We are a group of Sea Scouts who focus on youth in urban areas. We were founded originally in 2012 as Venturing Crew 11 “The Black Hats”. On January 1, 2014 the unit decided to become Sea Scout Ship 911 the Remembrance. Our charter organization was Carlstadt Christian Assembly in Carlstadt, NJ and our purpose was service to veterans and color guard. Remembrance’s first Skipper was Marc A. Tarantino. In 2016 Ship 1908 the Redhawk was created with membership from Montclair State University’s John J. Cali School of Music under founding Skipper Jean M. Tarantino. These Sea Scouts decided to start the first National Sea Scout Choir known as the SSS Sea Scout Chanters. The Chanters performed for the Secretary of the Navy, Medal of Honor recipients, the Mayor of New York and many other notable dignitaries. In 2016 Linda J. Tarantino was installed as Skipper upon the unfortunate death of Skipper Jean M. Tarantino. By 2018 both Ship 1908 and Ship 911 was seeing a decline in membership and decided to merge into Ship 1908 the Rising Phoenix under Skipper David N. Tarantino and Boatswain Jacob S. Williams. Our Charter Organization became the Sacred Heart Society in Union City, NJ. 2023 became the year of growth and expansion for our program when we were named to the National Flagship Fleet. We formed our own nonprofit organization called the Friends of the Rising Phoenix. To grow our Socuting program we started Maritime Explorer Club 1908 and Venturing Crew 1908. Our goal is to show youth in areas not necessarily reached by maritime industry the fun they can have on the water and the career opportunities around the water!

Ship 1908 Unit Awards

Ship 1908 Notable Positions

  • 2012 Gold Journey to Excellence
  • 2012 National Outdoor Challenge Unit Award
  • 2013 Gold Journey to Excellence
  • 2013 National Outdoor Challenge Unit Award
  • 2013 Borough of N. Arlington Certificate of Meritorious Civic Service
  • 2014 Gold Journey to Excellence
  • 2014 National Outdoor Challenge Unit Award
  • 2014 Northeast Region Ship Award of Excellence SSS-911
  • 2015 Gold Journey to Excellence
  • 2015 National Outdoor Challenge Unit Award
  • 2015 Northeast Region Ship Award of Excellence SSS-1908
  • 2015 Northeast Region Ship Award of Excellence SSS-911
  • 2016 Gold Journey to Excellence
  • 2016 National Outdoor Challenge Unit Award
  • 2016 Northeast Region Ship Award of Excellence SSS-1908
  • 2016 Northeast Region Ship Award of Excellence SSS-911
  • 2017 Gold Journey to Excellence
  • 2017 National Outdoor Challenge Unit Award
  • 2017 Northeast Region Ship Award of Excellence SSS-1908
  • 2017 Northeast Region Ship Award of Excellence SSS-911
  • 2018 Gold Journey to Excellence
  • 2018 National Outdoor Challenge Unit Award
  • 2018 Northeast Region Ship Award of Excellence SSS-1908
  • 2018 Northeast Region Ship Award of Excellence SSS-911
  • 2019 Gold Journey to Excellence
  • 2019 National Outdoor Challenge Unit Award
  • 2019 Northeast Region Ship Award of Excellence
  • 2020 Gold Journey to Excellence
  • 2021 Gold Journey to Excellence
  • 2021 Pope Paul VI National Catholic Quality Unit Award
  • 2021 National Small Boat Sailing Fleet
  • 2022 Gold Journey to Excellence
  • 2022 DVYBA Paul A. Siple Award
  • 2023 Gold Journey to Excellence Award
  • 2023-2024 National Flagship Fleet
  • 2023 Pope John XXIII Unit Recognition
  • 2014-2018 Liberty Flotilla Boatswain
  • 2016-2017 Northeast Region Boatswain’s Mate
  • 2017-2018 Northeast Region Boatswain
  • 2019-2020 NER Area 5 Boatswain
  • 2021-2022 National Yeoman
  • 2021-2023 NST 13 Boatswain
  • 2021-2022 NST 13 Boatswain’s Mate
  • 2021-2023 National Communications Subcommittee Chair
  • 2014-2023 NNJC Boatswain
  • 2010-2019 Northeast Region Seabadge Coordinator
  • 2010-2018 Northeast Region Commodore
  • 2018-2020 Northeast Region Vice Commodore
  • 2018 Liberty Flotilla Commodore
  • 2018-2020 NER Area 5 Vice Commodore
  • 2016-2019 National Ship Growth & Retention Mentor-New Jersey
  • 2016-2019 National Ship Growth & Retention Mentor-NYC
  • SB-51-NJ-19 Course Director
  • SB-67-NJ-22 Course Director
  • SEAL Long Island Course Director
  • 2014-2023 NNJC Commodore
  • 2023-Present Lenapehoking Lodge IX Vice Chief of Program