Junior Alexander Fetzko was awarded the Peter J. Soler Award, given to the Junior Sea Cadet of the Year, in the USNSCC (United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps) on June 8, 2025.

The award celebrates those who have displayed exceptional leadership, academic achievement, community service, and sheer commitment to the Sea Cadet program, all qualities that Alexander displayed.

Katrina Fetzko, an instructor within the program and Alexander’s mother, put it best.

“When I asked the unit’s Commanding Officer to describe Alex’s contributions, his response was simply, ‘What hasn’t he done?’” Katrina Fetzko said.

Alex did not earn this accolade by chance; he joined the program and worked his way up to become a distinguished member of the initiative.

The Sea Cadet program itself is a program endorsed by the United States Navy and Coast Guard, where the program very closely follows the actions of the Navy.

“The U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps (USNSCC) dates back to 1958 when the Navy League of the United States wanted to ‘create a favorable image of the Navy on the part of the American youth’.  Since that time, the program has grown to over 380 units and approximately 9,000+ men and women ages 10-17,” Katrina Fetzko said.

Alex joined the program after taking interest in one of their recruitment videos.

The program included activities such as scuba diving but also helped Alex move closer to achieving one of his lifelong dreams.

“…Alex had envisioned becoming a pilot from a young age. The Sea Cadet Corps offered him not only a meaningful outlet for that ambition, but also a structured path to build confidence, discipline, and leadership,” Katrina Fetzko commented.

Others have felt the impact of the Sea Cadet program on their futures and how it serves as a major building block for them.

Asim Mohamed Kasim, a member of the USNSCC, credited the program for its ability to assist its members in their future endeavors.

“These programs can help those who want to go into the military field, law enforcement, etc. It’s great to help build a leadership base and sense of discipline,” Kasim told The Prowl.

Kasim joined the Sea Cadets in 2023, fairly recently. Yet in such a relatively short period of time, he has not failed to be touched by Alex’s leadership and commitment to the program.

“Working under Alex under the Sea Cadet chain of command, he is a great leader and very professional,” Kasim said. “He deeply cares about the cadets under him and always interacts with them and looks after them. He’s the type of leader to ask how your day was and how you were feeling and if anything is going on.” 

Oftentimes, an individual who can lead effectively, and can still relate to those below them in the chain of command, is few and far between. Yet, Alex  possesses these qualities and more, not failing to exemplify characteristics of an individual deserving of the Junior Sea Cadet of the Year award.

Kasim is not alone in his praise for Alex, as junior Anna Fetzko, another member of the USNSCC and Alexa’s sister, commends him for his leadership within the program.

“He takes initiative and he always listens to people’s problems and tries to give advice on how to fix it…he makes sure everything is in order, so we don’t have any problems and he talks to the cadets who might not be doing so well on a performance or behavior level,” Anna Fetzko said.

Anna builds upon Kasim’s comments, continuing to illustrate Alex’s commitment to the program and his talent in a leadership position, as well as his ability to relate excellently with others.

Alex has also found himself in numerous roles within the program, including color guard captain, squad leader, and leading petty officer for their training, making it all the more clear that leadership is not something the young man stumbled into; it was something he was built for.

There is perhaps none prouder than Alex’s mother, who has been outspoken regarding his win.

“I’m incredibly proud of all that Alex has achieved. This hasn’t been a case of a parent pushing a child—in fact, it’s been quite the opposite. I’ve found myself running just to keep up with him. I joined the program as an instructor simply to witness his growth firsthand. Since then, he’s inspired his sister to join, and now even his youngest brother is part of the program,” Katrina Fetzko said.

For so many people to articulate such praise for Alex, and surely countless others that have felt his impact within the program, it almost goes without question why he won the award this past June.

Rear Admiral Andrew Lennon, the executive director of the Sea Cadet program, personally reached out to Alexander on February 20, 2025, to inform him of how his hard work had paid off. It was Lennon who handed him the award on that eighth of June.

“Most cadets including myself will never see Mr. Lennon ever. Only a small few do when they get this award,” Kasim commented.

The Sea Cadet program oversees thousands of members across the United States, and yet only a select few are ever to be in the presence of the executive director, Rear Admiral Lennon. That, in itself, is an honor.

Alex should take pride in his award, not for the award itself, but for the reason behind why he received it in the first place. He has cultivated an individual with dedication, leadership, and an exceptional ability to work with others. While it is true that a select few are to receive this award, it is also true that even fewer work themselves to such a level of discipline. 

After the Sea Cadet program, Alex has his sights set on the U.S. Naval Academy, at which point one must stop asking “What hasn’t he done?”, and instead begin to ask “What hasn’t he done yet?”

If you are interested more information on Alex or the Sea Cadet program, it can be found at this Seafarer Magazine link.