Last year, Clermont Chief of Police Charles Broadway attended a Sea Cadet ceremony. He was so impressed by the high academic, physical and moral value standards maintained by the youth in the program, that he asked if a sea cadet program could be brought to Clermont. LTJG Gary Schindele immediately reacted. The Clermont Police Department became a sponsor, Police Chief Broadway offered a meeting space at the recently built Police Headquarters and The Clermont Battalion was formed.
The Battalion meets one weekend a month during the school year at the Clermont Police Headquarters where they train. During school breaks, cadets and adult instructors participate in one and two-week training at U.S. Military installations around the country where they learn lifelong skills and how to become leaders in their units, schools and communities.
Lieutenant Commander Todd Dunn, Regional Director, recently inspected the Battalion and reviewed administrative records, training records and cadet awards. Clermont Battalion Sea Cadets can proudly announce that they are among the top ranked units in their region. It is almost unheard of that a new unit can go from nothing to an honor ranking in just one year, boasts LTJG Gary Schindele, FF/EMT, Commanding Officer.
Currently Clermont Battalion has 29 cadets and 23 volunteer instructors and staff. “As we are still very new (just one full year behind us) we are not yet “Commissioned” in the eyes of National Head Quarters”, said commanding officer Schindele. “Had we been commissioned, our score of 3.84 out of 4.0 ( a perfect score) would have earned us “Honor Company” designation among the nearly 300 Sea Cadet units throughout the system”.
Congratulations to Clermont Battalion!
