Rear Adm. David F. Steindl, commander, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), threw out the first pitch and enlisted 86 Chicago-area, Indiana and Wisconsin young men at the 27th annual Chicago White Sox Navy Night at U.S. Cellular Field here, June 5.
The ceremony was a continuation of a 27-year partnership between the Major League Baseball American League club and the Navy, in particular Recruit Training Command (RTC) and Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Chicago.
Steindl oversees 98 percent of the officer and enlisted accessions training for the Navy. That includes the Navy's only boot camp, RTC, which is located at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill.
The admiral was a busy man during the evening as he was the guest of honor, reenlisted his flag writer, YNCS(AW) Matthew Brennick, enlisted the new recruits into the Navy and threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game.
"Partnering with the White Sox has been a tremendous opportunity for the Navy," Steindl said. "We've been doing this for 27 years and have had more than 2,000 sailors enlist at Comiskey Park and U. S. Cellular Field. The White Sox are valued partners to the Navy and we treasure this relationship."
Steindl called the partnership with the White Sox important because "it really shows the patriotic spirit of the White Sox organization and their fans who support us every year. We, the Navy and the military, really appreciate the feedback we receive and the support we get from those fans and the team."
Steindl also attended a pre-game dinner hosted by the White Sox for family members of the new recruits, Chicago-area Navy Leaguers, United States Naval Academy alums, Navy for Moms members, the Recruiting District Assistance Council (RDAC) for NRD Chicago and city and White Sox officials.
Steindl got a chance to speak to the dinner guests and told them of the many successes the Navy has achieved the past few years and about current operations ongoing around the world. He told the audience how the new White Sox Division recruits will soon be joining these operations after graduating from RTC.
"Enlisting the young men of the White Sox division really brought me back to when I took the oath of enlistment more than 30-years-ago," Steindl told the audience. "I'm so impressed with these young men and with the young people coming into our Navy today. I went out and met with the recruits (before the swearing in) and was so impressed with how they were really squared away. They had good haircuts, said 'yes sir, no sir', sat up straight and were really attentive and asked very sharp questions. I am very impressed with the youth of America joining the Navy."
Steindl thanked RDAC for the work they do each year in supporting the White Sox recruit division and assisting in the recruitment of the Chicago-land recruiting district residents that are transformed from civilians into Sailors in eight weeks at RTC.
"I want to thank the White Sox and all of you for supporting these new recruits each year and for making this such a meaningful event for the recruits. "It also is great advertising for the Navy to get us out in front of a stadium full of people and the millions of people that may see these types of ceremonies on television. So your work here is really important. A lot of people have come into the Navy and been part of a White Sox division and they couldn't have done it without the work that your organization accomplishes each year."
The RDAC members had a surprise in store for the admiral as they returned the admiral's thanks with a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday and joined the White Sox in presenting the admiral with a surprise birthday cake to celebrate that special day everyone enjoys once a year.
According to Brooks Boyer, the senior vice president of sales and marketing for the White Sox, the organization is proud to partner with the Navy each year and support the men and women who serve the country.
"We have a great deal of respect for the sacrifices that are made by these men and women. We understand the challenges that lie ahead and to enjoy a White Sox game before heading off to boot camp we hope sends each person off on a very positive note," Boyer said.
The 86 new recruits were the special guests during the pregame festivities and entered the field to a standing ovation from the White Sox faithful. They were enlisted into the Navy by Steindl on the field behind home plate before the White Sox took on the Toronto Blue Jays.
"It was a great experience. I liked the support we got from the fans and I'm excited to begin a new future," said Dion Randle, 21, from Chicago. "I feel the White Sox and the fans really showed us they care and loved us and were really behind us. I feel honored to be here and honored to be starting my adventure in the Navy."
Revard Dupiton, 18, from Evanston, Ill., said the ceremony gave him a great feeling. "You could feel the respect from everyone in the stands. I feel really good to be part of this tradition. I'm glad the White Sox care enough to take care of us and sponsor us."
Each of the new recruits said they felt a sense of pride being in the White Sox recruit division and felt it would carry them through boot camp.
"I feel with the support we receive from the White Sox I'll have a boost of confidence that will stay with me throughout boot camp," Randle said.
Dupiton called being a member of the White Sox division motivating. "I think we'll be held to a higher standard and we'll have higher expectations to be the best that we can be."
After issuing the Oath of Enlistment to the 86 new recruits, Steindl talked with announcers Ed Farmer and Darrin Jackson in the White Sox radio booth during the third inning of the game that eventually saw Toronto beat the White Sox 9-5.
While on the air with the Sox announcers, the admiral answered questions about what the new recruits would be doing during their nine weeks at boot camp.
"This has been a fantastic day and this event has been top-notch and I was much honored to be part of it," Steindl said. "These young men that have joined the Navy are going to be doing great things. The Navy is going to take them around the world where the country needs them. They're going to be in the Persian Gulf, the South China Sea, in the Mediterranean and wherever the most important world events are happening. The Navy is mobile and we go when called. And these young men who took that sacred oath of enlistment today will soon be answering that call, putting their lives on the line and making sacrifices for their country."
The admiral also shared the excitement he felt throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
"It felt great. I think it was about 90 miles-an-hour. Well, maybe not that high, but it was a strike."
For more information about RTC, visit http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/.
For more news from Naval Service Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/greatlakes/.
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