Riverhead High School NJROTC Standout Receives West Point Appointment

RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK—Riverhead High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) standout Kaleb Gatto plans to incorporate all he learned as a Blue Wave into his training at the prestigious United States Military Academy, also known as West Point, this fall. The recent Riverhead graduate received nominations from U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Congressman Nick LaLota, and by virtue of the NJROTC achievement of Distinguished Unit, which provides the unit with select nominations for each service academy.

Kaleb served as the commanding officer and executive officer for Riverhead High School's NJROTC Unit. He was also the commander of the orienteering team and commander of the marksmanship team.

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"Kaleb was identified as the 'top shot' by our unit and others and additionally excelled as a civilian marksmanship program sharpshooter," Riverhead High School NJROTC Commander David Chiaro said. "Since his freshman year, Kaleb has attended over 150 community service events and logged over 600 community service hours."

Kaleb Gatto excelled in the classroom at Riverhead High School as well. An AP Scholar with Distinction, he was ranked 18th in the class of 2026. Kaleb plans to major in war studies and minor in physics at West Point.

Riverhead High School's NJROTC has continued to achieve remarkable growth and success. Over the past year, the unit has grown from a company to a battalion, which contains over 150 students. It is anticipated that the unit will soon exceed over 200 students.

The NJROTC has cultivated robust relationships with and provided assistance to the Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency, 106th Rescue Wing, Rotary Club of Riverhead, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Navy League, Daughters of the American Revolution, AMVETS, Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, Lions Club, Polish Town Civic Association, and numerous charitable organizations. The unit provides color guard for district and community events, and cadets will continue to build their leadership skills over the summer. This includes Leadership Academy/Sail Training, a highly selective two-week program in Newport, Rhode Island operated by instructors from across the Northeast.

For more information about the Riverhead Central School District, please visit the district's website at www.riverhead.net. Happenings in the district can also be followed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/riverheadCSD. #BlueWavesPride.