Sea Cadets Tour Submarine at Point Loma

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Melissa K. Russell, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Participants from the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps toured the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Jefferson City (SSN 759) aboard Naval Base Point Loma Jan. 12 to see what life is like aboard a U.S. Navy submarine.

Submariner tour guides taught the students how the submarine moves through the water and how it stays balanced, heated, and defensive, along with how the crew lives.

"I enjoy telling people what we do," said Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Jared Sainz, one of Jefferson City's appointed tour guides. "Most people don't understand what happens in a submarine or how a submarine works on a basic level."

Twenty-three children, ranging in age from 11 to 17, toured the vessel along with their chaperones in an effort to better understand what a career as a submariner would be like.

"It's a good eye-opener for these guys to pinpoint what they want to do when they graduate from high school," said Ginny Fessler, a chaperone and parent volunteer. "Some of them said, 'Yeah, I could do this,' and others were like, 'No, I think I'm too tall!'"

The tour allowed the visitors to see virtually all of the unclassified spaces on the nuclear-powered submarine including the control center, sleeping quarters, galley, torpedo space and wardroom.

Hannah Lockmann, a 14-year-old student at Hill Creek Elementary School, said she enjoyed the firsthand experience.

"Today was a lot of fun and I learned a lot." Lockmann said. She added that her career ambition is to become a Navy Corpsman, but not on a sub. "It's just too small!" she said.

Sainz said there was real value for the touring children in familiarizing themselves with actual Navy equipment and culture.

"I wish these opportunities existed when I was younger," Sainz said. "They get to see what's going on in the Navy and they'll understand a little bit better what they're getting into if they do decide to join."

Since 1958, the Naval Sea Cadet Corps has been committed to providing American youth with a drug and alcohol-free environment to foster their leadership abilities, broaden their horizons through hands-on training, and guide them to becoming mature young adults.

For more information on the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps visit http://www.seacadets.org.