1. Andrew Park
Find the target, check the safety, align the iron sight and pull the trigger.
For senior Andrew Park, shooting is an essential part of keeping up with his duty of
being a petty officer of the Los Angeles division of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps
(USNSCC).
USNSCC is a federally chartered non-profit youth organization for kids, ages 11 through
17. This program primarily focuses on familiarizing cadets with Navy life and Navy-style
discipline while also offering advanced training to further a future in the military.
“We learn about anything military related. [We go] to military bases and we get taught by
real generals and COs [Cadet Officers] and it’s like the first step of ROTC [The Reserve
Officers' Training Corps] or a career in the military,” Park said.
Park started the USNSCC at 14 years old during the winter of his 8th grade year while
attending Hawthorne Elementary School. He was inspired by an alumnus, Jin Soo Park,
who participated in the program and is currently in the Naval Academy.
“[Jin Soo] looked like he had a purpose, when he walked he had a purpose, you could
see it in his eyes, its like he had a purpose for everything he was doing, and thats what I
wanted,” Park said.
Along with the hours spent partaking in classes such as aviation, sailing, leadership,
medical and adventure training, USNSCC strives to improve the cadets’ development.
“Before I went to the program I saw Jin Soo change through his life as a marine, he
seemed to have a better mission in life; something that is unselfish for the better of
others,” Park said.
Along with the physical and mental training the USNSCC course offers, Park
participates in competitions such as the annual National Flag Ship Competition.
Different categories include, paramedic development, line heaving, and shooting.
“There is shooting which I ranked third in; out of ten shots, I made nine. […] It is a
mental therapy and there are so many things that go into shooting, the angle, the way
you position your gun, the way you see the iron sights, and even if you have something
off your shot, it completely misfires. Even the tiniest variables can make a difference,”
Park said.
Park will attend George Washington University next fall. He plans to study political
science and history then transfer into the Navy as an officer.
2. “Being in the USNSCC really helped me appreciate things more. I think four years in
college would give me more time to mature and really know the world before tackling it
in the Navy,” Park said.
Park’s family is supportive of his decisions to further his career as a Naval Officer.
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“I think the glory is greater than the pain, so no matter how hard it is, I think the outcome
really covers up the hard stuff we go through. It could be shooting, it could be drills, it
could be running, and thats what makes me want to continue”, Park said
![Andrew Park
Find the target, check the safety, align the iron sight and pull the trigger.
For senior Andrew Park, shooting is an essential part of keeping up with his duty of
being a petty officer of the Los Angeles division of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps
(USNSCC).
USNSCC is a federally chartered non-profit youth organization for kids, ages 11 through
17. This program primarily focuses on familiarizing cadets with Navy life and Navy-style
discipline while also offering advanced training to further a future in the military.
“We learn about anything military related. [We go] to military bases and we get taught by
real generals and COs [Cadet Officers] and it’s like the first step of ROTC [The Reserve
Officers' Training Corps] or a career in the military,” Park said.
Park started the USNSCC at 14 years old during the winter of his 8th grade year while
attending Hawthorne Elementary School. He was inspired by an alumnus, Jin Soo Park,
who participated in the program and is currently in the Naval Academy.
“[Jin Soo] looked like he had a purpose, when he walked he had a purpose, you could
see it in his eyes, its like he had a purpose for everything he was doing, and thats what I
wanted,” Park said.
Along with the hours spent partaking in classes such as aviation, sailing, leadership,
medical and adventure training, USNSCC strives to improve the cadets’ development.
“Before I went to the program I saw Jin Soo change through his life as a marine, he
seemed to have a better mission in life; something that is unselfish for the better of
others,” Park said.
Along with the physical and mental training the USNSCC course offers, Park
participates in competitions such as the annual National Flag Ship Competition.
Different categories include, paramedic development, line heaving, and shooting.
“There is shooting which I ranked third in; out of ten shots, I made nine. […] It is a
mental therapy and there are so many things that go into shooting, the angle, the way
you position your gun, the way you see the iron sights, and even if you have something
off your shot, it completely misfires. Even the tiniest variables can make a difference,”
Park said.
Park will attend George Washington University next fall. He plans to study political
science and history then transfer into the Navy as an officer.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/684bca48-1d0d-4c32-82cd-76558713d778-160602015939/85/andy-park-1-320.jpg)
