Last modified Wed., February 22, 2006 - 04:40 PM
Originally created Thursday, February 23, 2006

'Tunes 4 the Troops'

Teen visits base to deliver entertainment to Tennessee Sailors

By PH2(AW/NAC) Will Tonacchio, Periscope Staff

Kaylee Radzyminski turns over compact discs and DVDs she has collected as part of her organization, Tunes 4 the Troops, to Cmdr. Dean Nilsen, commanding officer of USS Tennessee (SSBN 734)(G). The 14-year-old high school student started the organization as a means for providing entertainment to military personnel during their free time.
Photo By PH2 (AW/NAC) Will Tonacchio

Kaylee Radzyminski is not a typical teenager. The 14-year-old girl from Cleveland, Tenn., already has earned a reputation for being a go-getter through her involvement with the Sea Cadet Corps. She has earned a place on her high school's varsity track team despite being only a freshman, and has maintained a 4.0 grade point average. She even has her post-high school years figured out with an ambition to attend the Naval Academy.

But what sets Radzyminski further apart is a grassroots effort she has created to provide entertainment for U.S. service members in their down time. ''Tunes 4 the Troops'' is the result of a conversation Radzyminski had while at a Sea Cadet training session last summer. The cadet had heard from active-duty Sailors, who were serving as volunteers, how there wasn't much to do during their free time. This got Radzyminski thinking and talking to her friends about collecting compact discs and DVDs and donating the items to those serving around the world.

''I found that I had all these CDs and DVDs that I don't use anymore,'' said Radzyminski. ''I thought if I had that many then my friends would have some, too.''

With this momentum, she started talking to local media outlets. Soon, donations were rolling in and Radzyminski began mailing and delivering the items to service members in the U.S. She even secured a packaging deal with a local box company and a $4,000 grant from the Tennessee Titans to cover expenses.

Radzyminski made it south to NSB Kings Bay Feb. 17 and paid a visit to the crew of her state's namesake submarine, USS Tennessee (SSBN 734), and made a donation of media items to the boat's crew.

''I'm impressed that a 14-year-old has such initiative,'' said MM1(SS) Sohn McGough, a Tennessee crew member and benefactor of Radzyminski's efforts.

The high-school freshman met the boat's commanding officer and enjoyed a tour of the base, but is now back at work trying to reach a goal of disbursing 500,000 items to troops worldwide.

''I'm doing this to support the troops because kids my age don't get involved,'' said Radzyminski. ''I'm trying to show other kids that, no matter how small you are, you can make a difference and an impact.''