As of 0800 today, the Patriot State was located at 7 degrees north latitude, 081 degrees 56 minutes west longitude, approximately 20 miles south of the Panama coastline. She was steering a course of 127 degrees true. The wind was out of the northwest at 4 knots, the seas were moderate at a temperature of 86 degrees, the air temperature was 90 degrees.

Captain's Log:

The predictably of the Training Sea Term has returned as the Cadets work to meet educational goals that can be met only at sea. Division one is at the grind. They are assigned maintenance duties and I seriously doubt that I can find one of them who wouldn't trade morning scullery duties for the difficulties of exchanging money or hailing a taxi. Division two has watch with responsibility for ship's operations. Division three is in the classroom. The entire Ship is an active learning center where we teach and then test. Caldera, Costa Rica served as an equally important class room with a remarkably important difference. Here we test and then teach. The questions are delivered in rapid succession and the rewards for correct answers are instantaneous. So are the consequences for failure.

It is difficult to satisfy everyone's taste when it comes to choosing ports of call. This visit was no exception. Some loved it; others couldn't get away fast enough. But remember, this is Sea Term, not a pleasure cruise. We weren't there for solely for the liberty.

The Cadets, by design, were placed on foreign soil and given a set of real world problems. They didn't speak the language, they knew nothing of the customs; they weren't acquainted with anyone who did. Caldera is not a "liberty capital" which only increased the difficulties. There is no entertainment, no food, and little in the way of shopping nearby. That means travel and adventure to find it. It also means that given the limited opportunity for liberty, Cadets have to be resourceful, quick studies in order to have any fun at all. The operative word here is confidence. Believe me, they have it!

They met every challenge. They may even have learned something worthwhile in the process.