WINDERMERE, Fla. – A group of young cadets in Windermere is making national headlines after being named the top U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps unit in the country, but the recognition comes as the not-for-profit program faces a new challenge: outgrowing its current home.
The Lone Sailor Division, which operates out of the Windermere Police Department, was recently awarded the John J. Bergen Award, the highest honor given to a Sea Cadet unit nationwide. The award recognizes excellence in training, leadership and community service.
“It was definitely a great feeling going from a struggling unit to one of the best in the country,” said 14-year-old Cadet Connor Merrill. “We were number two or three last year, so it felt good to be No. 1.”
Monthly drills focus on leadership, discipline and physical fitness—skills cadets say help them both in and out of the classroom.
“Definitely a better mentality of how to get to work and get things done sooner rather than later,” Merrill said. “Don’t let it sit around and collect dust. Get it done now.”
The program started in Clermont before moving to Ocoee. The town of Windermere adopted the organization and is now working to assist with growth.
When the division moved to Windermere, it had about 20 cadets. Now, with 40 cadets and growing, leaders say they are looking for a bigger space to accommodate the surge in interest.
“They have grown to a point where we’re actually looking for additional space,” said Detective Mark Wilson, a board member for the division. “Their recruitment has been in hyperdrive.”
Wilson said the growth is a “good problem to have” because the program has helped so many kids gain confidence and leadership skills.
“You watch them come in shy and unsure,” Wilson said. “Then, a few months later, they’re leading drills, running formations and speaking with confidence. That’s the power of this program.”
As the Lone Sailor Division looks toward the future, cadets will focus on summer activities, including dive lessons and flight training.
The Lone Sailor Division is a nonprofit organization. For more information about joining or donating, click here.