Top Hatters Squadron
Norfolk, Virginia
U.S. N
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"Training Today's Youth for Tomorrow's Navy"
February 2014
Inside this Issue Important Dates Page 2
50th Year Commissioning Invitation Page 3
Executive Officer’s Corner Page 4
“The Goat Locker” From the Senior Cadet Advisor Page 5
Petty Officer First Class Donna Kraus, Chief Selectee Page 6
Promotions Page 7
Indoctrination Completion Page 8
Army Transportation Museum Page 9
Mission, Vision, and Guiding Principles Page 10
Policy Update, Report Cards, Instruction Update, Staff Additions Page 11
Uniform Fundraiser Update Page 12
St. Patrick’s Day Parade Page 13
Unit Mailing Address: Online Drill Location: Commanding Officer http://www.seacadets.org Bldg B-30, 3rd Deck Top Hatters Squadron http://homeport.seacadets.org Naval Station Norfolk 9225 Third Ave Box 14 http://www.thsusnscc.org Norfolk, Virginia 23511 Norfolk, Virginia 23511 (757) 444-4626
SQUADRON STAFF
Commanding Officer:
LT Alexander Rullo, NSCC [email protected]
Executive Officer:
LT Jorge Pousa, NSCC [email protected]
Operations Officer
LT Joseph Pallazzo, NSCC [email protected]
Training Officer
LT Kimberly Hart, NSCC [email protected]
Administrative Officer
ENS Edward Glomb, NSCC
Personnel Officer
INST Joseph Crossman, NSCC [email protected]
Supply Officer
MIDN Stephanie Greene, NSCC [email protected]
Senior Cadet Advisor
CPO Jackie Crossman, NSCC [email protected]
Squadron Leading Petty Officer:
CPO (Sel) Donna Kraus, NSCC [email protected]
IMPORTANT DATES
DRILL WEEKENDS 21-23 March 2014 (50th Anniversary Celebration)
11-13 April 2014 16-18 May 2014
Summer training schedules are due from National Headquarters
within the next few weeks!
Remember, each cadet is required to complete one advanced
training per year.
You can find the schedule, when released, listed here…
http://homeport.seacadets.org/display/AdvanceTraining/Advanced+
Training+Home
National Headquarters has asked for patience until the schedule is
posted, and not to email asking when the schedule will be posted.
They are hard at work finalizing all the details. They will post to the
link above when it is finalized. Please check the above link often for
the most up to date information.
50th Year Commissioning Ceremony
Celebrating 50 Years 1964 - 2014
Message from the Executive Officer
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What a great drill! It seems that our numbers are shrinking just a
bit, but those that continue to attend really seem to be getting many
benefits out of each drill weekend.
The trip to the Army Museum on Ft Eustis went without a
hitch. We are looking forward in seeing more of that type of events
when able.
The cadets are doing a great job keeping up with all their
requirements in order to continue to advance.
We had a couple of our senior cadet staff that were not able to
attend this past weekend, so I just want to take this time to publicly
recognize four cadets that stepped up to help cover those
responsibilities, LC4 Traynor, PO3 Taylor, PO2 Haugabrook, and PO2
(MAA) Ferree. Thanks to these cadets extra hard work we are able to
fill the needs we had as a unit. BRAVO ZULU!
We are looking forward to a very successful 50th Anniversary drill
weekend in March. We hope to see many of you there.
LT Jorge Pousa, NSCC
Executive Officer
A Message from the Senior Cadet Advisor
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I hope everyone enjoyed our trip Ft. Eustis this month. I received many compliments for how well our cadets behaved and participated.
Now that summer is right around the corner, it's time to start thinking about what trainings you are interested in and where you want to go.
Make sure your uniforms are squared away and inspection-ready for March drill. We will have a lot going on to celebrate our 50th anniversary, so we need to look good for our visiting guests and show off all our hard work!
CPO Crossman, NSCC
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During our indoctrination weekend, Petty Officer First Class Donna Kraus
was designated as our next Chief Petty Officer Selectee.
Petty Officer Kraus is about to join an elite group of Sea Cadets who have
reached the top of the advancement ladder.
She is also about to embark on a journey which will take her to new and
exciting places. This includes not only senior level cadet leadership, but a
transition to a role only few have achieved.
Over the next few months, she will be initiated into a select fraternity whose
closely guarded secrets are known only to a few, and those who do know,
dare never to discuss them outside of the Goat Locker!
Exciting times are ahead for CPO (Sel) Kraus, and in the words of Davy
Jones, “…May God have mercy on her soul, Arrrrggh!”
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Airman Apprentice
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Airman Apprentice (T)
Angelina Gutekunst
Airman Apprentice
Brenden Shull
BBBRRRAAAVVVOOO
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Able Cadet
Eugene Martin
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Airman Apprentice
Josiah Hill
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Angelina Gutekunst
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During our February drill, the Squadron was
fortunate to be able to visit the Army Transportation
Museum on Ft. Eustis. The cadets learned the
history of Army transportation involving road, rail,
ship, and aircraft. It was a great day to learn more
about our country’s history and gave our cadets a
glimpse into future exciting times that lay ahead for
the Cadets of Top Hatters!
For a complete album of this trip be sure to check out our Facebook page.
Mission, Vision and Guiding Principles LT Alexander Rullo, Commanding Officer
Mission
Top Hatters Squadron shall provide a challenging and rewarding educational environment, closely
aligned to our Nation’s sea-going services. Further we will instill in our Cadets a sense of pride,
professionalism, and patriotism, enabling them to become responsible adults, upstanding citizens
and our Armed Forces or Nation’s future leaders.
Vision
A professional force that serves the Cadet Corps with pride and distinction committed to developing
Cadets and enforcing standards;
One that does so with a strong focus on teamwork, responsibility and accountability; and conducts
itself in a consistently professional,
ethical and traditional manner while adhering to the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment.
Guiding Principles
Professionalism – Top Hatters Squadron Cadets and staff strive to be commensurate professionals
both on and off duty. We do this by both maintaining a professional appearance and exhibiting
professional behavior.
Responsibility - Top Hatters Squadron Cadets and staff ensure that they understand and dutifully
discharge their responsibilities in an honorable manner; they continuously seek to grow and take on
greater responsibility.
Accountability – Top Hatters Squadron Cadets and staff are fully accountable for their actions.
They openly accept reward when earned, criticism when needed, and discipline when they fail to meet
their responsibilities- they own their actions.
Pride – Top Hatters Squadron Cadets and staff have and display a great deal of pride in what they
do and whom they represent. They understand that they wear the uniform of a more than 200 year old
service and that they are tied to thousands of men and women who have given their lives in the
defense of Our Nation. They feel a deep sense of honor in being part of this legacy and comport
themselves accordingly.
A. S. RULLO, LT, USNSCC
Commanding Officer
Top Hatters Squadron
POLICY UPDATES LT Jorge Pousa, Executive Officer
We would like to advise all cadets and parents that, while we do our best to communicate policy
changes, it is your responsibility to keep abreast of what is going on- both in Top Hatters and in the
Sea Cadet Corps.
Sea Cadet Corps policy changes are issued in the form of Information Letters and Action Letters that
can be found at:
http://homeport.seacadets.org/display/Correspondence/Policy+Updates+and+Changes+Home .
Top Hatters squadron policy is promulgated in the form of Instructions, Notes, and official publications
which can be found at http://thsusnscc.org/resources.html.
All parents and cadets should check these areas regularly as these are the official sources of policy
updates.
CADET SCHOOL REPORT CARDS LT. Pallazzo, Operations Officer
It is mandatory that all cadets bring their latest school report card to the March drill. As you know,
cadets are required to maintain satisfactory academic performance while participating in the U.S.
Naval Sea Cadet Corps.
Top Hatters Instruction Update
Cadets and Parents, please take note of: TOPHATTERSRON INSTRUCTION 1510.1
located at: http://www.thsusnscc.org/resources.html
This new instruction, in effect as of this date, outlines a timetable for Sea/League cadet
course completions, advanced trainings, physical readiness testing and exam completions. It also
explains how the above mentioned items pertain to cadet career advancement.
Staff Addition
We are happy to announce the addition of Matthew Reith, Petty Officer First Class, USN, to the
Squadron. He brings a vast amount of military experience to the squadron and we look forward to his
involvement in shaping our naval leaders of tomorrow.
Uniform Fundraiser Update – Important Read!
The squadron’s fundraiser for the NWU uniform shift
is coming to a close. As of March 1st, our total funds
raised to date are $4,175, well over the $3,000 we set
out to raise.
We have many to thank for this very successful
fundraising campaign. These include family, friends,
and supporters of the squadron. We wholeheartedly
thank you all for your extremely generous financial
support!
We would also like to thank a special foundation for
a last minute donation of $1,555 to help the squadron
exceed that last minute push to reach the top. Out of respect for their privacy, we are protecting their
anonymity at this time.
An important note: The online donation portion of the fundraiser will be closing on March 5, 2014 in
order to properly transfer funds from gofundme.com to the squadron. We are still able accept cash and
check donations right up until the 50th anniversary celebration when the fundraiser officially comes to a
close. Please contact ENS Glomb at [email protected] for further information.
We are still receiving donations almost daily from supporters and cadets, so the more we receive, the
more we can offer the cadets!
Just in case you have not read any of his extremely HIGH NUMBER Facebook posts, here is a brief
recap!
“ENS Glomb, our Admin Officer, is participating in the Instant Classic Trail Race and Half Marathon
(13.1 mile run) on Saturday, March 15, 2014. Please consider pledging his run during the race as 100% of
donations will go directly toward the uniform fundraising effort.”
During the January Drill, the cadets were given pledge cards and competed for a prize based
the highest amount of pledges received in a month. We are happy to announce that we had a tie
for the prize, which was a crisp $50 bill donated by an officer with the squadron.
The winners were Cadet Ducharme and Cadet Davis!!! Congratulations to you both!
However, in an act of unselfishness, in keeping with the true spirit of honor, courage, and
commitment, both cadets insisted on donating that prize money directly back to the fundraiser.
Both cadets showed what it means to be true shipmates. Thank you!
St. Patrick’s Day Parade INST Staubly, MTI Officer
We are still looking for volunteers to march in the Knight’s of Columbus St. Patrick’s Day Parade on
March 15, 2014 sponsored by Council 3548 of the Knights of Columbus. Cadets wishing to march in
the parade should contact Chief Crossman as soon as possible at [email protected] and anyone
else wishing to join in on the fun is encouraged to attend. Parents, this is a great opportunity to snag
a photo of your cadet in action!
Parade Route: The parade begins at Northside Middle School which is located at the corner of
Westmont Avenue and Granby Street. From that point it travels North on Granby Street, turns left at A
View Ave, turns left of First View Street, and ends at the intersection of First View and Government
Ave.
The parade route is approximately 1.5 miles.
Thank you again for all your hard work and dedication.