St. Louis Council sponsors 50th annual Cardinal Company

Throughout the years, Navy Recruiting District St. Louis has worked alongside the St. Louis Cardinals and Navy League of the United States - St. Louis Council in enlisting an all male group of Delayed Entry Program personnel known as the Cardinal Company. 

Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Thomas M. Smith

So on 7 August 2008, the day’s events started with CDR. Steven J. Cincotta, USN, Commanding Officer, Navy Recruiting District(NRD)St. Louis conducting the oath of enlistment for the 50th Annual Cardinal Company Recruit Division 2008.  The recruit company then moved to the Soldiers Memorial Military Museum in downtown St. Louis where eighty-nine new Navy recruits took the ceremonial oath of enlistment on the steps of the memorial in the presence of family and friends.  At the ceremony, the recruits, decked out in Cardinal Company T-Shirts and caps provided by the St. Louis Council with assistance from Anheuser-Busch, started on their journey to becoming Sailors in the United States Navy. Following the enlistment, family, friends and Navy League members joined in for a picnic at Eternal Flame Park, adjacent to the memorial. St. Louis native and St. Louis Council member, Rear Adm. Daniel Kloeppel, USN (Retired) presided over the day’s events as the senior Navy official present. He addressed the recruits at the Soldiers’ Memorial and then threw out the first pitch at the Cardinals/Dodgers game. At the ceremony he said, “My connection as a former Commander of Naval Training Center Great Lakes was very strong toward these young men taking their first step towards their service in the Navy. This 50th Anniversary was very important to the Navy, the Navy League, the St Louis Cardinal organization and to the St Louis area. It is a fine tradition that needs to continue. It reminds us all of the significance of service to our Country”.

Capt. John W. Peterson, Commanding Officer, Recruit Training Command (RTC), administered the ceremonial oath and said it was unique for him as RTC Commander to be part of the longest running sponsored recruit division. “I am honored to be part of the anniversary for this very distinguished group of young men who have made the decision to serve their country in the United States Navy,” Peterson said.  “These young men will represent their family and carry the flag of the St. Louis Cardinals organization during their time at boot camp,” he added.

The St. Louis Cardinals organization hosted a special, repeat swearing in ceremony at Busch Stadium just prior to the baseball game.  Then after the ceremony at Busch Stadium, the recruits and their families watched the Cardinals vs. Dodgers baseball game before the recruits departed for training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.
The Cardinal-Navy Recruit Company is the longest running sponsored military recruit division of all the military services.