Camp Ripley, Minnesota. COAST GUARD SPECIAL MISSION TRAINING – DIVE COMPLETES COLD WATER ICE TRAINING AT CAMP RIPLEY, MINNESOTA.

Navy League of the United States - Minnesota Council February 19, 2023

Brr!!!!.  It was really cold in Minnesota in early February with temperatures in the teens and twenties, but divers from the Coast Guard, Navy and Army were prepared for the challenge. 

 The Coast Guard Special Mission Training Detachment-Dive (SMTD-Dive) Cold Water Ice Diving Course was held at Camp Ripley, Minn. from January 31 – February 10.   The Minnesota Navy League Council was thrilled to be able to host the class at the completion of training for a dinner at the Town Hall at Camp Ripley. 

 Sixteen divers participated in the course and were from all over the country including units in Calif., Hawaii, Fla., and Va.  The divers spanned three military services and included four Coast Guard divers, eight Navy divers and four Army divers. 

 The USCG Cold Water Ice Diving course (CWID) is conducted annually and consists of both classroom and field instruction that includes cold weather dressing and diving techniques, safety on floating ice, donning the CWID SCUBA outfit, and CWID SCUBA emergency procedures. Course content is facilitated via classroom presentations, cold-water diving tank, practical field exercises via ice covered lakes and performance-based evaluations.   All perfectly suited for Minnesota’s cold weather environment. 

The training was previously held in Washington state and moved to Camp Ripley last year.  Divers who attended the course indicated that moving the course to Camp Ripley in Minnesota has challenged them in ways they never imagined by exposing divers to authentic cold weather training conditions reaching far extremes of operational capabilities.

 The Camp Ripley environment allowed instructors to introduce students to the harshest winter weather conditions they may ever be asked to operate in, while offering the amenities that allow instructors to implement the proper level of controls to mitigate the hazards and risks they may otherwise be exposed to in a less controlled training environment. The amenities and facilities located on Camp Ripley are second to none.

 The course is intended for all military diving personnel assigned to full-time dive billets within the ranks of E-5 through O-4. Its purpose is to provide all military divers with formalized training specific to operating in the harsh cold water and ice diving environments.

 The Minnesota Navy League Council is thrilled to have been able to meet and host the USCG Cold Water Ice Diving course and looks forward to continuing a relationship with them on future visits to Minnesota.

 The Minnesota Navy League Chapter, a 501c3 is a non-profit registered with the State of Minnesota.    

Media Contact

Patricia Dolan,   VP Communications, Minnesota Navy League

pkdolan37@gmail.com 703-851-5684

Como Marine Corps JROTC Cadets receive swim lessons from Abbey's Hope

Yes, Swimming Lessons for all MCJROTC cadets. New this school year and part of their physical fitness curriculum, all cadets within the program will receive basic swim lessons as part of their curriculum. The plan came together this school year after Ms. Alison Petri, from the non-profit Abbey's Hope Foundation contacted the Navy League of the United States, Minnesota Council after supporting an event with the Ramsey County Sheriff's office and the Learning Jet.

Ms. Petri talked with the group about water safety and gave them each their own lifejacket. As part of the conversation, we talked about swim abilities. The majority of the students could not swim. As a water safety expert and the wife of a Marine Ms. Petri contacted the Navy League and wanted to offer Abbey's Hope to work with the Cadets. The Navy League of the United States, Minnesota Council facilitated the contact with Mcjrotc Como Park that led to this event.

Ms. Alison Petri is from the non-profit Abbey's Hope Foundation. Abbey's Hope is a foundation to honor the passing of six-year-old Abbey Taylor in a swimming pool incident. It works tirelessly with youth toward a world with safer pools by providing swimming education and advocating for comprehensive safety standards for all. Volunteering their time to help Marine Instructor Sergeant Major Kirkland is Coach and lifeguard David Albornoz from the Como Pool Aquatics Facility. Abbey's Hope Charitable Foundation

Twin Cities Squadron Sea Cadets hosts Dining Out

Naval Sea Cadet Twin Cities Squadron hosted a Dining out on January 22, 2023.  During the Dining out, two cadets were recognized with the Navy League of the United States (NLUS) Theodore Roosevelt Youth Medal by the Minnesota Council of the United States Navy League.  The Dining out was hosted by Twin Cities Squadron Commanding Officer, Ens. Shawn Wilson.

 Sea Cadet Chief Petty Officer 3 Maguire Weiland and League Cadet Airman Apprentice Langston Pena were presented the Theodore Roosevelt Youth Medals by Minnesota Council President, Cmdr. (Ret.) Joe Fraser. 

 The Daughters of the American Revolution presented the Outstanding Cadet Medal to Petty Officer Avery Mortenson and the Sons of the American Revolution presented the Good Citizenship Medal to Petty Officer Maximus Schantzen. 

 Following the awards, the oldest and youngest sailors performed the traditional cake cutting.  Congratulations to all the cadets who received awards!!