U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps
South Central Region 19-2
Phoenix Division
Commissioning Date
11 December 1993
Phoenix Division History
The PHOENIX Division began forming in 1992 and was commissioned by the Earl E. Mitchell American Legion Post as a new unit on 11 December 1993 with 7 officers, 3 instructors, 1 midshipman and 47 cadets. It was branched off from the ARIZONA Division, the longest running division in the state and most of the nation, with its origins dating back to 1963. The division accepted its first Navy League cadet in November 1995 and the beginning of a NLCC company had begun. Along with what would become the PHIL D. BUCK Training Ship, the division drilled at the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center for several years. In 1999 the unit helped the TUCSON Division expand the program in Arizona with the formation of the BUFFALO SOLDIERS Battalion in Sierra Vista, AZ.
After the events of September 11th, 2001, The Phoenix Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center forced the program to find a new home. Due to the outstanding direct efforts of Mrs. Cindy McCain, wife of Senator John McCain of Arizona, we were able to find a new home just a few miles away on the site of Hensley and Company Distributing, her family-owned business. Her efforts and those of the Hensley Company to provide us with our current home will forever be appreciated. They have not only been able to provide us with a clean, safe place to conduct drills, but also provided training to us in the areas of drug prevention and alcohol awareness. In December 2002, the PHIL D. BUCK Training Ship returned to the Navy Operational Support Center to create a new NSCC unit. In June of 2003 the VETERAN’S PRIDE Battalion and Training Ship were chartered. In April of 2004, the PHOENIX Division and the rest the units of Pacific Southwest Region 11-1 in Arizona were transferred to the Rocky Mountain Region and now are part of Region 15-2 along with all units located in Arizona and New Mexico. In 2005, the ARIZONA Division closed its doors after 42 distinguished years of service.
In July 2005, the unit expanded and developed a trial program on the campus of North Pointe Preparatory, a charter junior high and high school in Phoenix. As a result, the school hosted elective classes for both junior high students to join the NLCC and high school students joining the NSCC for the 2005-2006 school year. Because of the success of its growing Navy League cadet program, the unit chartered its new Navy League Training Ship component, the T.S. BATTLESHIP ARIZONA in March of 2006 at the school. Within its first 9 months of operation, the training ship was ranked 7th overall in the nation on inspection. The training ship moved back with the PHOENIX Division to Hensley & Company in late 2006 and by 2007 the T.S. ARIZONA was named the top NLCC Unit in the nation. The training ship continues to do an outstanding job training NLCC cadets to fleet up and hit the deck plates running.
On May 15th, 2007, the unit suffered its lowest point in its history with the sudden untimely death of its Commanding Officer, LTJG Joseph Ehrhardt. A touching memorial service was held at the unit in his honor. The unit pressed on with his memory as they continued to build and maintain a strong healthy unit. Within the next year, the Phoenix Division was named #1 unit in the Rocky Mountain Region and for inspection year 2007 and repeated the task again in 2008. The unit earned the prestige Ben Jefferson Pride trophy for top performance in the Veteran’s Day Parade in 2009. With continued leadership the unit received additional excellence awards in 2011, 2012 and 2016. In 2017, PHOENIXX Division, along with units throughout Arizona and New Mexico became part of South Central Region 8-8.
When the COVID-19 pandemic occurred in 2020, the unit was forced to close its doors and as a result lost our drill site at Hensley and Company of over 20 years as well as many of the staff and cadets. Like the mythical Phoenix they represent, we have risen from the ashes again. This time with the Phoenix Elks Lodge as our new host and sponsor. In April 2023, PHOENIX Division and units from Arizona , New Mexico, Guam and Saipan formed the newly created Region 19, with 19-1 to be Southern Arizona, 19-2 central and northern Arizona (including Phoenix Division), 19-3 New Mexico and 19-11 for Guam and Saipan. Our unit continues to grow and prosper to this day.
Awarded the Anthony H. Murray Sr. Seaman Award – 1997
Awarded Inspection “E” for Honor unit in the region
1994, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2016
Region 15-2 Flagship Champions – 2005, 2013
Top Unit in Rocky Mountain Region 15 – 2007, 2008
Unit Awards
(Graphic is not completely up to date)
- Silver Wings – 2005 For the development of an Aviation Flight Training program resulting in the solo of cadets within the unit.
- Escort Officer Ribbon – 2007 / 2009 Small Boat Seamanship Training Full Staff Compliment
- Community Service – 2003 Papago Military Reservation, Annual Flag Sharpening with the Fleet Reserve Association, Annual Unit Community Service Projects
- Drug Reduction Service Ribbon – 2007
- Recruiting and Retention Awards – 3rd award – 1996, 4th – 1999
- Unit Commendation Awards – Dec 1994, Dec. 1995, Nov. 1996, Feb. 2000, Feb. 2001, Mar. 2001, Feb. 2002, Nov. 2003, Dec. 2005, Dec. 2006, Mar. 2008, Jan. 2009, Mar. 2010, Jan. 2011, Jan 2012, Feb 2012, May 2013
- Staff Cadet Ribbon – For providing the full complement of staff cadets for Thunderbird IX RTC 2003.
- Color Guard Ribbon – For providing regular color guards to the community.
- Marksmanship Award – Annual Marksmanship Training Drills at Ben Avery Shooting Facility.
- NSCC 50th Anniversary Ribbon – Celebrating 50 Years of Sea Cadets (1962-2012)
- NSCC Service Ribbon with bronze star – For service and support of the NLCC Training Ship Phil D. Buck from 1995 to 2002 and to NLCC Training Ship Battleship Arizona from 2006 to present.
- 5th Year Operational Award – 1998, (27th year stars as of 2025) (stars on graphic not accurate), “E” for inspection excellence in 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, and 2016. Propeller appurtenance for instruction of U.S. Coast Guard Safe Boating courses.
- 4th Year Operational Award – 1997
- 3rd Year Operational Award – 1996
- 2nd Year Operational Award – 1995
- 1st Year Operational Award – 1994 with “E” appurtenance for inspection excellence
Unit Commanding Officers
LCDR Phillip D. Buck, NSCC
November 1991 – December 1993
Capt. Charles E. Soellers, USPHS
December 1993 – May 1997
LT Larry W. Linthecome, NSCC
May 1997 – May 1998
LT Wanda Sartain, NSCC
May 1998 – November 2001
LT Gregor Schneider, NSCC
November 2001 – May 2003
LTJG Terry Turner, NSCC
May 2003 – May 2006
LTJG Joseph Ehrhardt, NSCC
May 2006 – May 2007
ENS Geoffrey Goodrich, NSCC
May 2007 – August 2009
LT Terry Turner, NSCC
September 2009 – August 2012
LTJG Tony Cartland, NSCC
August 2012 – April 2018
LTJG Jay Myers, NSCC
April 2018 – August 2021
LCDR James George, USN (ret.)
August 2021 – Present
Command Chief Petty Officers
CPO Jaime C. Hall, NSCC – February 1998
CPO Prudence Kinlen-Bates, NSCC – February 1998
CPO Brandy Atkinson, NSCC – February 2002
CPO Michael A. Schneider, NSCC – July 2002
CPO James Shepherd, NSCC – May 2003
CPO Evan Dundas, NSCC – January 2005
CPO Brandon Potratz, NSCC – January 2005
CPO Mark Rutherford, NSCC – May 2005
CPO Erick Gilbertson, NSCC – October 2006
CPO Jonathan Spoehr NSCC – September 2009
CPO Joseph Menke NSCC – September 2009
CPO Jacob Voeller – October 2017
CPO Andrew Medrano – August 2019
CPO Amelia Cooney – May 2023
U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps
South Central Region 19-2
Training Ship Battleship Arizona
Commissioning Date
01 March 2006
Training Ship Battleship Arizona Unit History
The Naval Sea Cadet Corps has maintained a consistent presence in Arizona since 1963. The first Sea Cadet unit, the ARIZONA Division was one of the longest continually running units in the United States until it was decommissioned in 2005. The Phoenix Division has always supported a Navy League presence and was sister unit to the Phil D. Buck Training Ship, named after the late first Commanding Officer of the Phoenix Division. The Phil D. Buck Training Ship moved its unit to the Phoenix Naval Reserve Center in 2004 and from its cadets and staff chartered the Veteran’s Pride Battalion and Training Ship. The Battleship ARIZONA Training Ship was named and commissioned in March of 2006 to honor those who sacrificed their lives on that fateful ship in 1941 and to recognize the long standing tradition of the Naval Sea Cadet Program in Arizona.
The Battleship Arizona has been a Top 10 unit in the nation since it’s inception in 2006. In 2008 the unit was awarded the Morgan L. Fitch Jr. Trophy for being the best NLCC Training Ship in the Nation for the 2007 inspection year. The unit regularly earns the unit “E” excellence award on annual inspections.
In May of 2013, LCDR Terry Turner, the Training Ship’s founding Commanding Officer was relieved by LTJG Tony Cartland. Battleship Arizona continues to operate in conjunction with the Phoenix Division preparing NLCC cadets for a future in the NSCC.
Navy League Cadets are instructed by both Sea Cadet Officers and senior Sea Cadets through classroom and applied instruction in subjects such as basic seamanship, military drill, and leadership. Each year all the cadets from throughout our region (Arizona and New Mexico) hold competitions where training ships and companies compete with each other to test their seamanship and military skills.
The training and skills that we learn at this level are very similar to those of the Sea Cadet program but are designed to meet the needs of the 10-13 year old age group. For example, the physical fitness requirements are based on the Presidential Council for physical fitness and are tested based on age and gender.
Our motto is:
“If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right!”
Come do it right with us today!
