Riverhead High School’s NJROTC filled the school gymnasium Wednesday morning, rows of cadets marching smartly across the polished floor for the program’s annual Area Manager’s Inspection and Pass in Review.
By the end of the morning, the Riverhead unit had earned an “outstanding” rating, meaning Riverhead excelled in all areas. The grade puts in line for the second straight “Distinguished Unit” award, Commander David Chiaro said. The designation likely won’t be announced until spring.
“It went off beautifully,” said Chiaro, who leads the program at Riverhead High School.
The inspection also gave district leaders a look at just how large the program has become. Riverhead’s NJROTC now has 179 cadets, a 77% increase since last year’s inspection. Chiaro said several central office administrators who attended were surprised to see how many high school students now don the Navy uniform.
Chiaro attributes the growth in large part to changes he and his staff made to better serve Riverhead’s increasingly Hispanic student population. Last year, he began teaching NJROTC classes bilingually and ensured that platoon leaders are bilingual as well, making it easier for more students and families to feel welcome in the program.
“We have a very diverse group here, but fortunately we’re like one big family,” he said.
The inspection brought a number of special guests back to Riverhead High School. Among them was Jim Roth, the original senior naval science instructor who started the NJROTC program here. Chiaro said Roth was “thrilled” to see how much the unit has grown and how professional the cadets have become.
The Navy’s Area Manager, Eric Humphreys, oversaw the inspection and the pass in review. Standing at a podium on the gym floor, Naval Science Instructor Ed Cahill, who joined the staff this fall after Chief Donald Decker’s retirement, narrated the proceedings as cadets marched by in formation.
The ceremony also paused to recognize one of the unit’s top student leaders. Coach Don Nelson presented executive officer Cadet Matthew Andrzejewski with the James C. Metzger Award from the Suffolk County Chapter of the National Football Foundation. Andrzejewski, a scholar-athlete, was selected as one of just 11 student athletes honored across all of Suffolk County.
For Chiaro, the inspection was about more than grades and awards. It was a chance for the broader community – school officials, guests and families – to see the discipline and teamwork his cadets demonstrate every day.
“All the sports teams get the press,” he said. “We don’t get too much press.”
On Wednesday, at least, the spotlight belonged to NJROTC, as nearly 180 Riverhead High School cadets marched past in review, showing what an “outstanding” unit looks like.
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Emil Breitenbach Jr.
The survival of local journalism depends on your support.
We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community.
Support RiverheadLOCAL today.
