USS Chicago Sailors Give Leadership Lessons on the Green

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chris Laurent, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs

CHICAGO (NNS) -- Sailors from USS Chicago (SSN 721)--who are in Chicago for Chicago Navy Week 2011--participated in the First Tee of Greater Chicago, a program designed to bring golf to young people who would otherwise not be exposed to the game and its positive values June 27.

Statistically, it is programs like this that help children to participate in sports and by extension succeed in academics.

"I think getting the Navy involved with First Tee is a perfect idea," said Cole Hyland, the program director for The First Tee of Greater Chicago. "Sailors possess the leadership qualities we try to teach here at First Tee. It's also great to have the men and women of our naval forces perform their job on a daily basis, but it is an added plus when they show their faces to the community and volunteer their time to the community."

Although the program uses golf as a focal point, the First Tee incorporates a Life Skills Education through their nine core values: honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment. These nine core values can be identified in each of the Navy's core values of honor, courage and commitment.

"The golf aspect of the program is a bonus," said Chief Yeoman Travis Stokes, one of the USS Chicago crewmembers volunteering with First Tee, "this program teaches kids about life, respect, morals and manners."

This Navy Week event was just one of the ways the Sailors from USS Chicago showed the citizens of Chicago the positive things their Navy does.

Navy Weeks are designed to show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy, A Global Force for Good, and increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence.