The U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps (USNSCC) is the only federally-sponsored nationwide youth association within the Department of Defense.  The NSCC is a federally chartered 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization, sponsored through the Navy League of the United States, and is supported by the Department of the Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard. Official support of the USNSCC by the Navy is promulgated in OPNAVINST 5760.5C. Commander, Naval Recruiting Command is responsible for coordinating the U.S. Navy's support of the NSCC. The Naval Sea Cadet Corps has also been designated by the United States Coast Guard as their primary youth program; official support of the USNSCC is outlined in the USCG Public Affairs Manual COMDTINST M5728.2A. USNSCC offers preliminary training for the US Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Merchant Marine, and provides direct entrance assistance to all the service academies and for Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) candidates.