Alamo Battalion
Commanding Officer: LT Jason Heinen
NOSC San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston
3837 Binz Engleman Road
San Antonio, TX 78219-2219
U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps · Region 8-3
Leading the region. Strengthening every unit.
Region 8-3 is the regional command supporting five Sea Cadet units across Texas. Cadets belong to their local units; the region helps those commands lead, train, and serve.
Commands across Region 8-3
About the command
One region. Five local commands.
Region 8-3 provides regional command and support for its subordinate units. The day-to-day cadet experience happens locally—inside the battalion or division each cadet joins.
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Subordinate commandsEach unit has its own local home, leadership, and contact path.
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Cadets assigned directly to the regionCadets belong to the unit where they participate and train.
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Shared missionBuild leaders of character through honor, respect, commitment, and service.
For parents and prospective cadets
Is Sea Cadets right for you?
Sea Cadets serves young people ages 10–18 who are ready to learn, contribute, and grow. Participation does not create a military service obligation.
Ages 10–18
Local units guide families through eligibility, enrollment, and the right program level for each cadet.
No obligation
Sea Cadets can introduce young people to naval traditions and service, but joining does not require future military service.
A typical drill
Expect structured training in uniform, physical fitness, naval customs, leadership and teamwork activities, and unit responsibilities. Each command sets its own schedule.
Join locally
Cadets enroll through a subordinate unit—not through Region 8-3 directly. Choose the nearest command in the directory below.
Unit directory
Find your local command.
Start with the unit nearest you. Each linked unit manages its own local information and contact process.
Gateway Battalion
Commanding Officer: LTJG Vanessa Cooper
Gateway College Preparatory School
3360 Westinghouse Road
Georgetown, TX 78626
School-only program for enrolled students
Col William B Travis Division
Commanding Officer: LCDR Cynthia Banks
North Fort Hood
118TH ST
Fort Hood, TX 76504-2858
Texas Division
Commanding Officer: ENS Maureen Kalhoefer
USS Lexington
2914 N Shoreline Blvd
Corpus Christi, TX 78402
SOC Stephen M Mills Battalion
Commanding Officer: ENS Joanna Coy
817 Culwell St
San Angelo, TX 76903
Parent FAQ
What families ask first.
Start here, then connect directly with the local command nearest you for unit-specific details.
How does my child join?
Cadets enroll through a local subordinate unit, not through Region 8-3. Use the Find Your Unit directory, choose the nearest command, and follow that unit’s listed website or Facebook contact path.
What ages can join?
Sea Cadets serves young people ages 10–18, from fifth grade through the end of high school. Sea Cadets program overview ↗
What does a drill weekend look like?
Expect structured training in uniform, physical fitness, naval customs, leadership and teamwork activities, and unit responsibilities. Each command sets its own schedule, so contact the unit for its next drill details.
What is the time commitment?
Units typically meet one weekend per month or one night per week during the school year. Away training takes place during school vacations. Ask the local unit for its current calendar and participation expectations. Sea Cadets parent guidance ↗
What does it cost?
Official program fees list annual enrollment at $125, an annual local unit fee of $50–$200, and first-year essentials totaling $375–$925. High-school Recruit Training is approximately $300, bringing the first-year total with Recruit Training to $675–$1,225. Costs vary by unit and specialty program, and financial assistance may be available. Official fees and costs ↗
How are uniforms handled?
The official uniform-package estimate is $100–$400 once per growth stage, with sizes exchangeable as cadets grow; some units maintain uniform exchange closets. Sea-bag essentials are estimated at $100–$200. Contact the local unit for its current process. Official uniform cost guidance ↗
Who should I contact with questions?
Use the unit directory to reach the nearest command through its verified local website or Facebook page. Region 8-3 does not enroll cadets directly. If you cannot reach a unit, email recruiting@seacadets.org.
For unit commanders and staff
Regional command tools.
Public planning references and recruiting support are available below. Command-only notes, internal staff details, score history, and trackers sit behind the access-code gate.
Public resource library
Find the right reference by staff role. Downloadable files open directly; additional Homeport titles remain listed below for members with access.
Training Officer
Admin
Supply
- 2011 Uniform Regulations · PDF
Recruiter
Three For Free: a cadet referral-credit program tied to three qualifying referrals. Confirm current eligibility, documentation, and credit terms in Homeport before promising a benefit.
Available in Quarterdeck Homeport · login required
- Cadet Recruiting Flyer
- Volunteer Recruiting Flyer
- Open House Flyer Template
- Recruiting Tips
- Sample Elevator Pitch
- Social Media Toolkit
- Unit Uniform Inspection Sheets
- Community Service Hours Log
- NSCC Regulations
- Training & Operations Manual
- 2025 Annual Inspection Policy
Regional calendar — command access
Regional meetings, webinars, boards, and deadlines are available to Region 8-3 commanders and staff.
Use the shared Region 8-3 command code.
SCNC Leadership Meeting
Planning webinar for POLA, RT, & NLO
Unit Success Plan Webinar - RD Kickoff
Units Verify CPO Candidates for board
Open Mic Night for Success Plan
Winter Training Submission Deadline
CPO Board Chief Practice Meeting
CPO Board
SCNC Leadership meeting
Unit Success Plan webinar series: Drill Quality
Spirit of '76 Fall Recruiting Campaign concludes
Quick links
Quarterdeck is the member gateway. Sign in there first, then open Magellan from inside Quarterdeck.
Command
Enter the regional access code to open the calendar, Regional at a Glance, CO notes, staff directory, inspection history, growth tracking, and internal deadline planning.
Access is for Region 8-3 unit commanders and staff. Contact the Regional POC if you need the code.
Readiness and impact
Regional at a Glance
Command staff, unit links, verified regional figures, and completion notes in one internal view. Magellan figures are current as of September 2026; year-to-date figures cover 2026 through the reporting date.
Command staff contacts
NHQ Executive DirectorRADM Andrew Lennon
Field Area CommanderCAPT James Jones
Regional POCLT Alan Decker · adecker@seacadets.org
Training OfficerOpen
AdminOpen
SupplyOpen
RecruitingOpen
Key links
Unit roster summary
Regional strength
126Cadets67 Sea Cadets · 59 League Cadets
42AdultsRegional adult strength
168Grand totalCadets and adults
Cadets per unit
Alamo Battalion70
Texas Division23
Gateway Battalion18
SOC Stephen M Mills Battalion12
Col William B Travis Division3
Enrollment and advancement
NLCC enrollment
202337
202452
202585
2026 YTD66
Retention rate
202462%
202564%
2026 YTD75%
Net growth · 2026 YTD
NSCC+8 Goal: 6
NLCC−19 Goal: 6
Advancements
202465
202579
2026 YTD46
2025 annual inspections
Alamo Battalion
100 / 100
90.88
Col William B Travis Division
100 / 100
80.19
Gateway Battalion
100 / 60National HQ docked the score for missing prior-year submissions.
—Not published in Magellan
SOC Stephen M Mills Battalion
100 / 100
—Not published in Magellan
Texas Division
100 / 100
—Not published in Magellan
Regional aggregates not published in Magellan
—Community service hoursRegional aggregate not published
—Training daysSingle regional total not published
—NLCC inspection scoresGateway, Mills, and Texas scores are not published
Command notes to complete
Readiness notesFor command to complete
Add current readiness concerns, blockers, or follow-up needs.
Unit status updatesFor command to complete
Add commander-supplied updates that are appropriate for regional internal use.
Regional prioritiesFor command to complete
Add current priorities, owners, and review dates after command confirms them.
Reusable turnover brief
New-CO day-one onboarding
Use this one-page brief at every change of command. It points an incoming commanding officer to the regional records, people, preparation steps, and staff-role resources already maintained on this site.
Inspection score historyReview the unit’s published 2025 NSCC and NLCC results.
Growth trackerReview regional goals, year-to-date growth, and per-unit goal history.
Regional key contactsReview the chain of command; remaining staff assignments are marked Open.
CO’s CornerRead the Regional POC’s current guidance.
Regional key contacts
Regional POCLT Alan Decker · adecker@seacadets.org
Northwest and South Central Field Area CommanderCAPT James Jones
NHQ Executive DirectorRADM Andrew Lennon
Training OfficerOpen
AdminOpen
SupplyOpen
RecruitingOpen
Submission deadlines require immediate confirmation.
No inspection dates or submission deadlines are verified for publication here. On day one, confirm every current inspection window and deadline in Quarterdeck, then check the internal deadlines calendar for regional updates.
Inspection-prep checklist
- Confirm every official inspection window and submission deadline in Quarterdeck.
- Assign an owner for each required current-year and prior-year submission.
- Upload early enough to correct missing, unreadable, or rejected files.
- Verify acceptance and keep proof of every completed submission.
- Review prior-year records before national scoring.
Resource library by staff role
CO’s Corner
Team — welcome to the new region083.org. This site has one job: making yours easier. The public side recruits for you. The Command section is your toolkit — inspection prep, resources sorted by role, our numbers, and my notes straight to you.
Here's where we stand: every unit in this region scored 100 on the regional inspection. That's the standard now. Hold it.
Two things I need from each of you. First, keep your unit's page accurate — if something's wrong or missing, tell me. Second, use the toolkit. If something's missing from it, say so and we'll add it.
More to come. Let's get after it.
Respectfully,
LT Alan Decker
Region 8-3
Regional staff directory
Regional POCLT Alan Decker · adecker@seacadets.org
Northwest and South Central Field Area CommanderCAPT James Jones
NHQ Executive DirectorRADM Andrew Lennon
Training OfficerOpen
AdminOpen
SupplyOpen
RecruitingOpen
Per-unit inspection score history
2025 annual inspection results. NSCC figures are regional / national; NLCC figures are final scores.
Alamo Battalion100 / 10090.88
Col William B Travis Division100 / 10080.19
Gateway Battalion100 / 60National HQ docked missing prior-year submissions.—Not published
SOC Stephen M Mills Battalion100 / 100—Not published
Texas Division100 / 100—Not published
Inspection-prep checklist
- Confirm the official inspection window and every submission deadline in Quarterdeck.
- Assign an owner for each required current-year and prior-year submission.
- Upload early enough to correct missing, unreadable, or rejected files.
- Verify acceptance and keep proof of every completed submission.
- Review prior-year records before national scoring; Gateway’s 2025 national result shows the cost of missing submissions.
Growth tracker
Current as of September 2026. Regional 2026 goals: 6 NSCC / 6 NLCC. Net growth YTD: NSCC +8 / NLCC −19.
Per-unit goal history
Alamo Battalion
20170
20183
20192
20201
20212
20222
20232
20243
20251
Col William B Travis Division
20170
20182
20192
20202
20213
20223
20233
20242
20251
Gateway Battalion
20170
20180
20190
20200
20210
20220
20230
20240
20251
SOC Stephen M Mills Battalion
20170
20180
20190
20200
20218
20221
20232
20241
2025—Not supplied
Texas Division
20170
20185
20193
20201
20215
20222
20236
20242
20252
Internal deadlines calendar
Alan can replace these placeholders as dates are verified.
Inspection windowsTBD — verified dates not supplied
Report submission deadlinesTBD — verified dates not supplied
Enrollment deadlinesTBD — verified dates not supplied
Questions for regional leadership
Contact Region 8-3.
Email is the primary contact path. You can also message the region on Facebook or Instagram. To join as a cadet, contact the nearest subordinate unit in the directory.
Ready to begin?
Your first step is local.
Region 8-3 does not enroll cadets directly. Find the nearest command above, visit its website or Facebook page, and connect with that unit’s leadership.
Choose a unitLearn about the national program
America’s Sea CadetsExplore the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps mission and program.
Visit seacadets.org ↗