or two train-
ings a summer, the teen was driven and started out with Special Warfare Combatant Craft
(SWCC), the second hardest of those offered.
He said, “SWCC was physical training all day. On our hardest day we ran eleven
miles.” The cadets gathered in West Palm Beach, Florida and were led by staff from West
Point and former enlisted Navy SWCC. They were instructed in the operation of the boats,
did “a ton of boat PT” and got little sleep.
From there, the young man attended Field Operations in South Carolina where
they got to run tactical missions in a “five acre city made out of shipping containers”.
Christopher Stamper receiving his Cadet of the Quarter citation from LT Dunn.
He said, “Sleep and food were both in short supply, with the latter being the most
It is not often that you meet a fifteen year old as motivated as US Navy Sea Cadet
debilitating. I remember one day eating only Kool-Aid packets. I was promoted to platoon
Petty Officer Third Class Christopher Stamper. The young man is the epitome of what it
leader due to a shortage of staff cadets, and thus had to ration food for close to 20 people.”
means to “test your limits”, the Sea Cadet motto.
For his last “tour of duty”, Petty Officer Leadership Academy was in order. In
Traveling from Lady Lake one weekend a month to participate, Christopher drills
Groveland, Florida the cadet learned to leadership skills, how to give commands and coun-
with the Manatee Division in Yankeetown, Florida led by Lieutenant Todd Dunn.
sel fellow cadets. Already a squad leader for his division, the cadet immediately came back
He was awarded Cadet of the Quarter at the beginning of the year while still at the
from training and took his Petty Officer Third Class test. Passing the exam, he was awarded
rank of Seaman, earning him a citation ribbon. Dunn said, “He showed outstanding service,
his “crows” this weekend in front of his unit.
physical bearing and citizenship throughout this time frame and continues to do so.”
PO3 Stamper wants to join the Navy because he can “appreciate the opportunities
Cadets are required to attend an advanced training as one requirement to earn their
and exposure they provide” and likes the way the bases are run. He says, “If I do nothing
next rank. This spring, Seaman Stamper attempted to qualify for an extremely rigorous
else in the military, I want to jump”. He also wants to attend the Naval Academy in An-
Urban Counter Insurgency training called UCOIN which required a 10 mile ruck march
napolis, Maryland. Setting his sights high, this cadet will be able to do anything he sets his
with a 40 pound pack among other things. Unfortunately, given a few attempts, Christopher
mind to. For over half a century the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps has been a stepping stone
did not meet the standards, but perhaps learned one of life s most valuable lessons. He tells
for America s youth, ages 13 through 17, to become leaders, mature adults and sometimes
his fellow cadets in a recent newsletter, “The UCOIN physical training is the hardest single
servicemen and women. For more information, call the Commanding Officer LT Todd Dunn
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