6 Friends Ship Out Together for Navy

At a time when most high school graduates part company, six from El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills will stay together--not in college but as recruits starting active duty today-- in the Navy.

Their enlistment marks the first time in recent memory that six graduates from the same high school are entering the same branch of the service on the same day, Navy officials said Tuesday.

For the past four years, the recruits--Steven Aune, Chris Bagnell, Kathryn Goldman, Daniel Merrill, Michelle Sime and Eric Weese--have been inseparable in the classroom and with the Junior ROTC.

“It is unusual to have so many students from the same school start on the same day. Usually it’s just one or two,” said Petty Officer Delia Cokee Claveria, a recruiter in the Navy’s Canoga Park office.

The six recruits and their families gathered Tuesday at the recruitment office to receive final instructions before departing from Los Angeles International Airport this afternoon for the Great Lakes Recruit Training Command in Illinois, where they will go through basic training.

“It feels good having five of my friends to ride on the plane with,” said Daniel, 17, of Woodland Hills. “We will be there to support each other through boot camp.”

Steven, 17, of West Hills, agreed. “It makes it easier knowing that I won’t be going there by myself.”

While many of their classmates are heading to college or entry-level jobs in corporate offices, the new recruits decided to enlist in the Navy, they said, because it offers job training, college scholarships and a chance to see the world.

“I think more people are enlisting since the military has begun to give more incentives,” Steven said, adding that he is looking forward to a $33,000 college scholarship and $10,000 signing bonus when he completes basic training.

In the past three years, more than 2,200 young men and women in the Los Angeles area have enlisted in the Navy, said Petty Officer Gabriel Ortega of the Navy Recruiting District in Los Angeles.

The Navy last year said it expected to fall 22,000 sailors short of a projected force of 394,000.

With no mandatory draft and a booming economy, young people have many more post-high school opportunities, making it difficult for the military to attract young talent. To counteract this trend, the Navy has added various privileges and comforts to show it views sailors as professionals, including shipboard television sets, weight rooms and expanded e-mail privileges.

For Daniel, joining the Navy offers an opportunity to realize long-held dreams.

“I have been into flying for a long time,” he said. “I hope to work on planes and then eventually learn to fly them.”

Although they spoke optimistically on their plans, the recruits admitted they were somewhat fearful about the unknown.

“I am a little nervous, but kind of excited,” said Kathryn, 17, of Woodland Hills. Nevertheless, she said she would not let fear get in the way of a $33,000 scholarship or her ultimate plan to become an FBI agent.

As for their parents, many fought back tears as they embraced their children, who were leaving for an LAX-area hotel, where they would stay before today’s flight to Chicago then a bus trip to Great Lakes.

“I am so proud of him and his accomplishments in Boy Scouts, Junior ROTC and graduating from high school,” said Steven’s mother, Kris Morales of West Hills. “This is the next big step forward for him.”

Ana Sime, of Sherman Oaks, had a difficult time saying goodbye to her 18-year-old daughter, Michelle.

“I’m trying to hold it in,” Sime said, tears welling in her eyes as she snapped Michelle’s picture.

Garry and Diana Weese watched as their 18-year-old son, Eric, hugged the other parents.

Said Garry Weese: “Our little squirts are growing up.”