Alex Puzio, a Muncy High School sophomore, has his future goals set, and a roadmap for reaching them. “After high school graduation, my future goal is to get accepted to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD,” he says. In the meantime, beginning last June 2022, Alex became a member of the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps (USNSCC) Youth Program. The program, sponsored by the U.S. Navy and supported by the U.S. Coast Guard, provides training on naval bases and other military installations in a variety of military disciplines. The Sea Cadet program is for young men and women ages 13-18, who are interested in developing their skills in leadership, basic seamanship, courage, self-reliance and discipline. Alex says, “Through being involved with this program, I hope it will give me an advantage when I apply to the Academy. My goal in the program is to reach the highest rank of Chief Petty Officer.”

The Wahoo Sea Cadet SS-238, the division for Northeastern PA, is based out of the Naval Reserve Center in Avoca, PA. It currently has 22 cadets. Alex was trained as a member of the Color Guard for the Yahoo Division. Although most of the training occurs in the summer months, cadets are required to attend training for one weekend a month, and occasionally participate in other activities. There are also training sessions between Christmas and New Year.

Alex explains the trainings he has completed since joining USNSCC last year:

• “July 2022–Recruit Training (RT)– A week-long training held on the USS Little Rock in Buffalo, NY. Throughout the week, we are graded on physical fitness, military, leadership, teamwork, responsibility, and military bearings. Once completed, I graduated as a Cadet in the USNSCC.

• November 2022–Seamanship Advanced Training–A 5-day training aboard the

Liberty Ship SS John W Brown in Baltimore, MD. This hands-on training covered in-port and underway instruction on navigation, steam plant operation, cargo handling and marlinspike seamanship. I earned my seamanship appurtenance (an anchor).

• June 2023–Petty Officer Leadership Academy (POLA)–A weeklong leadership training held on the campus of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzard’s Bay (Cape May, MA). POLA consisted of both classwork and hands-on activities. I successfully graduated from the Leadership Academy. This allows me to be a Staff Cadet at future Trainings, and to take leadership roles in my local Division.

• July 2023–Submarine Training–A weeklong training on the Navy Submarine Base in Groton, Connecticut. Throughout the week, we attended sub-school classes, which included Fire Training, learning from the Torpedo Men, Damage Control, Submarine Escape Training, Small Boat Ops, and Port Ops. I also toured the Nuclear Sub USS Virginia. At the end of the week, we cadets had an exam to pass to receive our certificates to be an ‘Honorary Submariner of the Groton Basic Submarine Seminar Course.'”

At graduation for the submarine course, Alex received the Honor Cadet Award, having achieved the highest score of the cadets on the exam. Alex, along with one other cadet, also completed extra assignments to be Qualified Submariners to be “blessed by the Fin.”

Along with his Sea Cadet involvement, Alex is also on the Muncy Football Team; treasurer of the Weightlifting Team; a member of Scout Troop 25, Muncy; a volunteer at Son-Light House; and a member of St. John Lutheran “Brick” Church in Montgomery.

Of the USNSCC experiences, Alex says he was in a bit of shock at first, away from his family for the first time. “But I quickly adjusted because each day was busy from morning until night, and all the cadets were going through the same experience. And at each training I have met and developed comradery with a lot of other cadets from around the country. During the trainings, I have been taught by experienced military personnel, and I enjoy learning about the various aspects of life in the Navy and the core values of being a good citizen.” Alex adds that from these experiences, he looks forward to his future in the Navy.

Alex is the son of Stephen and Kelly (Burkholder) Puzio.