Ramona’s NJROTC has eventful summer and plans active year

Participating in the Leadership Academy at the Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center this summer were, from left, Ramona NJROTC Cadet Jamie Whitney, Chief Bob Richardson, cadets Darien Hightower, Alexis Baggett and Spenser Jones, Commander Mike Ernst and Cadet Jackson Rath.By Deanna Lasley

This summer was an eventful one for Ramona’s Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) unit. Cadets gave more than 360 hours of community service. They helped clean up at the high school baseball fields, picked up and dumped trash at the Ramona Country Fair, and attended a variety of leadership events.

During the week of June 27 through July 2, five qualified cadets were chosen to go to Leadership Academy at the Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center. One was a staff cadet who had been there last year, Alexis Baggett. The other four were cadets going to learn. Jamie Whitney (she was also top athlete of 175 cadets), Darien Hightower, Spenser Jones and Jackson Rath experienced classes of physical fitness, practical leadership, advanced military drill, self-awareness and other NJROTC subject areas.

To graduate the academy, they had to earn over a 90 percent in all personnel inspection, pass a final written exam, pass the fitness challenge with minimum of satisfactory, and pass all dormitory inspections.

A different important event was Sail Academy, where cadets Carlo Silva, Anthony Jauregui, Lauren Barrett and Aaron Paris gained training in leadership, teamwork, communications, decision-making, critical thinking skills and physical fitness while learning small and large boat handling — all taking place in San Diego Bay.

Another interesting opportunity came about for Brendan Ryan, Alec Richardson and Jackson Rath, who attended STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) classes. Brendan went to Emery Riddle University in Daytona Beach, Fla., while Alec and Jackson attended the one at the University of San Diego. Only 200 cadets of over 80,000 enrolled in ROTC are able to experience this opportunity to help grow as a student and look at possibilities for future jobs.

Overall it was a great and fun summer filled with tons of hours of giving back to the community and physical and academic training for our NJROTC unit.

Looking ahead, Ramona High’s ROTC unit plans to participate in, among other activities, the Troy Athletic Meet, the Neptune Olympics, drill meets and more community service. The unit plans a trip to Hawaii during spring break.

It’s not too late to sign up for ROTC. To learn more about the program, talk to Chief Bob Richardson or Commander Mike Ernst in Room E16.

Cadet Deanna Lasley is public affairs officer for the Ramona NJROTC.