Newsletter of the Navy League of the United States Annapolis Council, Annapolis, Maryland

Volume 3 Issue 1

Spring 2016
22 March 2016 Maryland Day Flag Raising
Ceremony

6 March 2016 St. Patricks Day Parade

Training Ship Reina Mercedes Cadets participated in

the Flag Raising Ceremony for the Annual Maryland
Day celebration.
Republican, Chrys Kefalas
announced, "Today I attended the Maryland Day
flag-raising ceremony, with the Navy League Cadets
of Training Ship Reina Mercedes of Annapolis. I was
honored to join so many young, future leaders and
their families. And I had my first request for a
nomination to the U.S. Naval Academy--from this
bright young man.

Looking sharp! Cadets from Navy League Training

Ship Reina Mercedes of Annapolis approach Church
Circle in the Annapolis St. Patricks Day parade and
leading the way for our United States Marine Corps.

To catch the spirit and

tradition of this day, please
navigate your internet browser
to: https://youtu.be/gDfPn7rI5M
Photo: PO1 Balay, Leading Petty
Officer shakes hands with Chrys
Kefalas
Photo & Content Credit: Chrys
Kefalas FB; YouTube

The Bosuns Pipe

Cadets Powell and Salas "Piped Out"

20 February 2016 Annual Inspection by

Director LCDR Gertz

Training Ship Reina Mercedes Cadets once again

perform well for the yearly Personnal Inspection by
Regional Director LCDR Gertz.
Thanks to LCDR Coble, Navy League Cadets, Adult
Staff, Auxiliary and parents in helping to make the
day successful.

"Piping Ashore" is a historical and traditional Naval

Ceremony that began in the 1700's. With the ships
Bos'n Mate manning the Bos'n pipe, to control the
actions of the sailors hosting manning the lines,
visiting officers were brought aboard in a basket
from a small boat.

"Sideboys" were assigned to assist in the hoisting and

to swing the basket aboard. The more senior officers
were generally stouter and normally required more
"Sideboys."
Photo: Master Chief Quibilan shakes the hand of Cadet
Powell.

These days the "Piping Ashore" is reserved for both

officers and enlisted men who have completed a
career serving their country in the highest traditions
of the Naval Service.
There are no `baskets" involved in today's updated
Piping Ashore" ceremony.
Now the retiree passes by the "Sideboys," who salute
as the Bos'n Mate Pipes him ashore. Traditionally,
the retiree requests permission to "go ashore" for the
last time symbolizing the end of a naval career.

Photo Left to Right: MIDN Bartkowiak, LCDR Coble, ENS

Balay, Master Chief Quibilan, LCDR Gertz, LTJG VersolaRusso, ENS Purnell, LTJG Russo
Photo/Content Credit: TS Reina Mercedes-USNLCC
7AprilFB

At Training Ship REINA MERCEDES, we teach our

Cadets about Naval History and Traditions. The age
group for League Cadets is 10-13 years old. As a
Cadet reaches their 14th birthday, they are "retired"
from the Navy League Cadet Corps and are "piped
out" of the unit.

The Bosuns Pipe

Physical Fitness Training & Assessments

The League Cadet program promotes physical
fitness. Physical training is scheduled during each
drill. There are standards for male and female Cadets
by age group. The physical fitness test includes a 1
mile run, push-ups, sit-ups, a shuttle run and a sitreach test. Those attending NLCC Orientation or
advance training must pass the fitness test to be
eligible to attend training. Cadets participated in
rigorous indoor and outdoor physical fitness
assessment and must pass Presidential standards in
order to Rank Up and to attend trainings.

and then very quickly were tasked with

demonstrating them both on the training wall and in
wilderness settings. These wilderness scenarios were
conducted first near Rainbow Falls, and then
culminated with several different techniques hanging
over Edwards Point.
Mrs. Wagner had this to say to the cadets upon their
departure, From the largest to the smallest, the Sea
Cadets exemplified integrity and teamwork
throughout the week. All of the instructors want you
to know we really enjoyed working with you!
Photo: Co-Honorees (Left) Sea Cadet
PO3 Anibel and League Cadet PO1
Balay

On Deck doing Push Ups: Cadets LC3 Kang, LC2 Baublitz

and PO2 Brown

Photo/Content Credit: TS
Mercedes-USNLCC 7AprilFB

27 March 2016 "Rescue Squad Operations

Training"

Reina

15 May 2016 Navy League STEM Institute Hosts

Naval STEM Exposition Co-Sponsored by the
Office of Naval Research
On May 15th, Navy League Annapolis Council
Cadets attended the Navy League STEM Convention
at National Harbor. Cadets were able to speak with
industry representatives from the U.S. Marine Corps,
Navy and Coast Guard about STEM careers and the

On March 27th, Navy League and Naval Sea Cadets

from eight different states descended on Signal
Mountain in order to participate in the Mountain
Rope Rescue Operational Level training conducted
by Mrs. Pat Wagner and her very capable and
knowledgeable staff of instructors. At the beginning
of the week long training, the cadets were taught the
various knots and equipment used in rescue
operations. For the next five days, they were
constantly challenged both physically and mentally
as they were taught the techniques in the classroom,

Photo: Left to Right

LC2 Nance, LC2 Ognissanti, LC1 McGrath, PO1 Purnell,
LC2 Baublitz, LC3 Phillips, New Recruit Smedley

The Bosuns Pipe

STEM careevarious directions that are available.

Cadets were also able to do hands-on STEM
activities including flying in a flight simulator and
touring a ship, among other interactive and
innovative things for both education and enjoyment.

Photo: Left to Right

LC2 Baublitz and LC3 Phillips speaking with Coast Guard
Representative
Content: The Navy League of the United States

21 May 2016 Cadets Tour

United States Coast Guard
Yard
On May 21st, ENS Matthew Wissman and multiple
staff of USCG Sector Maryland and Curtis Bay
Station hosted TSRM Cadets to a 1st Class guided
tour of the USCG Base, Curtis Bay Station, and on
board the USCGC Rankin. The USCGC JAMES
RANKIN, is a 175-foot cutter captained by LT Lisa
DePace. Among the cutter's missions are maintaining
aids-to-navigation (buoys) in the Chesapeake Bay,
domestic ice-breaking, and public affairs. For more
than a century, ships have been built, repaired and
renovated for the U. S. Coast Guard on the Yard. It
is the Service's sole shipbuilding and major repair
facility, and an essential part of the Coast Guard's
core industrial base and fleet support operations.

18 June 2016 Navy League Sea and League

Cadets Awards Ceremony & Picnic
On June 18th, friends and family of Navy League
Annapolis Council League and Sea Cadets gathered
at Navy Station Pool Pavilion for the annual NLAC
Awards Picnic. Excellent service was provided by all
League Cadets and post-awards activities included a
Water Balloon Battle and Tug of War.
Chief John Moon - Annapolis Division, LCDR
Coble - Reina Mercedes, Helen Fitzgerald - NLAC
President and Master Chief Bernie Quibilan XO of
Navy League Training
Ship Reina Mercedes
presented the following
Navy League Sea and
League Cadet awards
after a Pre-Awards Pass
& Review Ceremony. BZ
to All!
Pre-Awards Pass & Review

PO1 Maxwell
Balay, Cadet of
the Year TSRM
and T.
Roosevelt
NLUS Medal

Chief Jessica Perry,

Annapolis Cadet of
the Year

Photo: USCG ENS Wissman Cadets: Left to Right

LC1 Smedley, PO3 E. Kang, LC1 Ocasio, PO3 T. Kang,
LC3 Snidow, PO3 Ngong, LC3 Banks, LC2 Ognissanti,
LC3 Baublitz, LC3 Burson, LC3 Phillips, LC1 McDonald,
LC2 McGrath, SLPO Balay, PO3 Volcy, LC2 Nance

The Bosuns Pipe

Promotion of
PO1
Maxwell
Balay to
Ships
Leading
Petty Officer
by former
SLPO
MIDN Bartkowiak

TSRM ALPO PO1

Purnell, Annapolis
Rindfleisch Award
Recipient

Water Balloon Battle: Left to Right P01 Byrce Purnell,

LC3 Mackenzie Parsons, LC1 Daniel McGrath,
LC3 Caroline Phillips, SLPO Maxwell Balay,
LC1 Rafael Occasion, Master Chief Bernard Quibilan,
P03 Ethan Kang, LC1 Cemille Smedley, P03 Tyler Kang,
E2 Joe Morgan (NSCC), LC2 Ben Nance

PO2 Tyler
Coyne,
Annapolis
Rindfleisch
Award
Recipient
Tug of War: Left to Right PO3 Kang, Guest Nance, LC3
Parsons, SLPO Balay, LC3 Phillips, LC1 McGrath, LC1
Ocasio, ALPO Purnell
Cadets in Service: Left to Right
LC1 Ocasio, LC1 Jackson, PO3 Kang