Divers,
Many of you have heard of the inmate commercial diver training program at the California Institute for Men in Chino, CA. This superb training program has been a resounding success for many years. The recidivism rate of its graduates is less than 7%, and Chino hands enjoy an outstanding reputation in the commercial diving industry. I've had the privilege of being a guest instructor there, and have experienced firsthand the pride that the students take in their program and themselves.
Unfortunately, the program is in immediate danger of closing. In the past, it had been funded by the California Prison Industry Authority without help from the California Department of Corrections. The CPIA no longer has the funds to support the program and the CDC is unwilling to assist.
Leonard Greenstone, a former Navy and commercial diver and philanthropist, had been a passionate advocate of the program. Mr. Greenstone was well-connected politically and was the driving force behind the program since its inception. Sadly, he passed away yesterday at age 89. Though he lived a long, productive life, the program has now lost its most visible and vocal asset.
Fred Johnson, the inmate diving program's lead instructor, will go before the California Department of Corrections on November 16th to request that funding be provided to keep the program running. Fred is asking that all interested parties write to the CDC and the CPIA in support of the program before then. I apologize for the short fuse, but I just got this email request yesterday from Bob Schelke, a friend who is a retired Navy diver and one of the founding instructors of the program. I'd like to reach out to anyone who's willing to write, especially Chino graduates and industry executives. I can provide contact information via PM or email for anyone interested.
Thank you,
Eric Hexdall, RN, CHRN
Commander, USN (ret)
Clinical Director, Duke Dive Medicine
Many of you have heard of the inmate commercial diver training program at the California Institute for Men in Chino, CA. This superb training program has been a resounding success for many years. The recidivism rate of its graduates is less than 7%, and Chino hands enjoy an outstanding reputation in the commercial diving industry. I've had the privilege of being a guest instructor there, and have experienced firsthand the pride that the students take in their program and themselves.
Unfortunately, the program is in immediate danger of closing. In the past, it had been funded by the California Prison Industry Authority without help from the California Department of Corrections. The CPIA no longer has the funds to support the program and the CDC is unwilling to assist.
Leonard Greenstone, a former Navy and commercial diver and philanthropist, had been a passionate advocate of the program. Mr. Greenstone was well-connected politically and was the driving force behind the program since its inception. Sadly, he passed away yesterday at age 89. Though he lived a long, productive life, the program has now lost its most visible and vocal asset.
Fred Johnson, the inmate diving program's lead instructor, will go before the California Department of Corrections on November 16th to request that funding be provided to keep the program running. Fred is asking that all interested parties write to the CDC and the CPIA in support of the program before then. I apologize for the short fuse, but I just got this email request yesterday from Bob Schelke, a friend who is a retired Navy diver and one of the founding instructors of the program. I'd like to reach out to anyone who's willing to write, especially Chino graduates and industry executives. I can provide contact information via PM or email for anyone interested.
Thank you,
Eric Hexdall, RN, CHRN
Commander, USN (ret)
Clinical Director, Duke Dive Medicine