U.S. Navy officer: "Best day ever" at a JROTC unit

As a U.S. Navy officer who regularly reviews JROTC programs, Lieutenant Commander Michael Kerley experiences the privilege of meeting with some of the nation’s finest and most motivated high school students. 

So his words at the close of the annual inspection of the U.S. Navy JROTC program at Richards High School hung heavy in the air.

“I’ve had the chance to visit a lot of Navy JROTC programs for evaluations.  To all the parents and school officials gathered here tonight, I want to tell you how much pride you should feel in these young people.  This is the best day that I’ve ever had at a JROTC program,” Kerley said in his closing remarks. 

The annual inspection includes a review of Bulldog Company’s uniform appearance, platoon alignment, marching precision, and hundreds of other bits of minutia.

Kerley and Lieutenant James Wightman spent five hours grading the Richards program.

“Inspection featured a review of our administrative, supply, financial, and operational programs.  The visiting officers also conducted a personnel inspection of more than 100 cadets,” said Commander Doug Groters, the senior naval science instructor for Richards.

Further, Randy Flaherty and Kylla Pate, the two highest-ranking students in Bulldog Company, delivered a PowerPoint presentation to Kerley and Wightman highlighting the unit’s goals, achievements, and future plans.

Many Richards students earned the coveted “Circle 10” medal of excellence.  They included Emily Bargouthi, Donald Jones, Cameron Smentek, Thaddeus Sprynal, Qwamarria Covington, Alex Villafuerte, Craig Buckner, Oleksandr Gorobets, Rama Al-Ali, Gabriel Frausto, Margaret Kowalski, Randy Flaherty, and Kylla Pate.

The five-hour inspection capped with a “Pass in Review” ceremony, which included a number of demonstrations including a performance by the Armed Competitive Drill team led by student Donald Jones.

In 2011, Bulldog Company won the award for Most Improved Unit in Area 3 (the upper Midwest), which features 45 U.S. Navy JROTC programs.

The fifth-year Richards program teaches history, citizenship, teamwork and discipline and offers training in military drill.  Outside of class time, students learn colorguard and drill team procedures; represent Richards at fitness contests; spend weekends camping and orienteering; and, compete at drill meets.