William Floyd NJROTC Pins New Slate Of Cadet Officers

MASTIC, NY — The William Floyd High School Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps recently held a “pinning” ceremony, honoring young heroes.

During the ceremony — held on the grounds of the William Floyd Estate, the ancestral home of William Floyd, a Revolutionary War hero and one of 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence — the slate of cadet officers was named for the 2018-19 school year, district officials said.

Under the leadership of Senior Naval Science Instructor Commander Jay Tweed and Senior Chief Dwight Becherer, the nine new cadet leaders recited the “Cadet Creed” as they gathered around the flagpole at the Old Mastic House. Commander Tweed spokeabout the importance of honor, courage and commitment — core values he said the Navy lives by. He also discussed the commitment to academic and physical prowess needed to meet the high standards of a cadet officer.

“The new cadet officers have the experience to meet the challenges they now face as they already have two to three years of naval science studies, academic excellence and extracurricular activities,” said Commander Tweed.

New cadet officers include Samantha Badzo, Alexander Beere, Kelly Bohling, Joseph Cortes, Humberto Diaz, Rasheed Rhames, Michael Russitano, Xander Shirley and Savannah Smith.

In addition to regular classroom instruction, NJROTC cadets participate in a number of extracurricular activities throughout the school year and during summer months including community service projects, attending drill meets, academic competitions, visits to naval installations and science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, training.

Patch photo courtesy William Floyd School District.