Members and friends of the Alamo Battalion know CTN2 Grant Bartuska as an always cheerful, always organized leader of the Battalion. We will not be seeing Bartuska around drills anymore, because the Navy has selected him to become a Midshipman Candidate at the US Naval Academy Prep School (NAPS). Next year, he will become a member of the USNA Class of 2025, and eventually an officer in the United States Navy or Marine Corps.

Bartuska has some advice for would-be NAPSters. "Discipline will get you further than talent. You see that a lot here. Tons of D1 athletes fail the PRT because they don't prepare for it. 4.0/35 ACT high school students fail because they never had to study." 

All of us at the Alamo Battalion are very proud of M/C Bartuska, and we wish him the best of luck as he embarks on his voyage to become a commissioned officer. He was a great asset to the Alamo Battalion, and we know that he will be a outstanding officer.

The Alamo Battalion leadership has been preparing for the light at the end of the COVID tunnel.

While we were unable to drill in person, and will not be drilling in person in September, we have not been idle. A new class of recruits have completed the first stage of an unprecedented "virtual" recruit training. Other Cadets have done virtual advanced trainings. The efforts of these Cadets and volunteers means that if we can put the COVID epidemic behind us, many of our Cadets will not have their Sea Cadet advancement slowed or stopped.

Watch this space for more information about getting the Alamo Battalion back to normal. We will also have information about our recent graduates and the accomplishments of our volunteers.

On May 1, 2020, Sea Cadet National Headquarters sent out a memorandum with an update on the Sea Cadet Corps response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Highlights of the memo include:

• All in-person Sea Cadet activities are suspended until June 15, 2020
• All overnight Sea Cadet activities are suspended until August 31, 2020.
• NHQ will offer summer training, including RT, POLA and AT, via online virtual training. Training is listed on the Homeport training site.

The Alamo Battalion will have a virtual drill on June 9. Watch your email for details on participation.

This is not the Spring that we wanted for our Cadets, especially our graduating seniors, nor will it be the summer that we wanted for our returning Cadets to receive the training and leadership experiences that they deserve. In the virtual drill, we will discuss how the Alamo Battalion will make the best of an unprecedented situation. Thank you to our Cadets and their families for their patience.

NHQ has extended the suspension of all Sea Cadet in-person activities until 15 MAY 2020. As that date approaches, NHQ will re-evaluate and decide upon a course of action. The Alamo Battalion's next scheduled drill date is June 6 - 7, but we will have to remain flexible regarding our plans.

National Headquarters has suspended all Sea Cadet meetings, drills, parades, training, and other activities. The official statement is here: https://www.seacadets.org/covid19volunteer. As of now, we are still on track for our May 2-3 drill where we plan to camp at Canyon Lake and say farewell to our graduating seniors. 

Cadets have already been briefed by their chain of command. Any updates to our upcoming schedule will come to the Cadets via their CoC. While the shutdown is disappointing -- we are missing out on a trip to the USS Lexington and to the National Museum of the Pacific War -- we also know that it is necessary. Our sponsors, friends, families and Cadets should know that when the time is right, we will get back to work. For now, keep an eye on the Homeport training page to see how the summer is shaping up. 

Cadets should review their email for information home training opportunities, and they should contact their CoC if they have any questions.

Thanks to all of you in the Alamo Battalion family; stay well and be safe.

Semper Gumby

The Alamo Battalion had another successful drill in November. We were thrilled to accept the invitation of VFW Post 4700 to join them in the San Antonio Veterans' Parade and honor San Antonio's veterans. It was a tremendous event.

After the parade, the Battalion regrouped at the NOSC and then traveled to EVO Entertainment for some fun and some history. The fun came at the bowling alley and gaming arcade, and for history the Cadets watched the new "Midway" movie. Thank you to EVO Entertainment and to Post 4700 for a fun a memorable day! 

Sunday was a busy day as well. Cadets and Instructors worked on their various assignments for the December Military Ball and ensured that every Cadet's Service Dress Blue uniform and Ribbons are ready to go. The Ball will include the presentation of our annual awards from the Navy League, DAR, SAR and VFW. It will be an educational and fun event for our Cadets and their guests.

Parents and friends of the Alamo Battalion,
Look for us this Saturday, November 9 in the US Military Veterans Parade in downtown San Antonio. Our Cadets will be looking sharp in their blues. Parade step-off is at 1200. We will be marching with VFW Post 4700, who will be sponsoring our Veterans of Foreign Wars Naval Sea Cadet Award for the first time this year. Polish those shoes, Cadets!

​Information about the parade is at the link below.

Two of our Cadets, CPO Kobe Mora and PO3 Paul Conroy, participated in the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Junior Cadet Accession Program (JCAP). Aggie JCAP is a program for High Schoolers in Junior ROTC, Civil Air Patrol, Young Marines and the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps to experience a day in the Corps of Cadets.

Participation in the JCAP program helps prospective members of the Corps of Cadets learn about life in the Corps and being a college student at Texas A&M University. Cadets stay in the Corps dormitories, eat meals with the Corps, learn about the various scholarship opportunities available to students, and learn the benefits of participating in the premier leadership training experience in Texas. Cadets marched with the Corps to Kyle Field to yell for the Aggies on a beautiful Saturday.

CPO Mora is hoping to be admitted to the Texas A&M School of Public Health, and PO3 Conroy has been accepted to the A&M College of Engineering. Join us in wishing them good luck in their college searches.

Update: Texas A&M has announced their Spring JCAP dates (February 7-8), which are open to high school Juniors and Seniors in Sea Cadets, JROTC, Civil Air Patrol and Young Marines. Click here for details. 

Our October drill was another success. The Cadets learned about the Air Force Security Forces at Lackland AFB, and then had some impromptu weapons familiarization from United States Marines of the Fourth Marine Division, Fourth Reconnaissance Battalion. On Sunday morning, our Cadets had the chance to earn their rifle qualification ribbons, and they did an outstanding job. Every Cadet qualified, 11 of our Cadets as Expert, and another four as Sharpshooter. Thank you to our hosts at the USAF Security Forces Museum, the Marines at the San Antonio NOSC and the great people at the Bexar Community Shooting Range.

The Alamo Battalion were privileged to be guests of the National Museum of the Pacific War for the September Drill.  Cadets were able to see WW2 era weapons and equipment and tour the world-class museum. Weekend highlights included the adoption of our new unit guidon, and the pinning of new Chief Petty Officer Kobe Mora. Many thanks to our hosts at this wonderful museum.