Avon Teen Chosen to Represent the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps in Mumbai, India

Publisher: Kavya Jain

Photography: Markanthony Izzo

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sea Cadet Petty Officer First Class Chloe Caso is not a typical rising Avon High School Junior. In addition to being a junior varsity athlete, maintaining honor roll status, and organizing Farmington Valley’s American Cancer Society Relay for Life, she has been a proud member of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Barque Eagle Division located in Plainville. Through the past three years as a cadet, the rising Junior has had many leadership positions within her unit, including Yeoman, Company Commander, Assistant Leading Petty Officer, and Leading Petty Officer. Her advanced training experience includes Recruit Training, Seamanship Training, Petty Officer Leadership Academy, serving as a Staff Cadet at Recruit Training, and Field Operations Training.

Ever since she joined the Sea Cadets at age 13, this Barque Eagle Division Sea Cadet dreamed of traveling overseas on a Sea Cadet International Exchange Program. To do this, she maintained her 3.7 grade point average, earned two volunteer service ribbons for 30 hours each, and participated in multiple extracurricular activities inside and outside of school. PO1 Caso is currently the highest ranking cadet in her unit, with over 30 cadets under her leadership. In March of 2016, she was named Cadet of the Year for Plainville’s Barque Eagle Division.

Now, the dream this teenager had at 13 years old is becoming a reality.

After completing a rigorous application process, she was chosen to be one of four cadets to represent the United States at the International Sea Cadet Association Regatta in Mumbai, India for one week this October. The Avon High School student will be working with Naval Sea Cadets from the United States, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Canada, India, South Africa, and Hong Kong. As part of the regatta, she will be practicing nautical skills such as rowing, canoeing, and sailing. PO1 Caso will also be attending the opening and closing ceremonies of the International Sea Cadet Association Annual Conference and visiting cultural and historical areas with cadets from around the globe. She will be housed on India’s Training Ship Jawahar, located on the Bay of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea.

The U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps is a non-profit youth organization for students ages 13 through the completion of their senior year in high school. Cadets participate in monthly drills with their home unit, and attend two-week trainings during school breaks. Trainings are conducted in more than 60 Navy and STEM related career fields. The Barque Eagle Division is located at Naval Operational Support Center Plainville, CT and serves cadets from the Central and Northern Connecticut regions. For more information about the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, visit www.seacadets.org or visit www.barque-eagle-seacadets.org for more information on Plainville’s Barque Eagle Division.

###

Contact:

LTJG John Gallo, NSCC

(904)384-3222

FDRcyber@gmail.com