Sea Cadets looking to expand program

Jeff Hawk believes in giving youth not only a sense of purpose, but the confidence to seek out how they can be a contributing member of society.

Hawk is the commanding officer of the Lone Sailor Division of the United States Naval Sea Cadets Corps, which was established in 2018 to develop future leaders. The group, currently numbering 24 male and female cadets ages 10 through 18, meets monthly at Windermere Town Hall.

“We teach them a lot of leadership skills, but we also help them find the confidence in themselves along with it,” Hawk said. “They get that military-style training and atmosphere without being screamed at and yelled at. It’s a naval youth development program. … We believe in ‘one ship, one fight,’ and our region’s motto is ‘Cadets First, Cadets Always.’”

The West Orange County unit is sponsored by American Legion Post 63, Windermere Police Department and Central Florida Navy League.

Hawk’s youngest cadet is 11; the oldest is 18, and his last official day is Aug. 20.

Jared Fairchild, of Winter Garden, graduated from West Orange High School and, subsequently, the Sea Cadets, in May. Fairchild obtained the rank of cadet chief petty officer, the highest rank one can reach in the program. As command chief of the unit, Fairchild has acted as the liaison between the adults and cadets in the program.

“The most important thing I have probably learned is how to be a good and respected leader while also learning how to work together as a cohesive unit,” Fairchild said.

He plans to stay involved in the program to utilize what he has learned to mentor the cadets along their own path to becoming good leaders.

“The unit is like a family the way we help and care for each other,” Fairchild said.

His goal is to enlist in the Coast Guard and become a rescue swimmer — while also remaining with the Lone Sailor Division as a midshipman and continuing to serve as a liaison between the cadets and adults. This rank is given to adult officers who are not yet 21.

Hawk is a retired United States Army sergeant who served from 2003 to 2012. He met his wife, Ashley, while both were on deployment in Iraq, and she, too, is a Sea Cadet officer. Both of their children, ages 15 and 13, are involved in the program.

“My son started as a league cadet in this program,” Hawk said. “He was shy, and it’s helped him open up a lot. … He’s actually about to become a petty officer first class.”

Cadets take part in drills at the Windermere Police Department on the third weekend of the month and attend a variety of summer training events. They are available for color guards, flag-retirement ceremonies and other community service opportunities in the Windermere, Winter Garden, Dr. Phillips and Ocoee areas.

“They love to do it,” Hawk said. “They get experiences they would not get. Most of the cadets end up really liking the program and join the military after graduation. We’re not a recruitment program, and a lot of parents don’t understand this. If a child goes through the program and complete the program, they can go in the military at a higher rank.”

The Lone Sailor Division is one of six units in Central Florida Region 6-8. The others are American Pride Squadron, Clermont Battalion, Chris Kyle Battalion, Centurion Battalion and Freedom Battalion, which is operated through Freedom High School.

Last year, the local division won the Chairman’s Award for recruiting and retention; ranked 11th out of the top 25 in the nation; and was named the top unit in Region 6, which covers Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

Hawk said in Florida alone, there are about 25 units.

Meghan Hone is the finance officer and event coordinator for the Lone Sailor Division. She became a volunteer with Sea Cadets because of her daughter, Kate, who is currently the division’s public affairs officer.

“Kate … wanted to be an astronaut since she was 2 years old,” Hone said. “She came to me when she was about 13 and said, ‘You know, a lot of astronauts are pilots first, so I want to be a pilot, in either the Air Force or the Navy.’ I said, ‘OK, let’s find a way to support you trying to be a pilot,’ so I did some looking around. … I found Sea Cadets and the Lone Sailor Division.”

Kate joined in 2021 and has loved her experience. When Kate asked her mother to get involved as an adult volunteer, Hone agreed.

She said she recommends the Sea Cadets program to all families.

“The change I saw in her even in the first three months of being in the program is incredible,” Hone said. “Our cadets are young leaders, and they have so much character and … they’re just outstanding kids. I recommend this program to really anyone. These kids are … getting so many different experiences.”

Kate, who will rank up to petty officer second class in a few weeks, has won numerous awards, including Overall Cadet of the Year.

“And even if they don’t go into the military, they’re still just getting so much life experience,” Hone said.