US Naval Sea Cadet Corps
Challenger Division-Training Ship Columbia

 Challenger Division is named after the heroic men and women who died aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on 26 January 1986.  Likewise Training Ship Columbia is named after those who were killed aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia on 1 February 2003.  We have gotten approval from NASA to use these to honor those men and women who were lost. 

Challenger Division is an outstanding unit filled with motivated and dedicated young men and women.  Drills are held at Naval Station Point Loma in San Diego, California.  We have many field trips including camp outs with other units and going to the Ropes course.  The unit is active in the community with parades and color guards for local organizations.  We go to competitions called Flagships where we compete against other units in Southern California.  We compete in individual competitions like line heaving, knot tying,  and various group competitions like semaphore, stretcher carry, firefighting and color guard.  We also do unit competitions in regulation drills and expedition drills, and much more.  Our unit has outstanding cadets, great officers and instructors, but most important our cadets have a great time. 

Our unit is located in San Diego, California and is part of the Pacific Southwest Region 11 which covers the Southern California and Nevada areas.  The Sea Cadets, is a youth program for boys and girls ages 11-17.  Please see the link above FAQ'S more more information. 

We hope that you will spend time exploring our web site and please be sure to sign our question book. 

If you would be interested in joining the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps or Navy League Cadet Corps, please contact us at the link above or you may email our Commanding Officer:  

LTJG Kirk Elliano, NSCC   kdelliano@earthink.net

US Naval Sea Cadet Headquarters Website   www.seacadets.org

"...through organization and cooperation with the Department of the Navy, to encourage and aid American youth to develop, train them in seagoing skills, and to teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance and kindred virtues."  NSCC Charter - 36 USC 1541 

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MAKIN ISLAND was delivered to the United States Navy April 16, 2009.  Following initial training and certification, MAKIN ISLAND transited to the West Coast by circumnavigating South America via the Strait of Magellan. More than 5,000 family, friends, distinguished guests and crew members were on hand to see USS Makin Island (LHD 8) come to life in an official commissioning ceremony in San Diego, CA on October 24, 2009.  Challenger Division was very honored to be a part of this historic event.

MAKIN ISLAND (LHD 8) underwent construction at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss.  She is the final ship built in the LHD-1 WASP-class, but the first of the class built with Gas Turbine Engines and Electric Drive. Steam is not used on board the ship for heating or water production as in previous LHD class ships. Other significant changes from previous LHD-class ships include Watermist Fire Suppression Systems, a fiber-optic Machinery Control System (which is also integrated with the Damage Control Systems), the SPQ-9B radar and Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC). As the final member of the WASP Class LHD's, MAKIN ISLAND is emerging from previous U.S. Navy Amphibious Forces and setting the stage for the under-development successor to the Wasp Class, the LHA (R) Class of Amphibious Landing Ship

For Further information visit the USS Makin Island's Official Website below.

USS Makin Island